How to Use Etsy Sections to Improve Shop Navigation (and Sales)

Etsy sections are the built-in way to group your listings into easy-to-click shop categories, so shoppers can browse with confidence instead of bouncing after one view. Done well, they tighten shop navigation by matching how customers actually shop, like by product type, recipient, size, or occasion, and by using short, clear section names that scan quickly on mobile. Keep each group distinct, move new listings into the right section as you publish, and retire empty or outdated groupings so the shop stays clean. The biggest upgrade usually comes from one small shift: organizing for buyer intent, not your own workflow.

What are Etsy shop sections and how shoppers use them?

Where sections appear on desktop and mobile

Etsy shop sections are the custom groups you create to organize listings inside your shop, like “Stud Earrings,” “Personalized Gifts,” or “Under $25.” For shoppers, sections act like quick filters. They help people jump to the part of your catalog that matches what they came for, without scrolling your entire “All items” feed.

On desktop, sections typically show up as a set of links on your shop home, so buyers can click a section name and see only those listings. On mobile (and in the Etsy app), sections still appear on your shop home, but they may be presented in a more compact layout. The goal is the same: fewer taps to reach the right products.

If you want the official Etsy definition and the exact behavior Etsy supports, Etsy covers shop section basics in How to Create and Manage Shop Sections.

What happens when a section is empty

Empty sections do not show on your public shop page. That is helpful for keeping your navigation clean, but it can also confuse you during setup if you expect a new section to appear before you add items. The fix is simple: assign at least one active listing to the section.

One listing per section rule

Each Etsy listing can belong to only one shop section at a time. That means your sections work best when they are mutually exclusive. If a product fits multiple themes (for example, “Birthday Gift” and “Best Sellers”), choose the section that matches the buyer’s most likely browsing path, then use your photos, title, and tags to cover the other angles.

Adding, editing, renaming, and deleting Etsy shop sections in Shop Manager

Create a new section

Creating Etsy shop sections is easiest from your Listings area, because you can build the section and immediately start organizing items into it.

On Etsy.com, go to Shop Manager → Listings. In the Sections area, choose Organize your listings, enter a section name, then save. If you already have sections and want to add another, select Manage and then Add section. Etsy’s official walkthrough is in How to Create and Manage Shop Sections.

Practical tip: name the section based on how a buyer would browse, not how you make it. “Gold Hoop Earrings” is clearer than “Hoops 2.0,” and it helps the shopper self-select faster.

Rename or delete a section

Renaming is a normal part of keeping your shop navigation up to date. In Shop Manager → Listings, select Manage next to Sections. Use the pencil icon next to the section you want to change, then update the name and save.

If you delete a section, Etsy does not deactivate the listings that were inside it. Those items simply fall back into All items until you assign them to a new section. That makes deleting a low-performing section fairly low risk, as long as you remember to re-categorize the listings afterward.

Section limits and name length rules

Etsy allows up to 20 custom shop sections, plus the default All items section. Section names can be up to 24 characters. Sections with no listings in them won’t show on your public shop page, so you don’t have to worry about shoppers clicking into an empty category. (help.etsy.com)

Moving listings into sections and using bulk actions

Assign a section while editing a listing

When you’re editing a single listing, assigning the right Etsy section is a quick win for shop navigation. Open Shop Manager → Listings, click the listing you want to update, then find the Section field in the listing editor and choose the best match. Save your changes.

This is the cleanest option when you’re publishing new items, or when only a few listings need to be moved. It also helps you stay consistent as your shop grows, so you don’t end up with a great product buried in “All items.”

Change sections for multiple listings at once

If you need to reorganize fast, use Etsy’s bulk tools. In Shop Manager → Listings, select the checkboxes for the items you want to move, then choose Editing options → Change section, pick the destination section, and select Apply. Etsy supports using the same workflow to remove items from a section, too. How to Create and Manage Shop Sections lays out the exact steps.

Bulk actions are especially useful for seasonal shifts (like moving holiday designs into a “Gifts” section) or for cleaning up after you add new product lines.

Fixing misplaced or unassigned items

If shoppers keep landing in “All items,” it often means listings are unassigned or sitting in the wrong section. A fast fix is to filter your Listings view by section, then:

Move obvious misfits in bulk (same product family, wrong section).
Make a short list of “straddler” products that could fit two categories, then pick the section that matches buyer intent best.

Because each listing can only live in one Etsy section, the goal is not perfection. It’s a shop structure that feels intuitive the moment someone starts browsing.

Section naming ideas that match buyer intent and increase clicks

Product type and category based names

The most clickable Etsy section names usually look boring in the best way. They mirror what a shopper is already thinking and typing. Start with clear product type sections, then split only when you have enough listings to justify it.

