Guide

How to import products into Shopify with a CSV file

Last updated: 2 May 2026

If you need to add many products to your Shopify store, doing it one by one quickly becomes slow and frustrating. A much faster way is to import products using a CSV file.

A CSV file is a spreadsheet where each row represents a product and each column contains information like the product name, price or stock level.

Many merchants use CSV files when they:

  • move products from another platform
  • update prices in bulk
  • import a supplier's product list
  • update inventory from spreadsheets

In this guide you will learn:

  • how Shopify's built-in CSV importer works
  • when the default importer works well
  • why many CSV files fail to import
  • an easier way to import almost any CSV file

Method 1: Shopify's built-in CSV importer

Shopify includes a free CSV importer. You can find it in your Shopify admin under Products → Import.

Shopify admin product import dialog for uploading a CSV file
The Shopify CSV importer is available in Products → Import.

The typical process looks like this:

Step 1: Download the Shopify CSV template

Shopify provides a product CSV template that shows the exact structure Shopify expects.

Example columns:

Handle, Title, Body (HTML), Vendor, Variant SKU, Variant Price, Image Src

Every column must follow Shopify's format exactly.

Shopify product CSV template showing product and variant columns
The Shopify CSV template.

Step 2: Add your product data

Open the CSV file in Excel or Google Sheets. Each row represents a product or variant.

Example:

Handle,Title,Variant SKU,Variant Price
red-shirt,Red Shirt,RS-S,29.99
red-shirt,Red Shirt,RS-M,29.99
red-shirt,Red Shirt,RS-L,29.99

Shopify groups these rows into one product because they share the same Handle.

Step 3: Save the file as CSV

Export or save the spreadsheet as a CSV file.

Be careful with spreadsheet software. Long numbers like barcodes may be converted automatically. For example: 

1234567890123

may become:

1.23457E+12

This is one of the most common import problems.

Step 4: Upload the file to Shopify

In Shopify admin:

  1. Go to Products
  2. Click Import
  3. Upload your CSV file
  4. Start the import

Shopify processes the file and creates your products.

Common problems with Shopify CSV imports

The built-in importer works well if your CSV file follows Shopify's format exactly. Many merchants run into these issues:

Strict column names

Shopify requires very specific column names such as:

Variant SKU
Variant Price
Image Src

If your CSV uses different names, the import may fail.

Product handles are required

Shopify uses the Handle field to group variants and identify products. Many supplier CSV files do not include this column.

Large files must be split

Very large CSV files sometimes need to be split into multiple files before importing.

Images and variants can be confusing

The Shopify CSV format requires:

  • multiple rows per product
  • repeating the same handle
  • separate rows for additional images

This structure is confusing when editing files manually.

Method 2: Import almost any CSV file

If your CSV file does not match Shopify's exact format, there is an easier approach.

Apps like Simple CSV Import let you import almost any CSV file by mapping columns to Shopify fields.

Example CSV:

product_name,price,stock
Red Shirt,29.99,10

Mapping example:

product_name -> Title
price -> Price
stock -> Inventory

How to import products with Simple CSV

Step 1: Upload your CSV file

Upload your spreadsheet or import a CSV file from a URL. Many merchants use the URL option for supplier feeds.

Step 2: Choose your import strategy

Choose whether you want to:

  • import new products
  • update existing products

Products can be matched using:

  • SKU
  • barcode
  • product handle

Step 3: Map your CSV columns

The app shows your CSV headers and lets you match them to Shopify fields. Many columns are matched automatically when possible.

Examples of fields you can map:

  • Title
  • Price
  • Inventory
  • SKU
  • Barcode
  • Images
  • Product options and variants
Simple CSV column mapping interface for matching CSV headers to Shopify fields
Map any CSV column to Shopify product fields.

Step 4: Preview the import

Before importing, you can preview how products will appear in Shopify.

Simple CSV product import preview screen before starting an import
Preview how your products will appear in Shopify before starting the import.

Step 5: Start the import

CSV files are also useful for updating products. Common examples:

  • updating prices
  • updating inventory
  • updating barcodes
  • updating descriptions

Instead of editing products one by one, you can update many products at once.

Simple CSV import summary page showing completed import results
Track the progress of your CSV import on the status page.

Tips for working with CSV files

Keep barcodes as text

Spreadsheet software may convert long numbers into scientific notation. Set barcode columns to text format before exporting.

Make sure variants have unique identifiers

Each variant should have its own SKU or barcode.

When to use Shopify's importer vs an app

Shopify's importer works well when:

  • you use the official Shopify CSV template
  • your file already follows Shopify's format
  • your catalog is small

A CSV import app is easier when:

  • your CSV file comes from a supplier
  • your file structure does not match Shopify's
  • you want column mapping
  • you want automated imports from URLs

Try Simple CSV Import

If you want to import products using your existing CSV files without restructuring them, you can install Simple CSV Import from the Shopify App Store.

Install on Shopify Learn more about Simple CSV