How to export WooCommerce products to CSV
By the Woopify team7 min read
Short answer
To export WooCommerce products, go to Products > All Products > Export in your WordPress admin, choose the columns, product types and categories, then click Generate CSV. WooCommerce has shipped this exporter since version 3.1, so no plugin is needed. If you don't have admin access to the store (a supplier or client catalog), you can export the public catalog from outside WordPress with a web tool such as Woopify's WooCommerce scraper.
Key takeaways
- The built-in exporter (Products > Export) covers most needs and includes variations.
- Exported images are URLs, not files: download them separately if you change hosts.
- No admin access? Export the public catalog through the WooCommerce Store API instead.
Method 1: the built-in WooCommerce exporter
Every WooCommerce store has a native CSV exporter. It is the fastest option when you can log in to the WordPress admin.
- Open Products > All Products and click Export at the top of the page.
- Pick the columns to export. Leave it empty to export all of them.
- Choose the product types (simple, variable, variation, grouped, external) and, optionally, the categories.
- Tick Export custom meta if you need fields added by plugins or themes.
- Click Generate CSV. The file downloads when the export finishes.
Variable products export as one parent row plus one row per variation, linked by the Parent column. Keep both types selected, or variations will be missing when you re-import the file.
On large catalogs the export runs in batches in the browser. Keep the tab open until the download starts.
Method 2: an export plugin
Plugins add what the native exporter lacks: scheduled exports, XML or Excel formats, filters by stock or date, and sending files to FTP or Google Sheets. They are useful for recurring feeds, for example a daily file for a marketplace.
The trade-off is that you install code on a live store. Test the plugin on a staging copy first, and remove it once the job is done if you only needed a single export.
Method 3: export a catalog without WordPress access
Agencies, dropshippers and buyers often need a WooCommerce catalog they don't administer: a supplier's store, a client who can't share admin credentials, or a store being migrated. In that case, you can read the store's public Store API, which WooCommerce exposes for storefronts at /wp-json/wc/store/v1/products.
Doing it by hand means paginating the API, converting prices (the API returns them in minor units, so 1990 means 19.90) and rebuilding variable products. Our step-by-step guide covers the manual method.
With Woopify, you paste the store URL, check a free 25-product preview, and download a native WooCommerce CSV, plus a Shopify CSV if you are moving platforms. Full exports of up to 2,000 products per job come with Premium ($38.99/month). Only export catalogs you own or are authorized to use.
Which columns a WooCommerce CSV contains
| Column | What it holds | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Type | simple, variable, variation… | Variations need their parent |
| SKU | Unique product reference | Duplicates block the import |
| Name / Description | Title and HTML description | HTML is kept as-is |
| Regular price / Sale price | Prices in the store currency | No currency symbol |
| Stock quantity | Inventory when stock is managed | Empty if not managed |
| Categories / Tags | Comma-separated, > for sub-categories | Created on import if missing |
| Images | Comma-separated image URLs | URLs only, not the files |
| Attribute 1 name / value(s) | Size, colour… | Must match variation rows |
Need a reference file? Download our sample WooCommerce CSV to see a variable product exported correctly.
Common export mistakes
- Opening the CSV in Excel and saving it again. Excel can change the encoding and reformat SKUs and prices. Read how to open a WooCommerce export in Excel safely.
- Exporting only simple products. Variable products lose their variations.
- Forgetting images. The file has image URLs. If the old site goes offline, those URLs break.
- Re-importing on the same store without matching IDs or SKUs. WooCommerce creates duplicates instead of updating products.
Exporting to move to Shopify?
A WooCommerce CSV does not import into Shopify as-is: the columns, the variant structure and the image layout differ. Follow the WooCommerce to Shopify migration guide, or export a Shopify-format CSV directly from the Woo store.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export WooCommerce products without a plugin?
Yes. WooCommerce includes a CSV exporter under Products > All Products > Export. It exports simple and variable products, variations, prices, stock, categories, attributes and image URLs.
Does the WooCommerce export include images?
It includes image URLs, comma-separated in the Images column, not the image files. WooCommerce downloads them again from those URLs when you import the file.
How do I export WooCommerce products by category?
In the export screen, select one or more categories in the 'Which product category should be exported?' field before generating the CSV.
Can I export products from a WooCommerce store I don't manage?
Only the public catalog, and only if you are authorized to use it. Tools such as Woopify read the public Store API and produce a native CSV without any WordPress access.
Export any Shopify or WooCommerce catalog to CSV
Free 25-product preview, no card. Premium at $38.99/month for unlimited full exports, cancel anytime.