Field name
Category
Include
How should it be shortened?
Example outputAPP
Free inventory tool
SKU Generator
Build consistent product codes, paste rows from a spreadsheet, import CSV files, and export the finished catalog from your browser.
- No sign-up
- Bulk paste supported
- CSV import and export
How to Generate a SKU
A SKU (stock keeping unit) is a short code you create to identify a product in your own inventory. There's no universal format to follow — it only needs to make sense to you and your team.
Think of it as a compact product label. For example, APP-CLA-1001 could mean apparel, classic tee, product 1001. At a glance, you know which product the code belongs to.
A useful SKU is easy to read, follows the same pattern for every product, and is different from every other SKU in your list.
What can go into your SKU?
- A category — such as Apparel, Shoes, or Home.
- A product clue — usually a few letters from the product name.
- A unique ID — a number or code that belongs to only one product.
- A variant detail — such as color, size, or material, when you need to tell similar products apart.
You don't need to include everything. Choose only the details that help you recognize the product, then join them with a hyphen, underscore, period, or no separator at all.
To use this tool, start with Step 1 below. In Step 1: SKU Settings, choose what your SKUs should contain and watch the example update as you make changes. If you select Custom Code, Step 2: Custom Codes appears so you can define your own short codes. In Step 3: Products, add products one at a time, paste them from a spreadsheet, or import a CSV — the tool will generate each SKU automatically. Finally, use Step 4: SKU Lookup to search the products currently on the page.
One important note: your products are not saved after you refresh or close this page. Export your CSV before you leave if you want to keep a copy.
Step 1 of 4 Complete
SKU settings
Choose the pieces and format used to build every SKU.
Your SKU will look like
Preview uses: Apparel · Classic T-Shirt · 1001 · Navy · Medium · Cotton
| Field | Include | Abbreviation ruleChoose how each piece gets shortened — e.g. “Apparel” → “APP” | Example output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | APP | ||
| Product Name | CLA | ||
| ID | Full text Locked | 1001 | |
| COLOR | |||
| SIZE | |||
| MATERIAL |
Choose how each piece gets shortened — for example, “Apparel” becomes “APP”.
Field name
Product Name
Include
How should it be shortened?
Example outputCLA
Field name
ID
Include
How should it be shortened?
Full text Locked
Example output1001
Field name
Include
How should it be shortened?
Example outputCOLOR
Field name
Include
How should it be shortened?
Example outputSIZE
Field name
Include
How should it be shortened?
Example outputMATERIAL
Step 2 of 4 Complete
Custom codes
Match full field values to shorter codes. Matching is not case-sensitive.
| Category or field value | SKU code | Actions |
|---|---|---|
Step 3 of 4 Complete
Products
Enter products manually, paste cells from a spreadsheet, or import a CSV file.
This is sample data — clear it or start adding your own.
| Product Name | Category | ID | Color | Size | Material | Price | Generated SKU | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
APP-CLA-1001 | ||||||||
ACC-CAN-1002 |
Product 1
Classic T-Shirt
Generated SKU
APP-CLA-1001
Product 2
Canvas Tote
Generated SKU
ACC-CAN-1002
Step 4 of 4
SKU lookup
Find a generated SKU and inspect its complete product record.
Select a product
Its full record will appear here.
SKU guide
Build a SKU system that stays useful as you grow
The generator creates the codes. These practical examples and rules will help you choose a format your team can understand and reuse.
The payoff
Why use a SKU generator?
A repeatable format is easier to maintain than inventing a new code every time a product is added.
Stay consistent
Use the same field order, abbreviations, and separators across your entire catalog.
Reduce mistakes
Rule-based codes prevent spelling differences and accidental formatting changes.
Separate variants
Give each size, color, material, or model a code that cannot be confused with another.
Work in bulk
Generate a full catalog from a spreadsheet and export it in a reusable CSV file.
