How to import products into your store via CSV

CSV import is the fastest way to create or update large product catalogues. This guide walks through a clean CSV import workflow, with the field mappings and validation steps that prevent the most common import failures.

1. 1

   Get a sample export from your store

   Before writing your import CSV, export a single existing product or a sample. This gives you the exact column names and value formats your store expects — far more reliable than working from documentation.

2. 2

   Map your source data to the sample columns

   Open both CSVs side-by-side. Rename your source columns to match the sample exactly (case-sensitive in many tools). Add any required columns missing from your source — typically 'Published', 'Status', 'Type'.

3. 3

   Set values for required fields

   At minimum: Name, SKU, Regular Price, Stock Status, Categories. Type should usually be 'simple' (or 'variable' for products with variants). Status should be 'draft' for the first import — you'll publish in bulk after verification.

4. 4

   Format variant rows correctly

   For variable products: one row for the parent product, then one row per variant with the parent's SKU in a 'Parent' column. Attribute columns specify which variation each row represents (e.g. attribute:pa_size = 'Large').

5. 5

   Validate the CSV in Excel before upload

   Scan for: duplicate SKUs, missing prices, malformed image URLs, inconsistent stock-status spellings (in stock vs InStock vs in-stock). Each will cause silent import failures.

6. 6

   Run the import in batches

   First batch: 5-10 products. Watch for errors, fix them in your CSV, re-import only the failed rows. Once a small batch succeeds cleanly, scale to 100-500 products per import.

7. 7

   Verify imported products

   Open the imported products in admin. Confirm prices, images, categories, and stock are correct. Check at least one variable product to confirm variations imported correctly.

8. 8

   Bulk-publish when verified

   If you imported as drafts, filter for status 'draft' and bulk-update to 'published'. Monitor the storefront for a few minutes after to catch any rendering issues.