Free SKU Generator
Build clean, consistent SKU codes in seconds. Set up segments like category, colour, size and a running number, and the tool creates a unique SKU for every variant, ready to copy or export as a CSV.
Set by your variant options.
12 SKUs from 3 × 4 variants.
| # | Category | Colour | Size | Number | SKU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tshirt | Black | S | 001 | TSH-BLA-S-001 |
| 2 | Tshirt | Black | M | 002 | TSH-BLA-M-002 |
| 3 | Tshirt | Black | L | 003 | TSH-BLA-L-003 |
| 4 | Tshirt | Black | XL | 004 | TSH-BLA-XL-004 |
| 5 | Tshirt | White | S | 005 | TSH-WHI-S-005 |
| 6 | Tshirt | White | M | 006 | TSH-WHI-M-006 |
| 7 | Tshirt | White | L | 007 | TSH-WHI-L-007 |
| 8 | Tshirt | White | XL | 008 | TSH-WHI-XL-008 |
| 9 | Tshirt | Red | S | 009 | TSH-RED-S-009 |
| 10 | Tshirt | Red | M | 010 | TSH-RED-M-010 |
| 11 | Tshirt | Red | L | 011 | TSH-RED-L-011 |
| 12 | Tshirt | Red | XL | 012 | TSH-RED-XL-012 |
SKUs are your own internal codes. Keep a master list so the same product always gets the same SKU.
Build your SKUs in four steps.
Define the segments, fill in the values, pick a format, and copy or export the lot. Everything updates as you type, right in your browser.
Add your segments
Build the SKU from parts like category, colour, size and a number. Add, remove or reorder segments to fit your products.
Fill in the values
Type one value for a fixed part, or a list of options for a variant part. The tool shortens long words into neat codes.
Pick your format
Choose a separator and casing, and a running number so every SKU comes out unique, even across all your variants.
Copy or export
See every SKU in a table, copy them all in one tap, or download a CSV ready for your store or spreadsheet.
Read a SKU at a glance.
A good SKU goes from general to specific, then ends with a unique number. Here is how a few read once you know the pattern.
Best practices
- Start with a letter, not a number, so spreadsheets keep leading zeros intact
- Go from general to specific, like category, then attributes, then a unique number
- Keep it short, around 8 to 12 characters, so it is easy to read and type
- Use one separator consistently, or none, and avoid spaces and symbols
- Avoid look-alike characters like the letter O and zero, or the letter I and one
- End with a running number so every variant gets its own unique code
- Do not reuse a supplier barcode or UPC as your SKU. Keep SKUs internal
- Make the code mean something a person can read at a glance
Good SKUs keep stock under control.
The right codes make everyday inventory work faster and cleaner, and keep your catalogue tidy as it grows.
Find stock faster
A readable SKU tells you what a product is at a glance, so picking, counting and restocking all get quicker.
Track every variant
Give each size and colour its own code, so your counts stay accurate and nothing gets mixed up on the shelf or in the report.
Scale without the mess
A consistent structure keeps your catalogue tidy as it grows from ten products to ten thousand, on any platform.
Inventory that stays in order.
Generating SKUs is the easy part. Keeping stock, variants, barcodes, reorder points and orders in sync across warehouses and channels is the real work. That is the kind of inventory, ERP and commerce software we build at Techliphant, shaped around how your business actually works.
Ready to print them? Turn SKUs into barcodes.
Common SKU questions.
A SKU, or stock keeping unit, is a short internal code a business gives a product or variant to track it in inventory. It is made up by you, unlike a barcode, and usually mixes letters and numbers that describe the item, such as its category, colour, size and a unique number.
It builds SKUs from segments you define, such as category, colour, size and a running number. For variant parts you enter a list of options, and the tool creates a SKU for every combination, numbers each one so it is unique, and lets you copy them all or download a CSV.
Order the parts from general to specific. A common pattern is a category code, then one or two attributes like colour and size, then a running number. For example TSH-BLK-M-001 reads as a black medium t-shirt, unit 1. Keep it short, use a consistent separator, and always end with a number so every variant is unique.
A SKU is an internal code you create and control, used to track stock inside your business. A barcode such as a UPC or EAN is an external, standardised number, often assigned by the manufacturer or a global body, used at the point of sale. You can have both, and you should not reuse a barcode as your SKU. When you have your SKUs, our barcode generator can turn them into scannable barcodes.
Aim for roughly 8 to 12 characters. Long enough to describe the product and stay unique, short enough to read, type and print. This tool shortens long words into codes and warns you if a SKU is getting too long.
Both works best. Letters make the code readable, like TSH for t-shirt or BLK for black, while a number on the end keeps each variant unique. Start with a letter rather than a number, because some spreadsheets strip a leading zero from a code that starts with digits.
A separator such as a hyphen makes a SKU easier to read, for example TSH-BLK-M-001. Some businesses prefer no separator to keep codes compact. Either is fine, as long as you are consistent. This tool lets you pick a hyphen, underscore, dot or none.
Avoid spaces and symbols, which cause problems in files and barcodes. Avoid look-alike characters that get misread, especially the letter O against the number 0, and the letter I or L against the number 1. Sticking to clear uppercase letters and numbers keeps SKUs easy to read and scan.
Add a segment for each attribute and set it to Options, then enter your values such as Black, White, Red for colour and S, M, L, XL for size. The generator creates a SKU for every combination, so three colours and four sizes give twelve SKUs, each with its own number.
Yes. SKUs are just text, so they work in any store, marketplace or inventory system. Copy them all in one tap, or download a CSV with a column for each segment and the finished SKU, ready to import or paste into your product list.
Yes on both. It is free, there is no sign-up, and it runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved, so your product data stays on your own device.
It is great for setting up SKUs for a new range or a whole catalogue. If you are managing stock, variants, reorder points and barcodes across many products and channels, you want inventory or ERP software that keeps it all in sync. That is the kind of system we build at Techliphant, shaped around how your business actually works.
Private by design: this generator runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded or stored. It is provided free for setting up SKUs. Keep a master list so each product always maps to the same code, and check for clashes before you import into your system.
Ready when you are
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