How to Bulk Edit Inventory in Shopify: 4 Easy Methods

Trying to update inventory for a bunch of products right before a sale?

It's a nightmare, isn't it?

You click on each item, type in new numbers, and pray you don't mess anything up.

Honestly, it's stressful.

As your store gets bigger, this little chore turns into a massive job.

It eats up so much of your time.

That's why bulk editing is a game-changer. It doesn't just save you time; it saves your sanity.

And if you're already juggling multiple locations or bundles with Shopify’s inventory tracking turned on, you know how quickly things can get out of sync without a solid system.

What Is Bulk Editing Inventory in Shopify?

Bulk inventory editing in Shopify means updating stock levels, prices, SKUs, or other product details for multiple items at once instead of one by one. It’s a faster, more efficient way to manage changes, especially useful when you're working with large catalogs, frequent restocks, or selling across multiple locations.

Instead of manually clicking on each product, Shopify gives you built-in tools (like the bulk editor and CSV import) to edit in batches. You can also connect external tools that sync with your Shopify store to automate these changes further.

Key Things You Can Bulk Edit:

• Inventory quantity across multiple SKUs or locations
• Product pricing and cost fields
• SKUs, barcodes, and product tags
• Restock levels or inventory tracking settings
• Bundled product inventory (with apps like Sumtracker)

Method 1: Shopify Admin Bulk Editor

The Shopify Admin Bulk Editor is a solid starting point if you're looking for a quick, built-in way to edit multiple products simultaneously. It gives you a spreadsheet-style view where you can adjust inventory, prices, SKUs, and more.

How to use it:

• Go to Products > Inventory in your Shopify admin
• Use the checkboxes to select the products you want to edit
• Click Bulk Edit in the toolbar
• A spreadsheet-style editor will open, and you can add or remove columns like inventory, price, SKU, etc.
• Make your changes directly in the table
• Click Save in the top right corner to apply your updates

Pros:

• No extra tools needed
• Great for small to mid-sized catalogs
• Familiar spreadsheet interface

Cons:

• Slows down with large datasets
• Can’t filter deeply (e.g., by vendor, tag, or inventory level)
• No automation or scheduling

If you're managing 50–200 SKUs and don’t need complex filters, this tool can quickly complete the job.

Method 2: CSV Import and Export

This is Shopify’s most flexible built-in method for bulk edits, especially if you're comfortable working in Excel or Google Sheets. It’s ideal when you need to update hundreds or thousands of products at once.

How it works:

1. Go to Products > Export
2. Choose the type of CSV (all products, current page, etc.)
3. Open the file in Excel or Google Sheets
4. Edit fields like Variant Inventory Qty, SKU, or Price
5. Re-import the file via Products > Import

Tips:

• Always back up your original CSV before editing
• Stick to Shopify’s formatting rules (column headers, required fields)
• Use filters in Sheets to clean and sort large data quickly

Pros:

• Handles huge catalogs
• Spreadsheet-friendly
• Works offline

Cons:

• Easy to break formatting if you're not careful
• Doesn’t handle bundles or kits well

Method 3: Bulk Edit Inventory with Sumtracker

If you manage inventory across Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, or other channels, and especially if you deal with bundles or multi-location stock, Sumtracker makes bulk editing seamless.

Sumtracker pulls all your product data into one place, lets you edit inventory in bulk, and syncs updates across connected channels instantly. You can adjust inventory by SKU, product, or location, and even apply bulk actions like restocking, transferring, or correcting stock levels after a count.

How to use it:

1. Log in to your Sumtracker account.
2. Navigate to the Stock Adjustment tab.
3. Click Create Stock Adjustment, choose the adjustment reason, type, then select Create Stock Adjustment Form.
4. Click on CSV Upload and download the sample file.
5. Fill in the necessary inventory adjustments in the CSV and re-upload the file to apply changes.

