How to Set Up SKU Numbers for Etsy Listings (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

An Etsy SKU is a seller-created stock keeping unit that helps you identify exactly which item or variant sold, making inventory management and picking orders much easier. In Shop Manager, you can add it in the listing’s Inventory and pricing section, and if you sell options like size or color, turn on SKUs that vary for each variation so every option gets its own code. A good system is short, consistent, and unique, often combining a simple product family code with a color, size, or material shorthand, while avoiding confusing characters and special symbols. The sneaky mistake is using one code for multiple variants, which feels fine until refunds, restocks, and reorders start piling up.

SKU numbers on Etsy: what they are and why sellers use them

SKUs vs listing titles, options, and item numbers

On Etsy, a SKU is a short code you create to identify a product in your own system. It is not an official Etsy requirement, and it is not meant for shoppers. Think of it as your internal label for inventory, picking, packing, and reordering.

This is different from a listing title, which is customer-facing and helps shoppers understand what you sell. It is also different from variations (like size or color). Variations describe the choices a buyer selects. A good SKU helps you identify the exact choice that sold, especially when you have many similar options.

Etsy also assigns its own numbers behind the scenes, like listing IDs and order numbers. Those system IDs are useful for Etsy support and record-keeping, but they usually do not match how you store products in bins, shelves, or a spreadsheet. That is where seller-made SKUs shine. Etsy’s own guidance on SKUs keeps it simple and flexible, and it lives right in the listing’s Inventory and pricing section: SKU (Stock Keeping Unit).

What Etsy reports can and cannot do with SKUs

Etsy can store SKUs on listings, and you can also set SKUs to vary for each variation so each option has its own identifier. SKUs can also help you find items faster in Shop Manager when you are searching your listings.

Where SKUs really pay off is exports. Etsy’s CSV downloads can include SKU numbers (as long as you have added them), which makes it easier to reconcile sales and inventory in spreadsheets or other tools: download a spreadsheet of sold transactions.

What Etsy cannot do is “fix” your system for you. Etsy will not automatically create meaningful SKUs, prevent duplicates, or keep your Etsy inventory synced with inventory stored elsewhere. That part is still on you, which is why choosing a clear, consistent SKU format matters.

SKU naming conventions that stay readable and scalable

Common SKU formats that work for handmade products

The best Etsy SKU naming convention is the one you can still understand six months from now, even when you are tired and packing orders fast. Aim for a SKU that tells you the product “family” first, then the details that change.

Here are a few beginner-friendly formats that work well for handmade shops:

Product + variant: MUG-CLY-WHT-12 (mug, clay, white, 12 oz)
Collection + style + size: SOL-ERNG-HOOP-20 (Solar collection, earrings, hoop, 20 mm)
Core item + material + finish: BRC-SS-GLD (bracelet, stainless steel, gold finish)
One-of-a-kind items: OOAK-2026-014 (year + running number, easy to track)

If you sell made-to-order, build SKUs around the base item, then append the options that affect what you actually make.

Characters to avoid for fewer mix-ups

To keep SKUs readable across labels, spreadsheets, and shipping tools, avoid characters that look similar or break when copied:

Confusing characters: O vs 0, I vs 1, S vs 5
Spaces (harder to search and can import oddly)
Special symbols like &, #, ?, /, \, * (often cause issues in CSVs or other systems)

If you want letters, numbers, and one simple separator, you are in a safe zone.

Choosing a consistent separator and length

Pick one separator and stick to it shop-wide. Hyphens are the easiest to read: TEE-BLK-M. Underscores can work too, but mixing styles (TEE_BLK-M) gets messy fast.

For length, most Etsy sellers do best with 8 to 16 characters total, or 3 to 5 short “chunks.” Short enough to type quickly, long enough to stay unique. Before you commit, test your format on your top 20 listings and make sure it still works when you add new colors, sizes, or materials later.

Where to enter SKU numbers in Etsy Listing setup

Finding the SKU field in Inventory and Pricing

To add a SKU on Etsy, open the listing editor (create a new listing or edit an existing one). Then scroll to Inventory and pricing and look for the field labeled SKU. Type your code, then save your changes. Etsy treats the SKU as your internal identifier, so shoppers will not see it. You can review Etsy’s exact steps for adding SKUs in the help doc on How to Use SKU for Your Inventory.

