How To Import And Export CSV Products On Shopify

To import or export product price lists in Shopify, start by exporting your product catalog as a CSV from Products > Export. Update pricing directly in the file, then return to Products > Import to upload the edited CSV. For more complex pricing or automated workflows, you can also use Shopify’s B2B catalogs or third-party pricing apps.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything from basic CSV export and import procedures to advanced automation techniques for high-volume stores. We’ll cover troubleshooting common issues, optimizing workflows for B2B operations, and implementing best practices that prevent costly mistakes.

What Is CSV Import/Export in Shopify?

Overview of CSV Capabilities

CSV import/export in Shopify is a powerful feature that allows you to manage large amounts of store data through spreadsheet files. This functionality enables bulk operations that would otherwise require manual, time-intensive work through the admin interface.

Shopify supports CSV operations for several key data types:

• Products and variants – Including titles, descriptions, pricing, SKUs, and inventory
• Pricing information – Compare at prices, cost per item, and variant-specific pricing
• Inventory quantities – Stock levels across multiple locations
• Customer data – Contact information, tags, and group assignments
• Collections and tags – Product organization and categorization
• Metafields – Custom data fields for enhanced product information

The CSV format enables seamless integrations with external systems like ERPs, PIMs, and supplier databases, making it essential for businesses operating at scale.

Key Use Cases Of CSV Import/Export

Understanding when to leverage CSV import/export functionality helps maximize efficiency:

• Bulk product uploads – Essential for new stores or major catalog expansions
• Platform migrations – Moving from WooCommerce, Magento, or other ecommerce platforms
• Price management – Seasonal adjustments, promotional pricing, or cost-based updates
• Inventory synchronization – Keeping stock levels accurate across multiple sales channels
• B2B price list distribution – Creating customer-specific pricing for wholesale operations
• Supplier catalog updates – Integrating new products and pricing from vendor feeds
• International market expansion – Managing multi-currency and region-specific pricing

Required Columns for Product CSV File

Understanding which columns are required in your Shopify product CSV file is crucial for a successful import. The requirements vary depending on whether you’re creating new products or updating existing ones.

Required Columns by Action Type

Action	Required Columns	Notes
Creating new products	Title	Minimum requirement to create a product
Creating products with variants	Title, Handle	Handle groups variants under the same product
Updating existing products	Handle, Title	Both needed to identify and modify products

Column Dependencies

If You Include	You Must Also Include	Reason
Variant data (SKU, Weight, Price)	Option1 Name, Option1 Value	Required to match data to correct variant
Inventory Tracker = “shopify”	Continue selling when out of stock, Fulfillment Service	Both fields required when tracking is enabled
Option2 Value	Option2 Name	Option names must be defined before values
Option3 Value	Option3 Name	Option names must be defined before values
Variant Image	Image Src	Variant images require the image URL field

Default Values for Optional Columns

Column	Default Value When Empty	Impact
Vendor	Blank	No vendor assigned
Product Type	Blank	No type categorization
Tags	Blank	No tags applied
Published	TRUE	Product visible in online store
Published Scope	web	Published to online store by default
Variant Inventory Tracker	blank	No inventory tracking
Variant Inventory Policy	deny	Stop selling when out of stock
Variant Fulfillment Service	manual	Manual fulfillment required
Variant Weight Unit	lb	Pounds as default weight unit
Variant Taxable	TRUE	Product is taxable by default

Important Formatting Rules

Rule	Requirement	Example
Column headers	Case-sensitive, exact match required	“Handle” not “handle”
Handle format	Lowercase, hyphens only, no spaces	“summer-t-shirt” ✓, “Summer T-Shirt” ✗
Boolean values	TRUE or FALSE (all caps)	“TRUE” ✓, “true” ✗
Multiple tags	Comma-separated	“summer, sale, new”
Multiple images	Separate rows, same handle	Each image on its own row

How To Export Your Product Price Lists from Shopify

Exporting Products with Current Pricing

Exporting your current price list is the foundation for bulk price management. Follow these steps to export your complete product catalog:

1. Navigate to Products – In your Shopify admin, go to Products > All products
2. Apply filters (optional) – Use the filter options to narrow down specific product collections, vendors, or tags
3. Select Export – Click the “Export” button in the top-right corner
4. Choose export options:
   • Current page: Exports only visible products (up to 50)
   • All products: Exports your entire catalog (recommended for price lists)
   • Selected products: Exports only manually selected items
5. Select “Products” format – Choose the standard product export (includes pricing)
6. Download the file – Click “Export products” and wait for the email notification

The exported CSV will include all essential pricing columns: Price, Compare At Price, Cost per item, and variant-specific pricing for products with multiple options.

