4 easy steps to import JSON data to Redshift

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Want to import data from JSON file to Redshift?

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Import data from JSON file to Redshift in 4 steps

Login to Redshift -> Choose JSON file -> Set Redshift table -> Import JSON to Redshift

Choose Redshift and logon.

convert JSON file to Redshift table - Choose Redshift and logon

Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.

convert JSON file to Redshift table - task window

Select the “JSON” file type.

Import file data to database table - select file type

then show the wizard.

Step #1. Open a JSON file.

Convert JSON data to Redshift table - Open JSON

Step #2. Choose a Redshift table and config fields.

Load JSON data to Redshift table - select table

Step #3. Preview data.

Insert JSON data to Redshift table - preview

Step #4. Import JSON to Redshift.

Copy JSON data to Redshift table - import

Import JSON to Redshift in command line

Save session, and then create .bat file for Windows command line, or .sh file for Linux / macOS.

Set scheduled tasks for importing JSON to Redshift

You can schedule and automate this “JSON to Redshift” conversion task by:

  1. Save session and create .bat (Windows) or .sh (Linux/macOS) file for ” to Redshift” conversion.
  2. Set scheduled task for ” to Redshift” conversion.

More about Withdata FileToDB – JSON to Redshift converter

JSON → Redshift reference

Type mapping

Value kindin JSONin Redshift
Int1234 (number)integer
Bigint9007199254740993bigint
Decimal1234.56 (number)numeric(p,s)
Float1.234e10 (number)double precision
Text"text" (string)varchar(n)
Long text"multi-line\ntext" (escaped newline inside a string)varchar(max)
Date"2026-09-18" (string)date
Datetime"2026-09-18T14:30:00Z" (string)timestamp
Binary"base64:..." (string)(none)
Booleantrue / false (boolean)boolean
JSONnested object or array, kept as structuresuper

Dialect differences

JSON is a file format and Redshift is a database server, so the target has to be told the types the file never carried - the rows below are where the two sides diverge.

Propertyin JSONin Redshift
port—5439
identifiersDouble quotes; backslash escapes"double quotes"
row limit—LIMIT n
datesNo date type: dates arrive as strings and the reader must p...timestamp, date
long text—VARCHAR(MAX)
binaryNot supported natively - base64 inside a string—
separatorBraces and commas—
encodingUTF-8 by definition—
typingstring, number, boolean, null, object, array - no date type—
shapeNested objects and arraysTables of rows and columns
ceilingWhole document is usually parsed into memory—

Command line

SideCommand
RedshiftUNLOAD to S3
Redshift (load)COPY from S3

No counterpart

  • JSON values of kind Binary have nowhere to go in Redshift.

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