SKU Generator
Create consistent product SKU codes from product, brand, category, color, size, variant, and item-number details.
Your SKU
Copy the SKU and use it consistently in your store, inventory system, or spreadsheet.
Enter a product name and add any details you want included in the SKU.
A SKU is an internal identifier, not a UPC, EAN, ISBN, or other standardized barcode number. Use one SKU format consistently across your inventory.
Create consistent SKU codes for your products
Build a readable stock keeping unit from the product details you already use, such as brand, category, color, size, variant, and item number.
A consistent SKU structure makes products easier to identify in ecommerce platforms, inventory systems, spreadsheets, warehouses, and order workflows.
You only need a product name. Add more details when you want the SKU itself to show useful information about the item.
SKUs are internal identifiers. They are different from standardized barcode identifiers such as UPC, EAN, GTIN, or ISBN.
Build a SKU in four steps
Start simple and only include details that are useful for your inventory.
Enter the product name
Add the name of the product you need to identify.
Add useful product details
Optionally include brand, category, color, size, variant, prefix, or an existing item number.
Choose the format
Select the separator and whether the finished SKU should use uppercase or lowercase letters.
Copy the SKU
Use the finished code consistently everywhere the product appears in your inventory workflow.
Example SKU for a T-shirt variant
Suppose you need a SKU for one specific T-shirt variation.
A readable SKU could look like SHOP-NP-TS-CCTS-BLK-M-1042. The important part is not the exact format – it is using the same format consistently across your catalog.
What makes a useful SKU
The best SKU system is easy for your team to understand and consistent enough to scale as the catalog grows.
Keep it consistent
Use the same segment order, abbreviations, separators, and letter case across products.
Keep it readable
A SKU should be quick to scan. Avoid unnecessarily long codes or characters that are easy to confuse.
Separate variants
Different sellable variants such as color or size should normally have different SKUs.
Do not confuse SKU with barcode IDs
You create SKUs for your own internal use. UPC, EAN, GTIN, and similar identifiers follow external standards.
SKU generator questions
Common questions about creating and organizing product SKUs.
What does SKU mean?
SKU stands for stock keeping unit. It is an internal code used to identify a specific product or product variant.
Does every product variant need a different SKU?
Usually yes. If two variants are stocked, sold, or tracked separately, giving each one a unique SKU makes inventory management clearer.
Should a SKU contain product information?
It can. Readable segments for category, color, size, or brand can make SKUs easier for people to understand, but the most important rule is consistency.
Is a SKU the same as a UPC or EAN?
No. A SKU is your own internal identifier. UPC, EAN, GTIN, ISBN, and similar identifiers are standardized codes used outside your internal system.
Can I change my SKU format later?
You can, but changing established SKUs can create extra work across stores, inventory systems, reports, and integrations. It is better to choose a simple structure you can keep using.