Customizing Export (Fields, Pricing, etc.)

Shopify’s standard export includes comprehensive product data, but you can optimize the file for specific use cases:

Key columns for price list management:

• Handle – Unique product identifier (critical for re-import)
• Title – Product name for easy identification
• Variant SKU – Individual variant tracking
• Variant Price – The selling price
• Variant Compare At Price – Original/MSRP pricing
• Cost per item – Your wholesale cos
• t (for margin calculations)

Best practices for export customization:

• Remove unnecessary columns (descriptions, images) for cleaner price-focused files
• Sort by collections or vendor for organized price reviews
• Add date stamps to filenames for version control
• Maintain the “Handle” column – it’s required for successful re-imports

Exporting for B2B/Wholesale Price Lists

B2B operations often require specialized price list exports tailored to different customer segments. While Shopify’s native export doesn’t include customer-specific pricing, you can create targeted exports:

Segmenting B2B exports:

• Use product tags to identify wholesale-only items
• Export by vendor for supplier-specific price lists
• Filter by collections to create category-based pricing sheets
• Utilize metafields for wholesale cost information

For advanced B2B price list management, consider specialized apps like B2Bridge, which provide customer-specific pricing exports and automated wholesale catalog generation.

How To Import Price Lists and Product Data into Shopify with CSV

Download and Understand the Shopify CSV Template

Before importing your price updates, it’s crucial to understand Shopify’s CSV template structure:

Required fields for imports:

• Handle – Must match existing products exactly (case-sensitive)
• Title – Product name (required for new products)

Key pricing fields:

• Variant Price – The selling price (supports up to 2 decimal places)
• Variant Compare At Price – Original or MSRP pricing
• Variant SKU – Unique identifier for inventory tracking
• Cost per item – Your wholesale cost for margin analysis

Critical template requirements:

• Column headers must match Shopify’s exact formatting
• UTF-8 encoding prevents character display issues
• No special characters in handles or SKUs
• Price format: Use decimals (19.99) not currency symbols ($19.99)

To download the current template: Go to Products > Import, and click “Download sample CSV file” to ensure you have the latest format.

Preparing Your Spreadsheet for Import

Proper preparation prevents 90% of import failures. Follow these best practices:

Do’s:

• Always start with an exported file from your store
• Keep the Handle column unchanged for existing products
• Use consistent decimal formatting (2 places: 19.99)
• Save as UTF-8 encoded CSV
• Test with a small batch first

Don’ts:

• Don’t modify the Handle for existing products
• Don’t use currency symbols in price columns
• Don’t leave required fields empty
• Don’t exceed Shopify’s 5MB file size limit
• Don’t ignore case sensitivity in headers

>> How To Calculate Your Wholesale Pricing: Formulas & Tips To Set Up

Shopify CSV Import Process: Step by Step Guide

Once your CSV is properly formatted, follow these steps for successful import:

1. Navigate to Import – Go to Products > Import in your Shopify admin
2. Upload your file – Click “Add file” and select your prepared CSV
3. Review the preview – Shopify shows a preview of the first few rows
4. Choose import options:
   • “Overwrite any current products that have the same handle” (for price updates)
   • “Publish new products to all sales channels” (if adding new items)
5. Start the import – Click “Import products” to begin processing
6. Monitor progress – Large imports are processed in the background
7. Review results – Check the import summary for errors or warnings

Bulk Editing Prices Before Importing Products

The export-edit-reimport cycle is perfect for bulk price changes:

Spreadsheet formula examples:
Increase all prices by 10%:

=B2*1.1

(where B2 is the original price)

Apply tiered pricing:

=IF(B2>100, B2*0.9, B2*0.95)

(volume discounts)

Round to nearest .99:

=ROUND(B2,0)-0.01

(psychological pricing)

Advanced bulk editing options:

• Use Excel/Google Sheets’ find-and-replace for vendor-specific changes
• Apply conditional formatting to identify pricing errors before import
• Leverage pivot tables for price analysis by collection or vendor

Ready to streamline your B2B price list management?

B2Bridge offers advanced CSV automation, customer-specific pricing, and wholesale catalog management that goes beyond Shopify’s native capabilities. With features like automated price list distribution, customer segmentation, and real-time inventory sync, B2Bridge helps growing businesses scale their wholesale operations efficiently.

Explore B2Bridge’s wholesale solutions to discover how automated price list management can save you time and eliminate pricing errors while providing your B2B customers with the seamless experience they expect.

