How To Add Products To Shopify

Shopify gives you several flexible ways to add products so you can choose the method that best fits your store size, product type, and workflow.

Key Takeaways

• Whether you’re adding one product by hand or hundreds at once with a CSV file, Shopify makes it easy to scale product creation at your own pace.
• Duplicating existing products and using dropshipping or print-on-demand apps can save time and reduce setup work, especially as your catalog grows.
• Clear product descriptions, quality images, and well-organized variants help customers trust your store and buy with confidence.

If you’re new to Shopify and wondering how to add products to Shopify, there are actually several ways. In this guide, we’ll walk you through five common ways to add products to your Shopify store, with simple steps and tips tailored for first-time store owners. Whether you run an apparel boutique or a music store, Shopify’s interface can improve your business. 

5 Different Ways To Add Products To Shopify

Here are the most common ways to add products to your Shopify store, from the basic manual entry to using apps for dropshipping and print-on-demand. 

1. Adding Products Manually in the Shopify Admin

Adding a product manually via the Shopify admin is the most straightforward method for beginners. In your Shopify admin dashboard, click Products on the left-hand menu to view your product list, then click the Add product button.

At a minimum, Shopify requires a Product title and a Price for each new item, but it’s best to fill out as many details as you can to create a compelling product listing, including:

• Description: A description of the product with important details and features. For apparel, mention fabric, fit, care instructions, sizing info, etc.
• Media: Upload multiple high-quality images of your product. The first image will be the main photo. You can also add videos or 3D models if available.
• Shipping: For physical products, enter the weight to calculate shipping rates. Check This is a physical product so Shopify knows it needs shipping. If the product is digital, you’d uncheck this.
• Variants: Use this section if your product has options like size or color. For example, a T-shirt might have variants for Size (S, M, L, XL) and Color (Black, White). Click Add options and fill in the variant details instead of creating separate products for each size/color.

Once you’ve filled in the details, click Save to add the product to your Shopify product grid on collection and category pages. By default, the product will be Active (available) on your online store sales channel after saving, but you can switch the status to Draft if you’re not ready to sell it yet. 

2. Duplicating an Existing Product

Sometimes the fastest way to add a product to your Shopify store is to use one you’ve already created as a starting point. Shopify allows you to duplicate a product in your admin, which copies over the details into a new product draft.

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Products and click on the name of the product you want to duplicate.
   
2. At the top of the product page, click Duplicate. Shopify will open a dialog box for duplicating the product.
   
3. Enter a New title for the duplicate product. By default, it might say “Copy of [Original Product Name]” – you’ll want to change that to the actual name of your new product.
4. Choose what details to copy over, then set the Product status.

Note that when you duplicate a product, Shopify doesn’t copy over reviews or certain media like 3D models/videos for the product. Those need to be re-added if they are relevant to your new product. 

3. Importing Products With a CSV File

If you need to add products to collections or update many products at once, Shopify’s CSV import tool can save you a ton of time. 

Prepare Your CSV File 

Populate a spreadsheet with your product data using the correct headers (e.g., Handle, Title, Body (Description), Vendor, Price, SKU, etc., as defined by Shopify). Each row represents one product or one variant. 

For example, a T-shirt with 3 variants (S, M, L) would have one row for each variant, sharing the same handle. When you import the file, Shopify uses this information to create a product page for each product, with variants grouped under that same page.

Upload the CSV file

In your Shopify admin, click Products, then click the Import button on the top right of the Products page.

In the import dialog, click Add file and select your saved CSV file from your computer. If you’re updating existing products, you can check Overwrite products with matching handles to update those products’ details. If you leave it unchecked, Shopify will skip any rows that match an existing product handle to avoid duplicates.

Choose Publish Options

By default, new products will be published to all your active sales channels (Online Store, etc.). If you want to import them as unpublished, uncheck Publish new products to all sales channels in the import options.

Start the Import 

Click Upload and continue, then Shopify will show you a preview of how many products/variants will be imported. Review the details, and then click Import products to begin.

4. Using a Dropshipping App

If you work with a supplier that ships directly to your customers, you can use a dropshipping app to add products to your Shopify store. This way, you can offer a wide range of products without storing any stock yourself.

In your Shopify admin, go to Apps and then Shopify App Store, and search for the dropshipping app of your choice. Click Add app and follow the prompts to install it and connect it to your store.

Using the app’s interface, browse the catalog or search for products you want to add. Once you find a product you like, you can import it. Most apps have an Import List or similar feature where you can edit the product before pushing it to Shopify. For example, you can change the title to fit your brand better, edit the description, and even select which variants you want to sell.

After customization, you click a Push to Store or Add to Store button in the app. The product will then be created in your Shopify admin Products list. 

5. Using a Print-On-Demand App

Like with dropshipping, print-on-demand (POD) lets you sell custom apparel from your Shopify store without holding inventory. You connect a POD app to Shopify, choose blank products, add your designs, and publish them to your store. When a customer orders, the app handles printing, packaging, and shipping. You pay the base cost and keep the profit.

To set up a print-on-demand Shopify product:

1. Go to the Shopify App Store, install a POD app (such as Printful, Printify, or Gelato), and connect it to your Shopify store.
2. Select a product type (like a T-shirt or hoodie), choose colors and sizes, and upload your design.
3. Enter a product title and description, then set your retail price. The app will show the base cost so you can set a profit margin. 
4. Click Publish or Add to store. The app automatically creates the product in your Shopify admin with images, variants, and pricing.

Print-on-demand is excellent for testing new designs because you can add a product to Shopify with no upfront cost. 

Adding Products to Shopify Works Better With Clear Size Charts

Once you’ve added products to Shopify, the next step is making sure each product page helps customers buy with confidence. For apparel and other size-based items, adding detailed size charts and personalized fit guidance can reduce confusion and improve the shopping experience. 

Kiwi Sizing gives your store a clean, professional sizing experience with customizable size charts, detailed guides, and AI-powered fit recommendations that feel right at home on your product pages. You can apply size guides by product or collection, support different units and languages, and even use sizing for non-apparel items. 

If you’re ready to improve your product pages, download Kiwi Sizing, the Shopify size chart app designed to help customers find the right fit faster.