If your listing uses variations (like size or color), you can also set SKUs per variation. In the Variations setup, toggle on the option to vary by SKU so each option can have its own code. This is worth doing if you stock different materials, pack different sizes, or store variants in different bins.

Saving SKUs on draft vs active listings

For draft listings, add the SKU while you are setting up your price and quantity. When you publish the listing, the SKU publishes with it.

For active listings, you can add or change the SKU by editing the listing and saving. The key is to keep your SKU stable once items have sold, unless you are also updating your off-Etsy records. Otherwise, your spreadsheets, labels, or storage locations can drift out of sync.

Bulk editing SKUs across multiple listings

Etsy’s built-in bulk edit tool is helpful when you need to update shared listing details across many items, but it does not let you bulk edit every field. Etsy lists what can and cannot be changed in bulk in Can I Create or Edit Multiple Listings at Once?.

If you need to update many SKUs, the most reliable approach is usually to plan your SKU format first, then update listings in batches (and log the changes) so you do not lose track of what you renamed.

SKUs for Etsy variations, including a SKU per variation

Assigning SKUs to size, color, or material options

If you sell variations on Etsy, a single SKU for the whole listing is usually not enough. You want a SKU per variation when different options have different stock levels, different storage locations, different costs, or different packaging.

The simplest setup is to give the parent listing a base SKU, then add a short “variant code” for each option. For example, your base might represent the product type, and the variation part represents size, color, or material.

Common cases where variation SKUs are especially helpful:

Size: so “Small” and “Large” do not get mixed up during packing.
Color: so a best-selling color can be reordered and counted correctly.
Material or finish: so you do not accidentally ship the wrong metal, wood, or coating.

In the listing’s Variations settings, look for the option that lets SKUs vary by variation, then fill in the SKU for each option. Etsy’s SKU help page walks through the same concept at a high level: How to Use SKU for Your Inventory.

Keeping parent listing and variation SKUs aligned

Consistency matters more than cleverness. Keep your parent listing SKU as the “umbrella,” and make every variation SKU start with that same base. That way, when you search, sort, or export orders, you can group related items instantly.

Try to keep the variant part in the same order every time (for example: color, then size, then material). If you swap the order across products, you will eventually misread a code while packing.

Example variation SKU patterns

Base + color + size: TSH-BLK-M, TSH-BLK-L, TSH-WHT-M
Base + material + length: NCK-SS-16, NCK-SS-18, NCK-14K-18
Base + scent + jar size: CND-LAV-4OZ, CND-LAV-8OZ, CND-VAN-8OZ
Base + pack count: STK-HEART-5PK, STK-HEART-10PK

Simple end-to-end SKU workflows for different Etsy products

One-of-a-kind items and made-to-order listings

For one-of-a-kind (OOAK) products, the goal is traceability, not “inventory math.” Use a SKU that is unique, then reuse the same SKU anywhere you track the item: your listing notes, storage tag, and a simple spreadsheet.

A clean OOAK workflow looks like this:

Create the SKU before you photograph. Put it on a sticky note in the photo set if you need to match images later.
Add the SKU in the listing’s Inventory and pricing section.
Store the item with the SKU visible (bin tag, bag label, or shelf card).
When it sells, search the SKU to confirm you are packing the exact piece.

For made-to-order listings, keep the SKU stable for the base product, then add variation SKUs for options that change how you make it (size, material, finish). Avoid stuffing every custom note into the SKU. Custom details belong in the buyer’s personalization field and your production notes.

Products with many variants and restocks

If you restock regularly or have many combinations, your SKUs should mirror how you stock and pick. Start with a base SKU for the product family, then use consistent option codes for each variation.

A practical restock workflow:

Set up a master SKU list (spreadsheet) with columns for SKU, option name, cost, reorder point, and storage location.
Assign a SKU to every variation on Etsy, not just the parent listing.
When you reorder, reorder by SKU, not by listing title. Titles change, and “Blue mug” can mean three different shades over time.
When you receive stock, label the bin or shelf with the SKU so picking stays fast during busy seasons.

