WooCommerce Import Products 2024: How to Import to WooCommerce?

Since its release, WooCommerce has made a name for itself as one of the most user-friendly eCommerce platforms out there. Nevertheless, some users still struggle with certain features, such as the WooCommerce import products processes. If you're in the same boat, don't worry — we're here to help!

In this article, we'll cover:

• How to import products to WooCommerce using its built-in importer
• Extensions and plugins for advanced import
• Frequently asked questions

Without further ado, let’s get started!

WooCommerce Import Products Guide: How to Import to WooCommerce

This section will detail how to import products to WooCommerce in four easy steps. It doesn't require third-party plugins or add-ons – quite a decent choice if you have a small store or don't need any complex customization:

Step 1. Prepare your CSV file

Before the import, you must have a CSV file ready with all the product information. Plus, it's also important to make sure that the file meets WooCommerce's general requirements, so take some time to read through and double-check all the fields. Here are some key reminders:

• Ensure your WooCommerce import CSV is in UTF-8 format.
• Set dates according to your store's local time zone.
• Use 1 or 0 in your CSV when importing a Boolean value (true or false).
• Separate multiple values in a field with commas
• Wrap values in quotes if they contain a comma.
• When referencing an existing product ID, prefix it with “id:” (for example, id:100)
• Use “>” to indicate hierarchy in taxonomy terms, and separate these terms with commas.

Keep in mind that this step (and the rest of our guide) doesn't include the product images import. You'll need to either upload them beforehand or make sure they're already available online.

Step 2. Start your import

Now, go to “All Products” and choose “Products” → “Import.” This will open a new screen where you can upload your prepared WooCommerce CSV template file.

Next, click “Choose file” and select the CSV file you want to import. Note that if your CSV file uses a different symbol to separate data (e.g., a semicolon instead of a comma), type that symbol into the ‘CSV delimiter' box under the Advanced settings.

After you've selected your file and adjusted relevant settings, hit the “Continue” button to move to Step 3.

Step 3. Let WooCommerce import products

On the follow-up screen, WooCommerce will automatically try to match the columns from your CSV file with the correct fields.

You can tweak these matches using the dropdown menus on the right side (or choose “Do not import” for columns you don't want to include). Any columns that WooCommerce doesn't recognize will be skipped by default.

Once you're finally ready, click “Run the importer” to let the built-in importer finish its job. Make sure not to refresh or leave the page until the import concludes!

Step 4. (Optional) Update existing products

A few weeks or months after the import, you might want to update your products with new details (for special occasions like Black Friday, for instance). The good news is that you can still use the same CSV importer tool for these changes! Let us tell you how:

• First, create a CSV file (just like in Step 1) that includes the SKUs or IDs of the products you need to update. The WooCommerce importer will later use them to match and update the products in your store.
• Next, go to “All Products” → “Products” → “Import” to bring out the “Upload CSV file” screen. Then click ‘Choose file' to select the file you want to use.
• Make sure to tick the “Update existing products” checkbox! After that, click “Continue” and repeat Step 3 above to complete your update.

Extensions and Plugins for WooCommerce Import Products

We've explained how to import products WooCommerce using its built-in features. Nevertheless, as you can see, there are quite a few limitations to this method! For instance, it only supports CSV files and doesn't allow you to choose different import methods; you can't save import templates for future use, either.

That's why some merchants prefer using extensions or plugins to import products instead. If you want to try out this approach, here are some popular plugins and apps you may consider:

WP All Import

With more than 200,000 active installations, WP All Import is undoubtedly one of the most widely used import plugins for WooCommerce. It's reportedly easy to use, has excellent import speed, and comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Now that you have a solid grasp of both its strengths and limitations, here’s a quick guide on how to import WooCommerce products using this plugin:

Step 1. Create a new WooCommerce product import

First, go to “All Import” → “New Import” in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can select or upload the file you want to import; it can be in CSV, XML, Excel, or even Google Sheets format. After that, choose “WooCommerce product” from the dropdown menu and click “Continue.”

Step 2. Review your import file

In this step, you'll see the “Review import file” screen, where you can check the data for accuracy:

• If you're importing a CSV or Google Sheets file, you can adjust the field delimiter (e.g., comma, semicolon).
• If importing an XML or Excel file, you may choose which parent node to use for the import.

