Free Shopify SKU Generator
Upload your Shopify product export, or type your products in, and get a short, unique SKU for every variant. Then import them back into Shopify in one file.
Free to use. No signup, no email, nothing to install.
One product per line. Add options after a |, like Size: S, M, L. Your option names and values are in Shopify under Products, in each product's Variants section.
20 SKUs, all unique
| Product / variant | SKU |
|---|---|
| Classic Tee · Black / S | CLT-BLK-S |
| Classic Tee · Black / M | CLT-BLK-M |
| Classic Tee · Black / L | CLT-BLK-L |
| Classic Tee · Black / XL | CLT-BLK-XL |
| Classic Tee · White / S | CLT-WHT-S |
| Classic Tee · White / M | CLT-WHT-M |
| Classic Tee · White / L | CLT-WHT-L |
| Classic Tee · White / XL | CLT-WHT-XL |
| Classic Tee · Navy / S | CLT-NVY-S |
| Classic Tee · Navy / M | CLT-NVY-M |
| Classic Tee · Navy / L | CLT-NVY-L |
| Classic Tee · Navy / XL | CLT-NVY-XL |
| Canvas Tote · Natural | CNT-NTL |
| Canvas Tote · Black | CNT-BLK |
| Wine Tasting · 2 | WNT-2 |
| Wine Tasting · 4 | WNT-4 |
| Wine Tasting · 6 | WNT-6 |
| Gift Card · 25 | GFC-25 |
| Gift Card · 50 | GFC-50 |
| Gift Card · 100 | GFC-100 |
Sell appointments, classes, or tastings too? Take bookings in your Shopify store.
Install free on ShopifyHow to add SKUs to every product in your Shopify store
You don't need to retype anything. Your products, options, and any SKUs you already have are all in Shopify's product export.
- 1
Export your products
In your Shopify admin, go to Products and click Export. Choose All products and “CSV file for Excel, Numbers, or another spreadsheet program”, then click Export products. Shopify emails you the file. Keep a copy: it is also your backup.
- 2
Upload it to the generator
Above, choose Upload from Shopify and upload the file. It is read in your browser and never sent to us.
- 3
Pick a format
Set a prefix, a product code length, and a separator until the SKUs read the way you want. Variants that already have a SKU keep it unless you untick the box.
- 4
Download the import file
Click Download import file. It contains only each variant’s handle, options, and SKU, so prices, stock, descriptions, and images are left alone.
- 5
Import it into Shopify
In Shopify, go to Products, click Import, then Add file. Tick Overwrite products with matching handles, click Upload and continue, check the preview, and click Import products.
A Shopify import can't be cancelled once it starts, so try it with a few products first. In the export dialog, pick Products you have selected instead of All products.
How the SKUs are built
Each SKU is made of parts joined by your separator, always in the same order, so anyone on your team can read a code and know what it is.
AB-CLT-BLK-M
- AB
- Your prefix, if you set one: a brand or store code.
- CLT
- The product code, shortened from the title (Classic Tee).
- BLK
- The first option value (Black). Vowels drop out of long words.
- M
- The next option value (Medium). Common sizes become S, M, L, XL.
- Two products that shorten the same way get different codes (CLT and CLT2), so no SKU repeats.
- Option values that shorten the same way within a product are told apart too.
- Accents and symbols are removed, so codes stay safe for spreadsheets, barcode labels, and scanners.
- Turn on the product number to add a fixed number per product (001, 002, …) if you prefer numbered codes.
Common questions
Is this SKU generator really free?
Yes. It is free to use as often as you like, with no account, no email, and nothing to install. Upload your export, download the SKUs, and you are done.
What is a SKU in Shopify?
A SKU (stock keeping unit) is your own code for one variant of a product, like CLT-BLK-M for a black medium tee. Shopify stores it on each variant, in the Inventory section of the product page, and uses it to search, report on, and track stock.
Does Shopify create SKUs automatically?
No. Shopify leaves the SKU field blank until you fill it in, which is why stores with many variants end up with missing or inconsistent codes. This generator gives every variant a code in one pass.
What makes a good SKU format?
Start with the product, then add each variant attribute in a fixed order: product, color, size. Keep it short (about 8 to 12 characters), use only capital letters, numbers, and dashes, and never start with a zero, because spreadsheets drop leading zeros. Don't put prices or dates in a SKU, since those change and the code shouldn't.
How do I add these SKUs to Shopify in bulk?
Export your products from Shopify (Products, then Export), upload that file to this generator, and click Download import file. Then in Shopify go to Products, click Import, add the file, tick Overwrite products with matching handles, and import. The file only contains each variant's handle, options, and SKU, so Shopify leaves prices, stock, and images alone. For a few products, it is quicker to paste each SKU into the variant's SKU field by hand.
Will this change my existing SKUs?
Not unless you want it to. When you upload an export, variants that already have a SKU keep it, and new SKUs are checked against them so none repeat. Untick Keep SKUs my products already have to replace every SKU with the new format.
Is my product file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read by your browser and the SKUs are worked out on your computer. Nothing is sent to our servers.
What is the difference between a SKU and a barcode?
A SKU is an internal code you make up for your own store. A barcode (UPC, EAN, or ISBN) is a standard number issued through GS1 so scanners and other retailers can identify the product. Shopify has a separate Barcode field, and a variant can have both.
Should services and bookings have SKUs?
Yes. If you sell appointments, classes, or tastings as Shopify products, a SKU per variant (WNT-2 for a two-guest tasting, for example) keeps them easy to find in orders and reports, and separate from your physical stock.