Etsy CSV Template Guide: Fields, Formats, and Common Errors
A complete guide to the Etsy listing CSV template — every field explained, accepted values for dropdowns, required vs optional columns, and how to fix common import errors.
- ✓Every field in the Etsy listing CSV and what it controls
- ✓The exact accepted values for when_made, who_made, and other enum fields
- ✓Required vs optional fields and what Etsy defaults when fields are blank
- ✓How to format prices, quantities, tags, and images correctly
- ✓How to fix the most common Etsy CSV validation errors
How Etsy CSV Imports Work
Etsy allows sellers to export their listings as a CSV, edit the file, and re-import it to update multiple listings at once. The CSV import is for updating existing listings — you cannot create brand-new listings from scratch via CSV import. The listing ID must match an existing draft or active listing.
For new listings at scale, Etsy's bulk listing tool in the Seller Dashboard is the supported workflow.
Required Fields
These fields must be non-blank for every row:
| Column | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| title | Listing title | Max 140 characters |
| description | Listing description | HTML is not rendered |
| price | Selling price | Decimal, no currency symbol |
| quantity | Available quantity | Whole positive integer |
| when_made | When the item was made | Must use an exact allowed value |
| who_made | Who made the item | Must use an exact allowed value |
| is_supply | Is it a craft supply? | true or false |
Enum Fields: Exact Allowed Values
Etsy uses strict enum values for several fields. Using any value not in the allowed list causes that row to fail.
when_made
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| made_to_order | Made to order |
| 2020_2024 | 2020-2024 |
| 2010_2019 | 2010-2019 |
| 2000_2009 | 2000-2009 |
| 1990s | 1990s |
| 1980s | 1980s |
| 1970s | 1970s |
| 1960s | 1960s |
| 1950s | 1950s |
| before_1950 | Before 1950 |
who_made
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| i_did | I did |
| someone_else | A member of my shop or another company |
| collective | A collective I'm part of |
is_supply
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| true | It is a craft supply or tool |
| false | It is a finished product |
Price Formatting
- Use a plain decimal number:
14.99 - No currency symbols (
$,€,£) - Use a period (not comma) as the decimal separator regardless of locale
- Prices must be positive and within Etsy's allowed range
Quantity
- Whole positive integer:
1,5,100 0is not allowed for active listings (Etsy auto-deactivates listings when quantity hits 0)- Maximum quantity varies by listing type
Tags
- Comma-separated list of up to 13 tags
- Each tag must be 20 characters or fewer
- No special characters in tags (letters, numbers, spaces only)
- Example:
handmade,gift for her,leather wallet,birthday gift
Tags are stored as an array — if your tags value contains commas, make sure the entire field is wrapped in double quotes in the CSV:
"handmade,gift for her,leather wallet"
Images
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| image1 | Main listing image URL |
| image2 through image10 | Additional images |
Image URLs must be publicly accessible HTTPS URLs. Etsy downloads the images at import time.
Note: Etsy has specific image requirements — minimum 2000px on the longest side recommended, JPEG or PNG format. Images that don't meet requirements may be rejected at upload.
Shipping Profiles
The shipping_profile_id column links a listing to a pre-configured shipping profile in your Etsy account. Find your shipping profile IDs in your Etsy Shop Manager. If left blank, Etsy may use your default profile or reject the row.
Sections
The section_id column links a listing to a shop section. Find section IDs in your Etsy Shop Manager → Sections. Optional — listings without a section are not grouped.
Common Etsy CSV Errors
"when_made value not recognized"
You used a value that doesn't match Etsy's enum exactly. Common mistakes:
2020-2024instead of2020_2024(underscores, not hyphens)made to orderinstead ofmade_to_order(underscores, no spaces)
Fix: Use the exact allowed values from the table above.
"Title too long"
The title field exceeds 140 characters.
Fix: In Excel, add a helper column with =LEN(A2) to find titles over 140 characters. Trim them manually.
"Tags too long" or "Too many tags"
A tag exceeds 20 characters, or you have more than 13 tags.
Fix: Count tags (commas + 1) and ensure each tag is under 20 characters.
"Price must be a number"
The price field contains a currency symbol or non-numeric characters.
Fix: Use Find & Replace to remove $, €, £, and any comma decimal separators.
Fix This Automatically with StriveFormats
Upload your Etsy CSV to StriveFormats. The validator checks all enum fields, price formats, title lengths, tag counts, and required fields — then flags issues with exact row locations.
Upload your CSV to StriveFormats for instant validation, auto-fixes, and a clean export. Our CSV validator checks for formatting errors, missing headers, and platform-specific requirements.