Troubleshooting: Common CSV Import/Export Issues in Shopify

Formatting and Encoding Problems

Format-related errors are the most common import failures:

Common encoding issues:

• Special characters appearing as question marks or symbols
• Accented characters not displaying correctly
• Currency symbols causing price import failures

Solutions:

Always save CSV files with UTF-8 encoding

Remove currency symbols from price columns

Use plain text editors (like Notepad) to verify encoding

Example of clean CSV headers:

Handle, Title, Variant Price, Variant Compare At Price, Variant SKU

product-handle-1, Product Name, 19.99,24.99, SKU-001

Invalid or Missing Columns

Shopify requires specific column names and formatting:

Must-have columns for imports:

• Handle (for existing products)
• Title (for new products)
• Variant Price (for price updates)

Common column errors:

• “Product Handle” vs “Handle” (must be exact)
• “Price” vs “Variant Price” (variant prefix required)
• Case sensitivity: “handle” vs “Handle” (capital H required)
• Extra spaces in column headers

Duplicate Handles or SKUs

Duplicates can cause import failures or overwrite unintended products:

Consequences of duplicates: 

• Import failures with error messages
• Accidental overwriting of existing products 
• Inventory tracking issues with duplicate SKUs

Prevention strategies:

• Use Excel’s “Remove Duplicates” feature before import
• Sort by Handle column to visually identify duplicates
• Implement SKU naming conventions to prevent conflicts
• Always backup your store before large imports

Data Validation & Error Recovery

Shopify validates data during import and provides detailed error reports:

Recovery steps for failed imports:

1. Review the error report – Shopify emails detailed failure reasons
2. Fix identified issues – Correct formatting, duplicates, or missing data
3. Re-import corrected file – Use the same process with updated CSV
4. Verify results – Check a sample of products to ensure correct updates
5. Restore from backup – If needed, use exported CSV to reverse changes

Advanced: Automating CSV Price List Management (For High-Volume/Wholesale Stores)

Scheduling Imports/Exports

High-volume stores benefit from automated CSV workflows:

Automation tool comparison:

Tool	Scheduling	Price Updates	B2B Features
Matrixify	Daily/Weekly	Advanced	Limited
Shopify Flow	Triggered	Basic	No
B2Bridge	Real-time	Advanced	Extensive
Custom Scripts	Flexible	Custom	Custom

Use cases for scheduled automation:

• Daily supplier price feed integration
• Weekly inventory level synchronization
• Monthly promotional price updates
• Seasonal catalog refreshes

Integrating with PIM or ERP Systems

Enterprise-level operations require seamless data integration:

Manual vs. Automated comparison:

Aspect	Manual CSV	Automated Integration
Time Investment	5-10 hours/week	1-2 hours setup
Error Rate	5-15%	<1%
Real-time Updates	No	Yes
Scalability	Limited	Unlimited
Cost	Time only	Software + setup

Integration scenarios:

• Real-time price updates from ERP systems
• Automated inventory synchronization across channels
• Supplier catalog integration with approval workflows
• Multi-location inventory management

Custom Price Lists for Different Customer Groups (B2B)

B2B operations require sophisticated pricing strategies:

Customer segmentation techniques:

• Tag-based pricing groups (VIP, Wholesale, Retail)
• Volume-based tier assignments
• Geographic region pricing
• Purchase history-based discounts

Implementation methods:

• Shopify Scripts for dynamic pricing
• B2B apps with customer-specific catalogs
• Metafields for storing wholesale prices
• Custom checkout experiences

Import/Export CSV Price Lists on Shopify: Best Practices & Pro Tips

Hiding and Displaying Prices for Different Users

B2B stores often need to control price visibility:

Steps to implement price control:

1. Set up customer accounts – Create wholesale customer accounts
2. Configure customer tags – Assign tags like “Wholesale” or “B2B”
3. Install B2B app – Use apps like B2Bridge for advanced price control
4. Configure price rules – Set visibility based on customer tags
5. Test thoroughly – Verify correct pricing for each customer type

Price visibility options:

• Hide prices for non-logged-in users
• Show “Login for pricing” messages
• Display different price tiers based on customer tags
• Require approval for wholesale account access

Multi-Currency and Regional Price Exports

International B2B operations require sophisticated pricing management:

Multi-currency considerations:

Challenge	Standard Solution	Advanced Solution
Exchange rates	Manual updates	Automated rate feeds
Regional pricing	Separate price lists	Dynamic regional pricing
Currency display	Basic conversion	Localized formatting
Tax implications	Manual calculation	Automated tax engines

Best practices:

• Export separate CSV files for each market
• Include currency codes in filename conventions
• Maintain base currency for internal cost tracking
• Regular exchange rate updates (weekly minimum)

