Gerhard, the solutions from you with the timing added: d=[] # empty list for i in fetchall(): d.append(list(i)) maybe written as d=[list(i) for i in fetchall()] or as d=map(list,fetchall()) With timing of Dauer 3.98594933547 for Dauer 3.52617203411 list Dauer 2.3300359878 map best wishes Harald