Real-world patterns
SKU examples for different businesses
There is no single correct format. These examples show how recognizable product details can become short, structured codes.
| Business | Product | Example SKU |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Classic navy T-shirt, medium | APP-CLA-NVY-M-1001 |
| Cosmetics | Lavender body butter, 200 ml | COS-LAV-200-1002 |
| Food | Chilli sauce, 500 ml | FOD-CHI-500-1003 |
| Electronics | Wireless mouse, black | ELE-WIR-BLK-1004 |
| Furniture | Oak dining chair | FUR-DIN-OAK-1005 |
| Jewelry | Silver ring, size 8 | JEW-RIN-SLV-08-1006 |
These are examples, not required formats. Choose abbreviations that are obvious to the people who work with your inventory.
Keep it dependable
SKU naming best practices
A good SKU should still make sense months from now, when your catalog and team are larger.
Keep it readable
Use short, recognizable pieces instead of a long random string.
Keep one field order
Category-name-color-ID is useful only when every product follows that same order.
Make variants unique
Different sizes, colors, or models need different SKUs when they are tracked separately.
Avoid confusing characters
Be careful with pairs such as O and 0 or I and 1, especially on printed labels.
Leave price out
Prices change. Build SKUs from product details that are likely to stay the same.
Document your codes
Keep a simple list of custom abbreviations so everyone uses the same language.
Know the difference
SKU vs. UPC, barcode, serial number, and product ID
These identifiers can appear beside one another, but they solve different problems.
| Identifier | Assigned by | What it identifies | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKU | Your business | A product or variant in your catalog | APP-CLA-M-1001 |
| UPC / EAN | A standards organization | A trade item across retailers | 012345678905 |
| Barcode | Generated from encoded data | A scannable representation of a value | Visual bars or a 2D code |
| Serial number | The manufacturer | One individual physical unit | SN-A84K-2190 |
| Product ID | Your software or database | A record inside a particular system | 1001 |
Save time
How to generate SKUs in bulk
You do not need to enter a large catalog cell by cell. Use the workflow that matches where your product data lives today.
Paste from a spreadsheet
Copy rows from Excel or Google Sheets, click the first matching product cell, and paste. New rows are created automatically.
Import and map a CSV
Upload any CSV, match its columns to the generator fields, and leave missing fields blank. Imported SKU values are ignored and rebuilt consistently.
Export the finished catalog
Download every product and its generated SKU as CSV, ready to open in a spreadsheet or import into another inventory tool.
Common questions
SKU generator FAQ
Quick answers for choosing, generating, and maintaining product SKU codes.
What does SKU stand for?
SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit. It is an internal code a business creates to identify and organize a product or product variant.
Do I create my own SKU numbers?
Yes. Unlike a UPC or EAN, there is no universal authority that assigns SKUs. You choose a format that is useful for your own catalog and keep that format consistent.
Does every product need a unique SKU?
Every separately tracked product should have a unique SKU. Reusing a SKU can make stock counts, orders, imports, and reports point to the wrong item.
Should each size or color have a different SKU?
Yes, if you track or sell those variants separately. A navy medium shirt and a navy large shirt should have different SKUs so their stock cannot be confused.
Can a SKU contain letters and numbers?
Yes. SKUs commonly combine letters and numbers. This generator also supports hyphens, underscores, periods, or no separator, and converts the finished SKU to uppercase.
How long should a SKU be?
There is no required length. Aim for a code that is short enough to read and type but detailed enough to stay unique. For many catalogs, roughly 8 to 20 characters works well.
Is a SKU the same as a barcode or UPC?
No. A SKU is your own internal product code. A UPC or EAN is a standardized identifier, while a barcode is the scannable visual pattern that can encode a SKU, UPC, or another value.
Should I include the price in a SKU?
Usually not. Prices change, while a SKU should remain stable. Use product characteristics such as category, name, color, size, material, or a permanent ID instead.
Can I change a SKU later?
You can, but frequent changes may break spreadsheet references, marketplace listings, reports, or integrations. It is better to choose a clear pattern first and change existing SKUs only when necessary.
How can I generate SKUs in bulk?
Paste rows directly from Excel or Google Sheets, or import a CSV and map its columns to the product fields. The generator creates every SKU using the same rules, and you can export the finished catalog as CSV.
Does this SKU generator save or upload my products?
No. The tool runs in your browser and does not send your product list to a backend. Your session is cleared when you refresh or close the page, so export your CSV before leaving.