Etsy doesn't have a built-in CSV import feature. If you have 50, 100, or 500 products to list, you can't just upload a spreadsheet. You have to use a third-party tool.
The most reliable option is Vela (getvela.com), a free tool that connects to your Etsy shop and lets you upload listings via CSV. This guide covers how to format your data for Vela and get your products listed without spending hours in Etsy's listing editor.
Why Etsy doesn't support CSV import
Etsy's listing process is designed for one-at-a-time sellers. Every listing goes through a multi-step form with categories, attributes, shipping profiles, and variations. There's no built-in way to skip this and upload a spreadsheet.
For sellers with large inventories — wholesalers, print-on-demand shops, vintage dealers with hundreds of items — this is a serious bottleneck.
How Vela works
Vela connects to your Etsy shop via Etsy's API. You upload a CSV file to Vela, review your listings, and publish them to Etsy. The free tier handles most use cases.
The CSV format Vela expects includes these key columns:
- Title — Max 140 characters. Etsy penalizes keyword stuffing, so write naturally.
- Description — Plain text only. No HTML, no formatting. Etsy strips it all.
- Price — In your shop's currency. Numeric only.
- Quantity — Total stock across all variations.
- Tags — Comma-separated, max 13 tags, each max 20 characters. These are critical for Etsy search.
- SKU — Optional but highly recommended for inventory tracking.
- Who Made It — Required by Etsy. Usually "i_did" for handmade, "someone_else" for vintage, or "collective" for teams.
- When Made It — Required. Options include "made_to_order," "2020_2025," "before_2000," etc.
Etsy tags: the key to being found
Etsy search depends heavily on tags. You get 13 tags per listing, and each can be up to 20 characters. Use all 13. Mix broad terms ("ceramic mug") with specific ones ("handmade coffee cup") and long-tail phrases ("gift for coffee lover").
Don't repeat words that are already in your title — Etsy searches titles and tags separately, so you want maximum coverage.
Variation handling
Etsy supports up to two variation types per listing (like Color and Size). In the CSV, these are formatted as "Variation 1 Name," "Variation 1 Values" (comma-separated), "Variation 2 Name," "Variation 2 Values."
Unlike Shopify where each variant gets its own row, Etsy puts all variation values in a single row. This simplifies the CSV but means you can't set different prices per variation in the initial import — you'll need to adjust those in Etsy after upload.
Common Etsy listing mistakes
- HTML in descriptions — Etsy strips all HTML. If your descriptions have <p> or <b> tags, they'll show up as raw text in your listing.
- Too many or too few tags — Leaving tags empty is the #1 reason new Etsy listings don't get views.
- Missing "Who Made It" — Etsy requires this field. If it's missing, the listing won't publish.
- Title over 140 characters — Etsy silently truncates. Your carefully crafted title gets cut off mid-word.
Automate the whole thing
Catalogd generates Etsy-compatible CSV files from your product data. It writes your descriptions, generates all 13 tags, strips HTML, handles the Etsy-specific fields (Who Made It, When Made It, Shipping Profile), and formats everything for direct Vela upload. Try it free with 5 products.