Good examples:

“Stud Earrings”
“Hoop Earrings”
“Name Necklace”
“Wedding Signs”
“Digital Downloads”
“Sticker Packs”

If you sell variations of the same product, category-based sections reduce decision fatigue. “Brass Candlesticks” beats “Home Decor” because it tells the buyer exactly what they will see. Keep names short and scannable, especially since Etsy section names have a character limit.

Gift, occasion, and seasonal section names

Gift-led browsing is huge on Etsy, so sections that match a shopper’s moment can earn more clicks than maker-style categories.

Try names like:

“Gifts for Mom”
“Gifts for Him”
“Teacher Gifts”
“Bridesmaid Gifts”
“Housewarming Gifts”
“Birthday Gifts”

For seasonal traffic, keep it simple and rotate as needed:

“Valentine’s Day”
“Mother’s Day”
“Christmas Gifts”
“Graduation”

Tip: only create seasonal sections when you have a real assortment. A section with two items rarely helps navigation, and it can make your menu feel cluttered.

Price, size, or shipping based sections

These sections work best as “shop by constraint” options. They help buyers self-filter fast, especially on mobile.

Common high-intent ideas:

“Under $25”
“Stocking Stuffers”
“Mini” or “Large Size”
“Custom Sizes”
“Ready to Ship”
“Ships Free” (only if your shop actually offers it consistently)

Use these sparingly. One or two constraint-based sections can increase browsing speed. Too many can make your Etsy shop sections feel like a maze.

Ordering sections to guide shoppers to best sellers

Your Etsy section list is not just organization. It is a menu. Many shoppers will click the first few options they see, especially on mobile. Put your highest-converting categories near the top: best sellers, core product types, and your most giftable items.

A simple approach that works for most shops is:

Best sellers or “Shop Favorites” (if you have enough items to justify it)
Your main product type sections
Gift or occasion sections
Seasonal sections (only when in season)
Everything else

This keeps browsing friction low and helps more people land on proven listings early.

Using sections to build bundles and collections

Sections can also increase average order value by making add-ons and sets easy to find. If you sell items that pair naturally, create sections that encourage “complete the set” behavior, like “Sets and Bundles,” “Add-ons,” or “Matching Items.”

Collections work well when they reflect a real shopping mindset, such as:

“Minimalist Styles”
“Colorful Gifts”
“Personalized”
“Wedding Party”

The key is clarity. If a shopper clicks a collection, they should instantly understand the theme from the first screen of listings.

Avoiding too many sections and cluttered menus

More sections are not always better. A long, messy section list can slow shoppers down and hide what you actually want them to buy. If a section has only a few listings for long periods, it is usually better to fold those items into a broader section.

Aim for a tight set of sections that stay accurate. If your catalog changes often, consider doing a quick monthly cleanup: remove outdated seasonal sections, merge duplicates, and rename anything that sounds like internal jargon instead of shopper language.

How to test and refine your section setup using Etsy stats

A/B testing section names and section order

What to track: views, favorites, conversion, AOV

Run simple tests by changing only one thing at a time: either a section name or the order of your Etsy shop sections. Keep the change live long enough to collect real traffic, and avoid testing during unusual spikes (like a major holiday weekend) if you want cleaner signals.

In Shop Manager → Stats, focus on a few numbers that reflect buyer intent and buyer action:

Views and visits: If a renamed section gets more clicks, you’ll often see an increase in listing views per visit and more traffic flowing to the listings in that section.
Favorites: Favorites are a strong early signal that the section name matches what shoppers want, even before they purchase.
Conversion rate: Etsy defines conversion rate as orders divided by visits. If clicks go up but conversion drops, the section label may be attracting the wrong shoppers. The Shop Stats Glossary is useful for double-checking metric definitions.
AOV (average order value): Etsy doesn’t label AOV as a standalone stat in the main overview, but you can calculate it as Revenue ÷ Orders for the same date range. If you’re trying to increase order value, watch whether your “Bundles” or “Sets” section changes push that number up.

Auditing and pruning underperforming sections over time

Every few weeks, scan your sections like a buyer would. If a section stays thin, gets little engagement, or creates confusion, merge it into a clearer parent category.

A practical cleanup rhythm:

Remove seasonal sections as soon as the season ends.
Combine overlapping sections that compete for the same listings.
Rename vague sections (like “Collection” or “New”) into shopper language tied to product type or occasion.

Over time, the goal is a section setup that stays tight, readable, and aligned with what your Etsy stats say shoppers actually click and buy.