⚡ EF Core Bulk Insert with Entity Framework Extensions

Sooner or later, every developer ends up facing the same scenario: inserting thousands of entities VERY FAST.

We always recommend the same solution: use the BulkInsert method from the Entity Framework Extensions library. This professional library, made by ZZZ Projects, is the most popular and most complete library you can find. With over 50 million downloads and more than 5,000 paid customers, Entity Framework Extensions is the only one you need to know when inserting large volumes of data in EF Core.

• ✅ Blazing fast performance — Insert up to 14x faster and reduce save time by 93%. See Performance Comparison
• ✅ Fully customizable — Choose from over 100 options to control how your data is inserted. Explore Options
• ✅ Monthly Trial — A trial is always available so you can try the library for free
• ✅ Frequent Releases — The library is updated at least once a month with bug fixes and improvements
• ✅ 24/7 Support — You can reach their awesome customer support anytime you need help

The library is very easy to use and easy to customize, requiring only minimal syntax:

// @nuget: Z.EntityFramework.Extensions.EFCore
using Z.EntityFramework.Extensions;

var customers = new List<Customer>
{
    new Customer { Name = "ZZZ Projects", City = "New York" },
    new Customer { Name = "Jonathan Magnan", City = "Montreal" }
    // Add more customers as needed
};

using (var context = new YourDbContext())
{
    // 1. Easy to use
    context.BulkInsert(customers);
    
    // 2. Easy to customize
    context.BulkInsert(customers, options => options.InsertIfNotExists = true);
}

using (var context = new YourDbContext())
{
    // 3. Supports async
    await context.BulkInsertAsync(customers, options => options.InsertIfNotExists = true);
}

In this example, we create a list of Customer objects and insert them all at once using the BulkInsert method:

1. The first bulk insert uses no options.
2. The second bulk insert uses the InsertIfNotExists = true option to only insert data that doesn’t already exist.
3. The third shows how to use the bulk insert method asynchronously.

The EF Core bulk insert method from Entity Framework Extensions extends your DbContext or DbSet, and under the hood, it uses the best available bulk insert mechanism for your provider — like SqlBulkCopy for SQL Server.

⚠️ BulkInsert directly inserts entities into the database — you don’t need to call SaveChanges. This is a common mistake for first-time users.

🚀 Why Use the Bulk Insert Method from Entity Framework Extensions?

There are several reasons why developers love using the bulk insert method from the Entity Framework Extensions library:

• ✅ Insert millions of rows in seconds — Achieve unmatched speed for large-volume operations. See Performance Comparison
• ✅ Memory-efficient — Works smoothly even with very large datasets
• ✅ Highly flexible — Fine-tune behavior with hundreds of available options. Explore Options
• ✅ Supports all major providers — SQL Server, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite
• ✅ Most advanced EF Core library — Supports inheritance, owned types, complex types, and more

🛠️ Commonly Used Options with the Bulk Insert Method from Entity Framework Extensions

Here are some of the most frequently used options with the bulk insert method from the Entity Framework Extensions library:

• InsertIfNotExists – Set to true if you only want to insert entities that don’t already exist in your database.
• InsertKeepIdentity – Set to true to keep identity values when inserting. For SQL Server, the library automatically handles SET IDENTITY_INSERT [tableName] ON/OFF.
• ExplicitValueResolutionMode – Specify how to handle explicit values for normally generated columns. In EF Core, values are always inserted, but EF Extensions lets you control this behavior. Learn more
• IncludeGraph – Set to true to insert both main entities and their related entities. For example, inserting a list of Order with OrderItem will insert both. Be careful: if you want to apply specific options to related types, configure them with IncludeGraphBuilder.
• UseTableLock – Set to true to lock the destination table during insert. This improves performance by avoiding row-level locks and reducing lock escalation — especially helpful for large inserts.
• RowsAffected – Use UseRowsAffected = true and then access ResultInfo.RowsAffected or RowsAffectedInserted to get the total number of entities inserted. Learn more

📦 How to Install Entity Framework Extensions

To use the bulk insert method, install the Z.EntityFramework.Extensions.EFCore NuGet package:

PM> NuGet\Install-Package Z.EntityFramework.Extensions.EFCore

> dotnet add package Z.EntityFramework.Extensions.EFCore

Entity Framework Extensions uses EF Core pinned versioning, so make sure the first digit of the package version matches your EF Core version. For example:

• If you're using EF Core 10, use version v10.x.y.z
• If you're using EF Core 9, use version v9.x.y.z
• If you're using EF Core 8, use version v8.x.y.z
• And so on...

Looking for a different version, like BulkInsert for EF6? 👉 Download it here

✅ Final Thoughts

The bulk insert method from the Entity Framework Extensions library is the go-to solution when performance matters and you need to insert large amounts of data efficiently in EF Core. Whether you're building a high-load application or just want to save time, this method gives you the speed, control, and reliability you need.

Give it a try and see the difference for yourself!

And if you ever get stuck — their awesome support team is just a message away.

🔗 External Links

Looking for more resources? Here are some helpful links to learn more about the BulkInsert method and Entity Framework Extensions, explore its documentation, and download the right version for your project.

📘 Documentation

• 🔗 Bulk Insert – Official Documentation
• 🔗 Entity Framework Extensions – Overview

📦 Downloads & Packages

• 🔗 NuGet Package – Z.EntityFramework.Extensions.EFCore
• 🔗 Download Page – All Versions (EF6, EF Core, etc.)