Download Shopify Product Import Template (CSV) - Free
Download a free Shopify product import CSV template with example data. Includes a full column guide to help you bulk import products into Shopify in minutes.
Download Shopify Product Import Template (CSV)
Need a Shopify product CSV template that actually works with Shopify's built-in product importer? The format can be confusing - Shopify expects 50+ column headers, and getting variants, images, and SEO fields right on the first try is harder than it looks.
We've built a free Shopify product import CSV template based on the exact format Shopify expects. It includes 3 example products with real data - including multi-variant products, multiple images, SEO fields, and Google Shopping columns - so you can see exactly how every column should be filled in.
Download it, replace the examples with your own products, and import directly into your Shopify store.
What's in the Shopify CSV template?
The Shopify product import template includes all 51 columns Shopify expects, pre-filled with 3 example products:
- A multi-variant product (Cotton Crew T-Shirt) with Size and Color options, 4 variant rows, and multiple images
- A simple product (Bluetooth Speaker) with one option and an additional lifestyle image
- A product with scent variants (Soy Candle) with 3 variant rows
Delete the example rows, replace them with your own products, and import directly into Shopify.
Shopify CSV column guide: every field explained
Here's what every column in the Shopify product import CSV template does and how to fill it in correctly:
Product identity
| Column | Required? | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Handle | Yes | A unique URL-friendly identifier for the product (e.g. cotton-crew-tee). Used as the product page slug. Variant rows share the same Handle. |
| Title | Yes (first row) | The product title displayed on your store. Only needed on the first row for a product - leave blank on variant rows. |
| Body (HTML) | Recommended | The full product description. Supports HTML tags for formatting. Only on the first row. |
| Vendor | Yes | The product brand or vendor name. Only on the first row. |
| Product Category | Optional | The Shopify product taxonomy category. Used for tax and reporting. |
| Type | Optional | A custom product type label (e.g. Apparel, Electronics). Useful for filtering. |
| Tags | Optional | Comma-separated tags for organising products and powering collection rules. |
Publishing & status
| Column | Values | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Published | TRUE or FALSE | Whether the product is published on your online store. Only on the first row. |
| Status | active, draft, or archived | The product status. Use draft to review before publishing. |
Options & variants
Shopify supports up to 3 options per product (e.g. Size, Color, Material). Each option has a Name and Value column:
| Column | Example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Option1 Name | Size | The name of the first option. Set on every row for this product. |
| Option1 Value | Small | The value for this variant. Each row gets a different value (e.g. Small, Medium, Large). |
| Option2 Name / Value | Color / White | Second option, used for two-dimensional variants (e.g. Size × Color). |
| Option3 Name / Value | - | Third option if needed (e.g. Material). Most products use 1–2 options. |
Variant details
| Column | Format | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Variant SKU | Text | A unique stock-keeping unit for this specific variant. |
| Variant Grams | Number | Weight in grams. Used alongside Variant Weight Unit for shipping rates. |
| Variant Price | Number | The selling price (e.g. 24.99). No currency symbol - Shopify uses your store's currency. |
| Variant Compare At Price | Number | The original price to show as crossed-out when on sale. |
| Cost per item | Number | Your cost price for profit tracking. Not shown to customers. |
| Variant Inventory Tracker | shopify or blank | Set to shopify to track inventory in Shopify, or leave blank for untracked. |
| Variant Inventory Qty | Number | Starting stock quantity for this variant. |
| Variant Inventory Policy | deny or continue | deny stops sales when out of stock. continue allows overselling. |
| Variant Fulfillment Service | manual | Set to manual unless you use a third-party fulfilment service. |
| Variant Requires Shipping | TRUE / FALSE | Whether this variant is a physical product that needs shipping. |
| Variant Taxable | TRUE / FALSE | Whether tax is charged on this variant. |
| Variant Barcode | Text | The barcode (UPC, EAN, ISBN) for this variant. Optional. |
Images
| Column | Format | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Image Src | URL | The full URL to a product image. Add additional images on separate rows with the same Handle. |
| Image Position | Number | The display order of the image. 1 is the main/featured image. |
| Image Alt Text | Text | Descriptive alt text for SEO and accessibility. |
| Variant Image | URL | The image URL shown when this specific variant is selected (e.g. show the black shirt when Black is chosen). |
SEO fields
| Column | Max length | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Title | ~70 characters | The page title shown in search results. Falls back to the product Title if blank. |
| SEO Description | ~320 characters | The meta description shown in search results. Falls back to the product description if blank. |
Google Shopping
Shopify includes Google Shopping columns for merchants using the Google & YouTube sales channel:
| Column | What it does |
|---|---|
| Google Shopping / Google Product Category | The Google product taxonomy category (e.g. Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts & Tops). |
| Google Shopping / Gender | Male, Female, or Unisex. |
| Google Shopping / Age Group | Adult, Kids, Infant, etc. |
| Google Shopping / Condition | new, refurbished, or used. |
| Google Shopping / MPN | Manufacturer Part Number for product identification. |
How to import products into Shopify using a CSV file
Once you've filled in the template, follow these steps to import your products into Shopify:
- Log in to your Shopify admin dashboard.
- Go to Products in the left sidebar.
- Click the Import button at the top of the page.
- Click Add file and select your completed CSV file.
- Preview the import - Shopify will show you how many products and variants will be created.
- If you want to overwrite existing products with the same Handle, tick Overwrite existing products.
- Click Import products and wait for it to finish.
- Review your products in the Products list to check everything imported correctly.
Tips for a successful Shopify product CSV import
- Handle is the key: All rows sharing the same Handle belong to the same product. The first row sets the product details; additional rows add variants or images.
- Leave variant-only fields blank on image rows: If you're adding a second image to a product (not a variant), leave the option and variant columns blank.
- Use full image URLs: Shopify requires complete URLs (starting with
https://). Relative paths won't work. - Set Status to draft: Import as
draftfirst so you can review everything before publishing. - UTF-8 encoding: Save your CSV as UTF-8 to avoid character issues with accents and special characters.
- Don't change the column headers: Shopify matches columns by their exact header name. Renaming or reordering columns will cause import errors.
Skip the spreadsheet - use Product Upload instead
CSV imports work, but they're slow and error-prone. Every time you want to add a product, you're editing a spreadsheet, fixing formatting issues, and hoping the import doesn't fail.
Product Upload is a native Shopify app that lets you import products directly from any supplier website - no CSV files needed. Just visit a product page, click import, and Product Upload pulls in the title, description, images, variants, and pricing automatically.
It's faster than spreadsheets, more accurate than manual entry, and you can customise every detail with AI-powered tools before publishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download a Shopify product CSV template?
You can download a free Shopify product CSV import template from this page. It includes all 51 columns Shopify expects, pre-filled with 3 example products so you can see exactly how to format your data.
What format does Shopify use for product CSV imports?
Shopify uses a CSV format with columns like Handle, Title, Body (HTML), Vendor, Tags, Option1 Name/Value, Variant SKU, Variant Price, Image Src, and more. Our free template has the exact format ready to use.
How do I import a CSV file into Shopify?
In your Shopify admin, go to Products, click Import, upload your CSV file, preview the import, and click Import products. Shopify will create all products and variants from the file.
Can I import products with variants into Shopify using CSV?
Yes. The first row for a Handle defines the product. Additional rows with the same Handle create variants. Use the Option1/Option2/Option3 Name and Value columns for variant attributes like Size, Color, etc.
Is the Shopify CSV import template free to download?
Yes. Our Shopify product import CSV template is completely free to download and use. No signup or credit card required.