Bundles, sets, and multipacks

Bundles and multipacks are where Etsy sellers get tripped up, because the buyer sees “Set of 3,” but you still need to track the components.

Use SKUs that make it obvious what you are shipping:

Bundle SKU: a unique code for the bundle itself, like BND-TEE-3PK.
Multipack count in the SKU: include 2PK, 3PK, 10PK so it is unmistakable on a packing slip.
If the bundle includes selectable options, add variation SKUs that include the pack size plus the option code, like STK-HEART-10PK-GLS vs STK-HEART-10PK-MAT.

This approach keeps your Etsy listing tidy while still giving you a clean way to pick, pack, and restock without guessing.

Auditing and cleaning up SKUs across your Etsy shop

Finding missing, duplicate, or inconsistent SKUs

A SKU audit is just a quick check to make sure your codes still mean what you think they mean. Start with the listings that create the most confusion: bestsellers, items with lots of variations, and anything you restock.

Here are the issues to look for:

Missing SKUs: listings where the SKU field is blank, or where only the parent listing has a SKU but variations do not.
Duplicate SKUs: the same code used on two different products or two different variants. This is the fastest way to ship the wrong item.
Inconsistent formats: mixed separators (- vs _), random abbreviations, or size and color in a different order across product lines.

Your easiest way to spot problems is to download your sold transactions as a CSV and scan the SKU column for blanks and repeats. Etsy supports exporting sold transactions, which is handy for this kind of cleanup: download a spreadsheet of sold transactions.

Renaming SKUs without breaking your own records

You can change SKUs on active Etsy listings, but do it carefully. A SKU change is not “wrong,” it just creates a before-and-after that you need to track.

A safe approach:

Choose the new format first. Do not rename as you invent.
Rename in small batches (10 to 25 listings), then verify a couple of recent orders show the SKU you expect.
Preserve old SKUs somewhere so you can match past orders, past labels, and older inventory notes.

If a product has sold under the old SKU, avoid reusing that old code for a different item later. It makes returns, remakes, and customer messages much harder to untangle.

Tracking changes in a simple SKU log

A SKU log can be as simple as a spreadsheet with five columns:

Date changed
Listing name (or listing ID)
Old SKU
New SKU
Notes (why you changed it, what variations it affects)

This small habit pays off the next time you are looking at an older order and wondering, “What did this SKU used to refer to?” It also keeps your Etsy SKUs aligned with whatever system you use for storage, production, and restocking.

Using Etsy SKUs for inventory tracking, fulfillment, and tools

Matching SKUs to packaging and pick lists

SKUs are most useful when they leave the screen and show up in your real workflow. Match each SKU to a physical location and a packaging standard.

For example, if CND-LAV-8OZ always ships in a specific box with a specific warning label and insert, write that down once. Then reuse it every time. When an order comes in, you can build a simple pick list that includes:

SKU
Quantity
Storage location (bin, shelf, drawer)
Packaging type (mailer, box size, bubble wrap)
Any add-ons (thank-you card, care instructions)

This reduces “reading the listing title carefully” as your main quality control, which is slow and error-prone during busy weeks.

Mapping Etsy SKUs to spreadsheets and analytics

If you use spreadsheets, treat the SKU as your one stable key. Listing titles, photos, and even descriptions evolve over time. A SKU should not.

A basic setup is one master sheet with one row per SKU (or per variation SKU) and columns like:

Product name (human-friendly)
Variant details (color, size, material)
Cost, price, and margin notes
Reorder point and supplier
Storage location
Status (active, seasonal, discontinued)

When you export orders, you can sort and filter by SKU to see what sells most, what is running low, and which variants create returns or mistakes.

Syncing SKUs with fulfillment and shipping software

If you connect Etsy to shipping or fulfillment tools, consistent SKUs help keep product mapping clean. Many tools rely on SKU matching to connect an order line item to the right saved package, preset, warehouse location, or product record.

Before you sync anything, clean up the basics:

Make SKUs unique across your shop.
Use the same SKU format for variations.
Avoid special characters that might import incorrectly.

Once your SKUs are steady, integrations become easier to maintain, and you spend less time fixing mismatched items when you are trying to ship orders quickly.