Bulk Assigning Wholesale Prices and Discounts

Efficient wholesale price management requires systematic approaches:

Method 1: Metafield-based pricing

1. Create custom metafields for wholesale prices
2. Export products with metafield columns
3. Bulk update wholesale prices via CSV
4. Import updated metafields
5. Configure theme to display wholesale prices for tagged customers

Method 2: App-based solutions

• Use B2Bridge for automated wholesale pricing
• Configure percentage-based discounts by customer tag
• Set minimum order quantities for wholesale pricing
• Implement approval workflows for new wholesale accounts

Method 3: Product variant approach

• Create separate variants for wholesale pricing
• Hide retail variants from wholesale customers
• Manage inventory across both pricing tiers
• Use variant SKUs to differentiate pricing levels

Templates and Field Mappings

Consistent templates prevent errors and save time:

Template management checklist:

• Always start with current Shopify exports
• Document custom field mappings for team reference
• Create separate templates for different use cases (pricing, inventory, new products)
• Version control templates with date stamps
• Backup original files before modifications
• Test templates with small batches before full imports
• Share standardized templates across team members

Bulk Testing: Start Small, Then Scale

Safe scaling prevents catastrophic errors:

Testing workflow:

1. Select test products – Choose 5-10 representative items
2. Create test CSV – Include various product types and price ranges
3. Import to development store – Never test on live stores first
4. Verify results – Check pricing, inventory, and display accuracy
5. Iterate and improve – Refine process based on test results
6. Scale gradually – Increase batch sizes (50, 200, 500+)
7. Monitor performance – Watch for import timeouts or errors

Development store benefits:

• Risk-free testing environment
• Full Shopify functionality for testing
• Easy reset and retry capabilities
• Team collaboration on import processes

Security and Compliance

Protecting sensitive pricing data is crucial for B2B operations:

Data protection measures:

• Encrypt CSV files containing sensitive pricing
• Limit access to price list exports to authorized personnel
• Use secure file sharing platforms for distributor price lists
• Implement version control to track price changes
• Regular audit trails for pricing modifications

Compliance considerations:

• GDPR requirements for customer data in exports
• Regional pricing regulations and transparency laws
• Industry-specific pricing compliance (healthcare, automotive)
• Tax implications of pricing changes across regions
• Documentation requirements for pricing justification

Real-World Examples and Case Studies

Using CSV for Seasonal Price Changes

An outdoor gear retailer successfully implemented CSV-based seasonal pricing for their 2,000+ product catalog. During their Black Friday preparation, they:

• Exported their complete product catalog in early October
• Applied 15-40% discounts using Excel formulas based on product categories
• Created “Compare At Price” columns showing original pricing
• Tested the import with 50 products in a development store
• Executed the full import 48 hours before Black Friday launch
• Reversed pricing changes on Cyber Tuesday using their backup export

Results: The automated process saved 30+ hours of manual work and prevented pricing errors that occurred in previous years with manual updates.

Automating Supplier Price Updates

An electronics distributor integrated their supplier’s weekly price feeds with Shopify using automated CSV processing:

Implementation process:

1. Supplier provides weekly CSV with updated wholesale costs
2. Custom script applies markup formulas based on product categories
3. Automated validation checks for pricing errors or major changes
4. Approved updates import automatically via the Public API
5. Price change notifications sent to sales team

Benefits achieved:

• 95% reduction in pricing errors
• Same-day price updates instead of weekly delays
• Automated margin protection with minimum price rules
• Comprehensive audit trail for all pricing changes

Scaling B2B Price List Rollouts with B2Bridge

A wholesale distributor expanded from 50 to 500+ B2B customers using B2Bridge’s automated price list management:

Challenge: Manual price list creation for each customer segment was consuming 20+ hours weekly and causing customer service issues due to outdated pricing.

Solution implementation:

• Customer segmentation based on volume tiers and geographic regions
• Automated price list generation with customer-specific discounts
• Real-time price updates across all customer segments
• Self-service customer portals with current pricing

Results:

• 90% reduction in price list management time
• 100% pricing accuracy across all customer segments
• 40% increase in B2B order frequency due to pricing transparency
• Eliminated customer service issues related to outdated pricing

FAQs about Import/ Export CSV File Form Shopify

Conclusion

Mastering CSV import and export functionality in Shopify transforms how you manage pricing and product data. From basic price list exports to advanced B2B automation, these tools enable efficient, accurate, and scalable ecommerce operations. As your business grows, consider advanced solutions that integrate with your existing systems and provide the automation necessary for scale.