Skip to main content
SalesChannelHub knowledge base
/
Knowledge base › Categories, Brands & Attributes › Import categories from CSV Categories, Brands & Attributes
LIVE UPDATED · 12 JUN 2026 · 1 MIN READ

Import categories from CSV

Bulk-create or update your category tree from a spreadsheet, parent relationships included, on the Import Categories page.

To build or update your whole category tree at once, import a CSV from the Import Categories page. Parent and child relationships come across too.

The Import Categories page

How do I import categories?

  1. Open the Import page and click Download a blank CSV template to see the columns.
  2. Fill in at least the Name column. To nest a category, set its Parent Name to the exact name of another row.
  3. Add Slug, Description, Sort Order and Active if you need them.
  4. Choose your CSV file (max 10 MB), then decide whether to Update existing categories and Skip rows with errors.
  5. Click Import Categories and read the results message.

Does the parent have to come before the child?

No. A parent can appear after its child in the file. The importer makes a second pass to link out-of-order parents, so you don't have to sort the spreadsheet first.

Tip. Existing categories are matched by Name, and matching is case-sensitive. Keep names identical to update rather than duplicate.

Common questions

Why did my imported categories come in flat instead of nested?

The Parent Name in each child row must match another row's Name exactly, including capitalisation. Matching is case-sensitive, so a mismatch leaves the category at the top level.

What does Skip rows with errors do?

It lets the import continue past bad rows instead of stopping. The skipped rows are listed in the summary so you can fix and re-run just those.

Can I update existing categories with an import?

Yes. Tick Update existing categories and keep each row's Name identical to the category already in the system.

Was this article helpful?