01 — Ranking
Other free options, ranked
Shopify bulk editor + CSV
help.shopify.com
4.4Edit SKUs for all variants in Shopify's spreadsheet-style bulk editor.
- Best for
- Shopify stores applying generated SKUs to existing products.
- Free plan & limits
- Included in every Shopify plan. It doesn't generate codes, so you paste them in or import them by CSV (Variant SKU column).
Google Sheets formulas
sheets.google.com
4.2Build SKUs with =UPPER(LEFT(A2,3))&"-"&… formulas.
- Best for
- Large catalogs with existing product data in a sheet.
- Free plan & limits
- Free. It's flexible but easy to get wrong, and duplicate SKUs aren't flagged unless you add COUNTIF checks.
Inventory software (Zoho Inventory, Sortly)
zoho.com
4.1Inventory apps with automatic SKU numbering and barcodes.
- Best for
- Businesses that also need stock tracking, purchase orders and barcode labels.
- Free plan & limits
- Zoho Inventory has a free plan with order limits (about 50 orders per month). Sortly's free plan is limited to about 100 items. SKU rules are basic on free tiers.
02 — Comparison
Side by side
Scroll sideways to see every tool. The first column stays pinned.
| Feature / Criterion | This generator | Shopify bulk editor | Google Sheets | Zoho Inventory Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generates all variant combinations | Yes | No | With formulas | Partial |
| CSV export | Yes | Yes (product CSV) | Yes | Yes |
| Sequential numbering | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Stock tracking | No | Yes | Manual | Yes |
| Account required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
03 — Guide
How to create SKU codes step by step
Define the structure once
Order the segments from general to specific: [brand]-[category]-[attribute 1]-[attribute 2]-[number]. Write the rule down so every new product follows it.
Use short, fixed-length segments
Use 2–3 uppercase letters per segment (BLA for black, M for medium). Avoid spaces and special characters such as / or #, which break CSV imports and barcode scanners. Never start a SKU with 0, because spreadsheets drop leading zeros.
Generate every variant
Enter the variants above (for example 3 colors × 4 sizes = 12 SKUs). Check that the codes are unique and read naturally in a pick list.
Import into your store
Shopify: export products as CSV, paste the codes into the Variant SKU column and import with 'Overwrite existing products' selected. Amazon: put them in the seller-sku column of your inventory file.
Print barcodes if you need them
SKUs are internal codes. To sell in retail stores or on Amazon (in most categories) you also need GS1 UPC or EAN barcodes. For your own warehouse labels, encode the SKU as Code 128.
04 — FAQ
Common questions
What is the difference between a SKU and a UPC?
You create SKUs yourself for internal inventory tracking, so they differ from store to store. A UPC (or EAN) is a globally unique barcode number licensed from GS1 that identifies the product everywhere. Amazon and most retailers require a UPC or EAN, and your SKU is linked to it.
Should SKUs contain the product name?
Only short abbreviations. Full names make codes long and error-prone. Use 2–3 letter codes for meaningful attributes (color, size, material) and put the full description in the product title.
Can two products have the same SKU?
No. Every variant needs a unique SKU, otherwise stock levels and orders get mixed up. Shopify allows duplicate SKUs but warns you about them, while Amazon rejects duplicate seller SKUs.
Is this SKU generator free?
Yes, it's free with no limits on products or variants and no account. The generator runs in your browser, and you can copy the codes or download them as a CSV.
Scores reflect our own assessment of free-tier value. Prices and limits change, so check them on each provider's site before you buy.