Pros:

• Purpose-built for eCommerce inventory
• Handles bundles and multi-location inventory natively
• No CSVs or spreadsheets needed
• Real-time sync across sales channels

Cons:

• Requires a Sumtracker account

Method 4: Google Sheets + Make.com Automation

This is the sweet spot for merchants who love Google Sheets but hate manual uploads. With Make.com (formerly Integromat), you can connect a Google Sheet to your Shopify store and automatically push inventory updates—no coding needed.

What you’ll need:

• A Make.com account
• A Google Sheet with SKU and inventory data
• A Make scenario that reads the sheet and updates Shopify

Why it’s great:

• You get to work in Sheets, which feels familiar
• You can update inventory for hundreds of SKUs with one click
• You can even set it to auto-sync every hour or day

Pros:

• Fully automated after setup
• Spreadsheet flexibility + Shopify sync
• Great for teams that collaborate in Sheets

Cons:

• Slight learning curve when setting up Make
• Shopify API rate limits apply (but rarely an issue unless editing 10,000+ SKUs)

Which Bulk Editing Method Is Right for You?

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Bulk Editing Inventory

Bulk editing can save hours but only if you avoid the common pitfalls that trip up even experienced merchants.

A small mistake across a large dataset can lead to overselling, understocking, or just a whole lot of cleanup work.

Here are the most frequent issues to watch for:

1. Editing the Wrong SKUs

It’s easy to select the wrong products, especially when working with filtered lists, large CSVs, or automation tools. Always double-check that you're editing the correct SKUs before saving changes.

2. Breaking CSV Formatting

If you’re using the CSV method, one missing column, extra comma, or typo can break the entire file. Use Shopify’s official CSV format, and test changes with a small import first.

3. Overwriting Location-Based Inventory

If your store uses multiple locations, make sure you’re editing the correct location’s inventory. Bulk edits without specifying the right location can lead to stock showing up in the wrong warehouse—or worse, not showing at all.

4. Forgetting to Save Changes

Sounds simple, but it happens—especially when using Shopify’s bulk editor or apps. Make sure you click Save before leaving the page or refreshing.

5. Not Backing Up Before Major Edits

Always keep a backup of your current inventory (especially when using CSVs). If something goes wrong, a backup file will save you from hours of manual fixing.

6. Skipping Post-Edit Review

After a bulk update, spot-check a few products to make sure everything synced properly, especially if you’re using external tools or automation.

Conclusion

Whether you’re running a small storefront or managing thousands of SKUs across channels, there’s a bulk editing method that fits your workflow.

Shopify gives you the basics, but as your store grows or your setup gets more complex tools like Google Sheets automation or Sumtracker can save serious time and reduce costly mistakes.

The goal isn’t just to update inventory faster, it’s to do it smarter, with fewer errors, and more control.

And once your system is in place, staying ahead of stockouts becomes much easier, especially if you're already using low stock alerts to catch inventory dips before they become problems.

Choose the method that matches where your business is today and where you want it to be tomorrow.

FAQS

Can you bulk edit inventory in Shopify?

Yes, you can bulk edit inventory in Shopify using the built-in bulk editor, CSV import/export, or external tools like Sumtracker for faster updates across multiple SKUs or locations.

How do I bulk edit SKU on Shopify?

To edit SKUs in bulk, use the Shopify Admin Bulk Editor or export a product CSV, update the SKU column in Excel or Sheets, and then re-import the file back into Shopify.

How to bulk edit locations in Shopify?

Shopify lets you adjust inventory per location via the Inventory page or CSV import. Tools like Sumtracker offer a more scalable, centralized solution for multi-location edits in bulk.

How do I bulk edit orders on Shopify?

Shopify doesn’t natively support bulk editing orders. You’ll need to use third-party apps or export orders, edit externally, and re-import with caution—orders are generally less flexible to modify.

How do I bulk edit product names in Shopify?

Go to Products > All Products, select items, click Bulk Edit, and add the Title column. You can also use a CSV file to update product names in bulk.

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