How to Convert a Dictionary to a List of Tuples in Python

To convert a dictionary to a list of tuples in Python, wrap its items() view in list(). Each key-value pair becomes one (key, value) tuple, in the dictionary’s insertion order:

prices = {"Latte": 4.75, "Bagel": 3.25}
list(prices.items())   # [('Latte', 4.75), ('Bagel', 3.25)]

Every snippet below was run on Python 3.12.5 with a small coffee shop menu, and the outputs are copied straight from the console.

You’ll also see the comprehension and zip() versions, sorting, dict to tuple, nested dicts, and the trip back.

Convert a dictionary to a list of tuples with items()

items() doesn’t return a list. It returns a dict_items view, and list() takes a fixed copy of it:

menu = {"Latte": 4.75, "Bagel": 3.25, "Cold Brew": 5.45, "Muffin": 2.95}

pairs = list(menu.items())
print(pairs)
print(type(menu.items()).__name__, "->", type(pairs).__name__)

view = menu.items()
menu["Scone"] = 3.65            # the view sees the new key, the list doesn't
print(len(view), len(pairs))

Output:

[('Latte', 4.75), ('Bagel', 3.25), ('Cold Brew', 5.45), ('Muffin', 2.95)]
dict_items -> list
5 4

So the view tracks the dict and your list doesn’t. For keys or values alone, see converting a dictionary to a list in Python.

Other ways to build the list: comprehension, zip() and map()

All four give you the same list. I use the comprehension when I want to change each pair on the way in:

menu = {"Latte": 4.75, "Bagel": 3.25, "Cold Brew": 5.45}

loop = []
for name, price in menu.items():
    loop.append((name, price))

comp = [(name, price) for name, price in menu.items()]
zipped = list(zip(menu.keys(), menu.values()))
mapped = list(map(tuple, menu.items()))

print(loop == comp == zipped == mapped)
print([(name.upper(), f"${price:.2f}") for name, price in menu.items()])

Output:

True
[('LATTE', '$4.75'), ('BAGEL', '$3.25'), ('COLD BREW', '$5.45')]

zip(d.keys(), d.values()) works because both views follow the same order, but items() says it more clearly. Looping over pairs is covered in iterating through tuples in Python.

How do I sort the list of tuples by key or value?

sorted() on items() sorts by key. Pass key=itemgetter(1) or a lambda to sort by value instead:

from operator import itemgetter

menu = {"Latte": 4.75, "Bagel": 3.25, "Cold Brew": 5.45, "Muffin": 2.95}

print(sorted(menu.items()))                                   # by key, A-Z
print(sorted(menu.items(), key=itemgetter(1)))                # by price, low to high
print(sorted(menu.items(), key=lambda kv: kv[1], reverse=True)[:2])   # two priciest

Output:

[('Bagel', 3.25), ('Cold Brew', 5.45), ('Latte', 4.75), ('Muffin', 2.95)]
[('Muffin', 2.95), ('Bagel', 3.25), ('Latte', 4.75), ('Cold Brew', 5.45)]
[('Cold Brew', 5.45), ('Latte', 4.75)]

These sorting rules apply to any list of pairs, not just dictionary items; sorting a list of tuples in Python goes further.

Convert a dictionary to a tuple instead of a list

If you want a tuple rather than a list, tuple() takes the same views:

from itertools import chain

menu = {"Latte": 4.75, "Bagel": 3.25, "Cold Brew": 5.45}

print(tuple(menu.items()))        # tuple of (key, value) tuples
print(tuple(menu))                # keys only
print(tuple(menu.values()))       # values only
print(tuple(chain.from_iterable(menu.items())))   # one flat tuple

snapshot = {tuple(menu.items()): "Oct 21, 2026 menu"}   # hashable, so it works as a key
print(list(snapshot.values()))

Output:

(('Latte', 4.75), ('Bagel', 3.25), ('Cold Brew', 5.45))
('Latte', 'Bagel', 'Cold Brew')
(4.75, 3.25, 5.45)
('Latte', 4.75, 'Bagel', 3.25, 'Cold Brew', 5.45)
['Oct 21, 2026 menu']

Because a tuple of tuples is hashable (if its items are), it can be a dict key or a set member, which a list can’t. More on that shape in a tuple of tuples in Python.

Turn a nested dictionary into a list of row tuples

With a dict of dicts, you pull the inner fields into each tuple, giving rows ready for CSV writers or database inserts:

orders = {
    "Emily": {"state": "TX", "total": 128.40},
    "James": {"state": "NY", "total": 86.15},
    "Olivia": {"state": "CA", "total": 214.99},
}

rows = [(name, info["state"], info["total"]) for name, info in orders.items()]
for name, state, total in rows:
    print(f"{name:<7} {state}  ${total:.2f}")

print(list(orders["Olivia"].items()))

Output:

Emily   TX  $128.40
James   NY  $86.15
Olivia  CA  $214.99
[('state', 'CA'), ('total', 214.99)]

The for name, state, total in rows line is tuple unpacking; unpacking a tuple in Python explains it.

Convert the list of tuples back to a dictionary

dict() accepts any list of two-item tuples, but only the last of any repeated key survives:

pairs = [("Latte", 4.75), ("Bagel", 3.25), ("Latte", 4.95)]

print(dict(pairs))                      # duplicate key: the last value wins

Output:

{'Latte': 4.95, 'Bagel': 3.25}

Your round trip is lossless only when keys are unique. Other tuple shapes are handled in converting a tuple to a dict in Python.

Dictionary to list of tuples methods compared

Code	Result	Best for
list(d.items())	List of (key, value)	The default choice
[(k, v) for k, v in d.items()]	List of changed pairs	Transforming on the way
tuple(d.items())	Tuple of pairs	Hashable, read-only data

If you’re working with dicts and tuples a lot, try these next:

• Sort a dictionary in Python
• Convert dictionary values to a list
• Print a tuple in Python
• Lists, tuples, sets and dictionaries compared

Frequently asked questions