And if necessary, do not forget to use the “Manage filtering options” section (at the screen's bottom) to limit which products get imported. (e.g., only import products above a certain price). Once done, click “Continue” to move on.

Step 3. Map data elements to product fields

Now, you will see a Drag & Drop interface, allowing you to map each field in your import file to the corresponding WooCommerce product fields.

First, drag your data elements to the fields designed for the WooCommerce product title and description. Then, expand the “WooCommerce add-on” section to define the Product type (e.g., Simple, Variable).

After that, move on to configure the product details! There are six tabs you can use to manage this part:

• General Tab: Map fields for SKU, regular price, sale price, and adjust prices if needed. You can also set if the product is virtual or downloadable.
• Inventory Tab: Manage stock settings, stock status, backorder options, and whether the product is sold individually.
• Shipping Tab: Set the product's weight, dimensions, and shipping class.
• Linked Products Tab: Define up-sells, cross-sells, and grouped products.
• Attributes Tab: Import product attributes for better sorting (e.g., color, size).
• Advanced Tab: Set purchase notes, menu order, enable reviews, and set catalog visibility.

After mapping all the necessary fields, click “Continue” to move to Step 4.

Step 4. Configure product import settings

Here, you can use the “Auto-detect” button to generate a unique identifier for the import and ensure each product is correctly identified.

Below this section are “Scheduling options” and “Advanced settings,” but from our experience, the current default settings are usually sufficient for the import. You can revisit these options if needed later! For now, just click ‘Continue' to move on.

Step 5. Run the import and verify the results

Finally, the “Confirm & run” screen will show a summary of the import settings (which you have configured up to Step 4). Double-check everything, then click “Confirm & run import” to start the process!

After the import concludes, you can go to “Products” → “All Products” in your WordPress menu to confirm all WooCommerce products were properly imported as expected.

Product Import Export for WooCommerce by WebToffee

As of our writing, this popular WooCommerce product import plugin has been used by 90,000+ users, allowing you to import data files from any exporter plugin directly into your WooCommerce store. Even better, it comes with a solid 30-day money-back guarantee and offers various subscription options to suit your needs.

Once you've selected the subscription plan that suits you best (as outlined in the overview table above), you can kickstart your import process by following our 3-step guide below:

Step 1. Choose post type and import method

First, choose “Product” in the “Select a post type to import” section. After that, the screen will show three import methods for you to choose from:

• Quick import: Ideal if your input file was previously exported using the same plugin.
• Pre-saved template: With this option, you can use a template from a previous import to retain the same filter settings and column specifications. Note that these templates only appear if you saved them during past imports.
• Advanced import: This one allows detailed filtering, column selection, and other more advanced options. The entire process can be saved as a template for future use.

Tick the box next to your preferred option, then move on to Step 2.

Step 2. Map import columns

Here, you can edit the column names as needed. The mapping options include default fields, attributes, and taxonomies. You may use the pipe symbol “|” to add multiple tags for each option (e.g., “Black|Blue|Green”).

Note that if you choose the “Advanced import” option in Step 1, there will be extra options to:

• Import in batches
• Match products by SKU or ID
• Skip or update existing products

Choose the options that best suit your needs, and don't forget to save this template for future imports.

Step 3. Complete the import

Finally, the only thing left to do is to click “Import” and complete your WooCommerce import products process. Double-check the results to confirm all your chosen product data have been successfully uploaded to WooCommerce.

Product CSV Import Suite for WooCommerce

If you're looking for a plugin produced by WooCommerce itself, then this one is your best choice! You won't need to worry about it causing any compatibility problems with your WooCommerce store. Plus, it can handle custom product details like add-on services (e.g., gift wrapping) or buy-one-get-one special deals.

Since it's a WooCommerce-issued plugin, the import process is quite similar to what you'd experience with WooCommerce's built-in feature – except the interface is much more streamlined. Once editing your CSV file, you only need to perform some very quick and easy tasks for your WooCommerce import products process:

• Go to “WooCommerce” → “CSV Import Suite”, then Click “Import Products.”
• Select “Choose File” and upload your CSV file from your computer or another location. Ensure the delimiter is set to a comma, then click “Upload file and import.”
• Finally, review and adjust the column headers to ensure they match the correct fields in WordPress (like the image below). When satisfied, click “Submit”.

