Free SKU Generator

What Is a SKU?

A SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a short code you assign to each product or variant so you can track it across your store, your point of sale, and your reports. You create it yourself, so a good SKU is readable by your team. For example, SHOE-RED-42 tells you at a glance that this is a red shoe in size 42.

A SKU is different from a barcode. You design and control a SKU, while a UPC or EAN barcode is a standardized number used by scanners and retailers. Most stores keep both: a readable SKU for the team and a barcode for the register.

How to Create a SKU

Making a SKU takes about a minute with the generator above.

1. Set a prefix (optional): Add a brand or store code like ACME that goes in front of every SKU.
2. Choose characters per segment: Decide how many leading letters each word contributes. The default is 3, so "Running Shoes" becomes RUN.
3. Pick a separator: Join segments with a dash, underscore, slash, dot, or nothing at all.
4. Add attributes: Add up to four attributes such as color, size, category, or material. Each one extends the SKU.
5. Set the case and options: Choose UPPERCASE, lowercase, or Normal, and turn on remove-vowels for shorter codes.
6. Add a running number (optional): Turn on the sequential suffix to append a zero-padded number like 001, 002.
7. Generate: Add one SKU, paste a list of names, or build a variation matrix, then export the table as a CSV.

The live preview updates as you type, so you always see the format before you generate. A short reading of the format, such as ACME-NAME-COLOR-001, shows the structure at a glance.

Single, Bulk, and Variation Modes

One keyword covers a few different needs, and this generator handles all of them.

• Single: Enter one product name and its attributes to add a single SKU to the table. Good for one-off products.
• Bulk paste: Paste many product names, one per line, and get one SKU per line, all at once. The shared attributes apply to every line, and the sequential number keeps counting.
• Variation matrix: Enter up to three axes, for example Size (S, M, L) and Color (Red, Blue), and the tool creates a SKU for every combination. Two axes with 3 and 2 values give you 6 SKUs, one per variant.

Every generated SKU is added to a results table with a running total. You can copy a single code, copy all of them, clear the table, or export a CSV.

What Makes a Good SKU

A good SKU is short, consistent, and easy to read. Follow these rules and your whole catalog stays uniform.

• Keep it short: Aim for a code that is easy to type and scan by eye. Two or three characters per segment is usually enough.
• Start with letters: Begin with a letter, not a zero, so spreadsheets do not drop leading zeros.
• Be consistent: Use the same segment order and the same separator for every product.
• Avoid spaces and symbols: Stick to letters and numbers. This tool removes spaces, punctuation, and emoji automatically so every SKU is valid.
• Do not encode data that changes: Never bake the price or the supplier into a SKU, because those change over time.
• Make it meaningful: Encode stable traits like brand, category, color, and size so the code is readable at a glance.

SKU vs Barcode vs UPC

These three terms are often mixed up, so here is the quick version.

• SKU: An internal code you design. It can carry meaning and is unique inside your own store.
• UPC or EAN: A standardized barcode number, often bought from GS1, used across retailers and scanners worldwide.
• Barcode: The scannable image of bars. It can encode a UPC, an EAN, or even your own SKU using a format like Code 128.

Once you have your SKUs, you can turn any of them into a scannable label with our free Barcode Generator, or print shelf tags with the built-in code using the Price Tag Generator.

A Few SKU Examples

Here are common formats you can build with the generator.

• Name only: "Yoga Mat" at 3 characters becomes YOG.
• Prefix plus name: Prefix ACME plus "Yoga Mat" becomes ACME-YOG.
• Name plus attributes: "Running Shoes" with Color Red and Size 42 becomes RUN-RED-42.
• Compact with remove-vowels: "Shoes" becomes SHS instead of SHO.
• With a running number: Add a 3-digit suffix to get RUN-RED-42-001, then -002, and so on.

There is no cost for any of this. You can generate and export as many SKUs as you like for $0.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a SKU?

A SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a short, unique code you assign to each product or product variant so you can track it in your inventory, point of sale, and reports. Unlike a barcode number, a SKU is created by you and is meant to be readable by your team, for example SHOE-RED-42.

How do I create a SKU?

Pick a consistent format made of segments. A common pattern is an optional prefix, the product name, one or two attributes like color and size, and an optional running number. This tool builds that format for you: set the rules once, then generate one SKU or hundreds at a time.

Is this SKU generator free?

Yes, it is 100% free with no signup and no watermark. Everything runs in your browser, so your product names never leave your device. Generate as many SKUs as you want and export them as a CSV file.

Can I bulk-generate SKUs?

Yes. Use Bulk paste to drop in a list of product names, one per line, and get one SKU per line. Or use the Variation matrix to enter axes like Size (S, M, L) and Color (Red, Blue) and generate a SKU for every combination automatically.

What is the difference between a SKU and a barcode or UPC?

A SKU is an internal code you design and control, so it can carry meaning like brand, color, and size. A UPC or EAN barcode is a standardized number, often bought from GS1, used by retailers and scanners worldwide. Many stores keep both: a readable SKU for the team and a barcode for the register. You can turn a SKU into a scannable code with our Barcode Generator.

What makes a good SKU?

Keep it short, consistent, and human-readable. Start with letters, not zeros, avoid spaces and special characters, use one separator throughout, and do not encode data that changes often like price. This tool sanitizes text and applies your rules to every SKU so the whole catalog stays uniform.

Can I add a sequential number to each SKU?

Yes. Turn on the sequential number suffix, set a start value and the number of digits, and each generated SKU gets a zero-padded, auto-incrementing number, for example 001, 002, 003. It increments across every row you generate until you clear the table.

Can I export the SKUs to Excel or Google Sheets?

Yes. Press Export CSV to download a spreadsheet-ready file whose columns match the on-screen table (item, attributes, and the generated SKU). Open it in Excel, Google Sheets, or import it into Shopify or your inventory system.