SKU Generator for Shopify
Create consistent, organized SKU codes for your Shopify products in seconds.
A well-structured SKU system makes inventory management, order fulfillment, and product tracking significantly easier. This tool helps you establish a consistent naming convention for your entire catalog.
Generator
Step 1: Upload CSV
Drop your CSV file here, or click to browse
Works with any CSV — Shopify exports, custom files, etc.
SKU Best Practices
- Keep SKUs short (8-12 characters) for easy scanning and data entry
- Avoid special characters except dashes or underscores
- Start with letters, not numbers, for compatibility with spreadsheets
- Use consistent formatting across all products
- Avoid characters that look similar (0/O, 1/I/l)
What is a SKU?
A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a unique alphanumeric code that identifies each distinct product and variant in your inventory. Unlike barcodes (which are universal), SKUs are internal codes you create to organize your own catalog.
SKUs vs Other Identifiers
| Code | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SKU | Your internal inventory tracking | NKE-SHR-BLU-M |
| UPC/EAN | Universal barcode for retail | 012345678901 |
| Shopify Variant ID | Shopify's internal reference | 40123456789012 |
| ISBN | Book identification | 978-3-16-148410-0 |
What Makes a Good SKU?
- Readable — You can understand it at a glance
- Scannable — Works with barcode systems if needed
- Scalable — Room to add new products without conflicts
- Consistent — Follows the same format across all products
Common SKU Formats
There's no single "correct" SKU format. Choose one that fits your business:
Category-Based
Best for stores with many product categories.
Brand-First
Best for multi-brand retailers.
Location-Aware
Best for multi-warehouse operations.
Simple Sequential
Best for small catalogs or getting started quickly.
Why SKUs Matter for Shopify Stores
Warehouse staff can locate products instantly with meaningful SKUs instead of memorizing product names.
Track stock levels precisely for each variant. Know exactly how many Blue Medium shirts you have.
Analyze sales by category, brand, or variant by filtering SKU patterns in your reports.
Communicate with suppliers using your SKU system. No confusion about which exact variant you need.
SKUs in Shopify
Shopify stores each variant's SKU in the product admin. You can:
- Search orders by SKU
- Filter inventory reports by SKU
- Export SKUs for third-party tools
- Use SKUs in fulfillment apps and warehouse systems
Tips for Shopify Merchants
Starting Fresh?
If you're setting up SKUs for the first time:
- Audit your catalog — List all product types, brands, colors, and sizes you carry
- Choose your format — Pick a structure that can grow with your business
- Document it — Create a reference guide for your team
- Be consistent — Apply the same format to all products
Already Have SKUs?
If you need to update existing SKUs:
- Export your products — Download your catalog from Shopify
- Map old to new — Create a spreadsheet linking current SKUs to new ones
- Update gradually — Change SKUs in batches to avoid inventory issues
- Communicate changes — Notify fulfillment partners and update integrations
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using only numbers —
001234can cause issues in Excel (leading zeros get stripped) - Special characters — Avoid
#,&,%,/— they can break imports and URLs - Too long — Keep SKUs under 15 characters for easy scanning and data entry
- Spaces — Use dashes or underscores instead of spaces
- Inconsistency — Mixing formats makes searching and filtering difficult