And that's it! You will see a real-time update of both successful imports and failures (if any).

LitExtension

As you can see, there are two things all three plugins above share in common:

• They mostly work for small- or medium-sized stores
• They can only handle product import (not other data types)

So, if you're looking to import products as part of a store migration, LitExtension #1 eCommerce Migration Expert will be a more inclusive solution here.

Specifically, it gives you two packages to choose from: Basic Migration (where you handle the migration on your own) and All-in-One Migration (in which experts take care of everything for you).

Signing up for a LitExtension account is straightforward: just navigate to this link to register your name, email address, and password, then hit “Register.” After that, you can proceed to the following guide for more detailed instructions on each migration package:

Basic Migration

Step 1. Set up your source cart and target cart

On the Migration page, select “Create new migration”. Then, choose your Source Cart type (the store you're migrating from) and provide the Source Cart URL.

After that, you can connect LitExtension with your store quickly using one of these three options:

• Install Connector (for Open-source stores)
• Provide API keys (for Hosted carts)
• Import CSV files

No matter which option you choose, detailed instructions will be available on the right side of the screen during the entire process. You only need to follow through to finish setting up everything.

Once done with the Source Cart, you can move on to the Target Cart (WooCommerce). Choose “WooCommerce” from the drop-down list, provide the store's URL, and then install a connector to connect LitExtension to your store. Just like with the Source Cart, you'll find step-by-step instructions on the right side of the screen to guide you through the entire connecting process.

After that, click “Next: Configure your migration” to proceed to Step 2.

Step 2. Configure the migration

Now, you can select the entities you want to migrate (shown in the image below). Or, if you're going to migrate all data types, simply click “Select All.”

Beyond basic entities like Customers, Products, and Orders, there are also extra options to help you further customize and extend the migration process.

Step 3. Run demo migration and full migration

Now, scroll to the end of the Configuration page and click “Next: Start Free Demo Migration.” You can transfer 20 entities for free here, and after the demo, you'll receive an email to confirm all the imported entities. If satisfied with the results, return to the Configuration page and click “Start Full Migration.”

(And what if you want to go straight to the full migration – without a demo? In that case, simply check the “Skip demo migration” box and click “Start Full Migration.”)

That's it! Now, you only need to sit back and wait until the migration finishes.

All-in-One Migration (recommended)

All in all, the steps in the Basic Migration package above are simple, but you'll still need to handle each step on your own. Not to mention, for more complex needs, you might want to consider a more inclusive option that allows for personalized requests. That's where the All-in-One Migration comes in! Just follow this easy guide:

Step 1. Consultant by LitExtension Experts

You can start by reaching out to our expert team. We'll discuss with you exactly what you want to transfer, whether it's products, orders, blog posts, or any specific requests you might have.

Throughout the exchange, our team will clearly explain our services and pricing so you can choose the best option for your needs. Once you've made the payment, you can sit back and let us take care of the rest.

Step 2. Data mapping and setting by experts

Now, with a clear understanding of your requirements, our team will prepare everything for the migration. This involves:

• Setting up your new WooCommerce store
• Installing any necessary plugins
• Removing any sample data
• Creating 301 redirects

Also, if you're curious about how the migration will work, we can always provide a free demo to give you a better idea.

Step 3. Perform full eCommerce replatforming

Finally, as mentioned earlier, we will handle the full migration process while keeping you updated throughout to ensure everything is transferred correctly. After the migration concludes, we'll double-check everything and address technical issues (if any) until you're ready to launch your business on WooCommerce.

WooCommerce Import Products: FAQs

Final Words

This article has detailed various methods for WooCommerce import products. While each has its own advantages, the most reliable choice — especially if you're migrating your entire store to WooCommerce — is partnering with the LitExtension team.

With over 12 years of experience, our LitExtension #1 eCommerce Migration Expert team has successfully migrated stores for more than 200,000 customers across 100 countries. You can count on us to be there for you every step of the way, whether before, during, or even after your WooCommerce migration!

For more information, check out our WooCommerce guides or join our Facebook Community Group.