Field name
Category
Include
How should it be shortened?
Example outputAPP
InventoryFree inventory tool
Free SKU Generator
Create consistent SKU codes and SKU numbers for your products, paste rows from Excel or Google Sheets, import CSV files, and export the finished catalog from your browser.
Highlights
- No sign-up
- Bulk paste supported
- Variant builder
- 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. It's also called a SKU number, SKU code, or inventory code. 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. For a product that comes in several colors, sizes or materials, use Add variants to create a row for every combination at once. Finally, use Step 4: SKU Lookup to search the products currently on the page.
Step 1 of 4 Done
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
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 Done
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 Done
Products
Enter products manually, paste cells from a spreadsheet, or import a CSV file.
Free: 50 of 50 product exports left today · no sign-up
This is sample data — clear it or start adding your own.
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. The variant builder creates every combination in one step.
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.
Print SKUs as scannable barcodes →Leave price out
Prices change. Build SKUs from product details that are likely to stay the same, and print the price on a tag instead.
Make price tags →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 valueMake one with the Barcode Generator → | 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 your products and their generated SKUs as CSV (up to 50 a day for free), ready to open in a spreadsheet or import into another inventory tool.
Sizes, colors and materials
How to create SKUs for product variants
When one product comes in several options, each combination needs its own SKU. The variant builder creates every combination from a single entry.
Worked example: one T-shirt, 3 colors × 3 sizes
- In Step 3, click Add variants.
- Enter the product once: Classic T-Shirt, Apparel, ID 1001.
- List the colors (Navy, Black, White) and sizes (S, M, L). Leave Material empty, so it is ignored.
- Keep Share one ID. Color and Size are turned on in Step 1 so every SKU is different.
- Click Add 9 variants. The rows can be edited, looked up, exported or turned into barcodes like any other product.
Prefer a separate number for every variant? Choose Give each variant its own ID and the IDs count up from 1001, skipping any already in your table. Duplicates are flagged in the table either way.
| Color | Size | SKU |
|---|---|---|
| Navy | S | APP-CLA-1001-NAVY-S |
| Navy | M | APP-CLA-1001-NAVY-M |
| Navy | L | APP-CLA-1001-NAVY-L |
| Black | S | APP-CLA-1001-BLACK-S |
| Black | M | APP-CLA-1001-BLACK-M |
| Black | L | APP-CLA-1001-BLACK-L |
| White | S | APP-CLA-1001-WHITE-S |
| White | M | APP-CLA-1001-WHITE-M |
| White | L | APP-CLA-1001-WHITE-L |
Spreadsheet friendly
Use the SKU generator with Excel and Google Sheets
Keep your catalog in a spreadsheet and use the generator for the SKUs. Or start from a free template if you don't have a product list yet.
Free SKU template for Excel and Google Sheets
The template has the columns this generator expects: Product Name, Category, ID, Color, Size, Material, and Price. Open it in Excel or import it into Google Sheets, fill in your products, then import the CSV here or paste the rows into the product table.
- Download the template and add your products.
- Import it here or paste the rows into the product table.
- Export the generated SKUs as CSV and open the file in Excel or Google Sheets.
Prefer a spreadsheet formula?
With the template columns, this formula builds a SKU such as APP-CLA-1001 from the category, product name, and ID. It works in both Excel and Google Sheets:
=UPPER(LEFT(B2,3)&"-"&LEFT(A2,3)&"-"&C2)Formulas work well for simple catalogs. They become harder to manage once you need custom category codes, optional variant fields such as color or size, or a different separator. The generator handles all of these without formulas.
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.
How do I generate a SKU number?
Choose the product details your SKU should contain, such as category, product name, color, or size, and decide how each one is abbreviated. Then add a unique ID at the end, such as 1001, so no two products share a code. This generator applies those rules to every product, so each SKU number follows the same pattern.
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.
How do I generate SKUs for sizes and colours?
In Step 3, click Add variants. Enter the product once, list its colors and sizes (for example Navy, Black, White and S, M, L), and the generator adds a row for every combination, 9 rows in this case, each with its own SKU. If Color or Size isn't part of your SKU yet, it is turned on for you so the codes don't clash.
Should variants share an ID?
Either works. Sharing one ID, as in APP-CLA-1001-NAVY-S and APP-CLA-1001-BLACK-S, keeps the variants of one product grouped together, and the color and size make each SKU unique. Giving each variant its own ID (1001, 1002, 1003 and so on) keeps SKUs unique even without the variant details, which suits systems that need a separate number for every item. Choose one approach and use it across your catalog.
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. To print your SKUs as scannable Code 128 barcodes, use the free Barcode Generator.
Make barcodes for your SKUs →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. Put the price on a price tag instead: the Price Tag Maker prints tags with the price, sale price and, if you like, the SKU, and reads the SKU Generator's export as it is.
Make price tags for your products →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.
Can I create SKUs in Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. You can build SKUs with a spreadsheet formula, but keeping abbreviations and variants consistent gets harder as your catalog grows. Another option is to paste your rows into this generator and export the result as a CSV file, which opens in both Excel and Google Sheets.
Can I use these SKUs on Amazon, Shopify, or Zoho?
Yes. SKUs are your own codes, so you can use the same SKU across marketplaces and inventory tools. Check each platform's limits before you upload. Amazon seller SKUs, for example, can be up to 40 characters. Letters, numbers, and hyphens work almost everywhere.
Is this a random SKU generator?
No, and that is deliberate. Random codes are unique but do not tell you anything about the product. This generator builds each SKU from your product details and adds the ID you choose, so every code is readable and stays unique.
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.
Is the SKU generator free?
Yes. Generating, importing and looking up SKUs is free with no sign-up, and you can export up to 50 products a day to CSV. The allowance resets at midnight.
Related tools
Next step: barcodes and price tags
Turn your finished SKUs into Code 128 barcodes for scanning, or into price tags for your shelves, both printed on A4 sheets. They also run in your browser, with nothing uploaded.