# SKU Generator

> Paste your products with category and attributes (colour, size…) and get consistent, readable SKUs. Or generate a simple numbered series. Export as CSV with WooCommerce column names.

- Source: https://plugstack.dev/tools/sku-generator/
- Published by: PlugStack
- Last updated: 2026-09-24

## How the generator builds a SKU

 

Each line of your list is split into parts: `Name | Category | Attribute | Attribute…`. Every part is shortened to a short code, then joined in a fixed order:

 

**PREFIX – CATEGORY – PRODUCT – ATTRIBUTES – NUMBER**

 
- Multi-word values use their initials first: *Navy Blue* → NBL, *Canvas Tote Bag* → CTB.
- Single words keep the first letter plus consonants: *Large* → LRG, *Medium* → MDM.
- Sizes and volumes with digits stay as they are: *12 oz* → 12OZ, *XL* → XL.
- If two lines produce the same SKU, a -2, -3 suffix is added and you’re warned.

 

Example: *Classic T-Shirt | Apparel | Navy Blue | Large* becomes **PS-APP-CTS-NBL-LRG-0001**. Untick “Category code” or the number to make it shorter.

 

## SKU best practices

 
- **Decide the order once** and never change it. Consistency is what makes SKUs readable at a glance.
- **Put the most general attribute first** (brand or category), the most specific last (size).
- **Don’t encode things that change** — price, supplier, season — or you’ll have to rename SKUs.
- **Never reuse a SKU** for a different product, even after the old one is discontinued.
- **Keep them short.** They get typed, printed on small labels and read over the phone.

 

## SKUs in WooCommerce

 

WooCommerce requires SKUs to be unique across all products and variations. Give each variation its own SKU (the parent can have a shorter one). The CSV from this tool uses WooCommerce’s column names (*Name, SKU, Categories*), so you can merge it into a product import. To print the SKUs as labels, paste them into the [barcode generator](https://plugstack.dev/tools/barcode-generator/)‘s bulk mode.

## FAQ
### What is a SKU?
A stock keeping unit — your own internal code for each product variant you stock. Unlike a UPC or EAN, you create SKUs yourself; they only need to be unique within your business.

### What makes a good SKU?
Short (8–12 characters), unique, readable by people, and built from the most important attributes in a fixed order — for example brand-category-product-colour-size. Avoid spaces, special characters and letters that look like digits (O, I, L).

### Should a SKU start with zero?
Better not. Spreadsheets often drop leading zeros, so 00123 becomes 123. Start with a letter prefix instead.

### Is a SKU the same as a UPC or barcode?
No. A UPC/EAN (GTIN) is a globally unique number licensed from GS1 and used by retailers and marketplaces. A SKU is your internal code. Many products have both; you can still print your SKU as a Code 128 barcode for your own warehouse.

### How do I import SKUs into WooCommerce?
Download the CSV, merge the SKU column into your product export (or fill a new one), and import it with WooCommerce → Products → Import, matching the “SKU” column. For existing products, tick “Update existing products”.