How to Export Inventory from Shopify: Complete Guide to CSV Downloads

Need to download your Shopify inventory into a spreadsheet?

Shopify lets you export your inventory as a CSV file, making it easy to review stock levels, compare inventory across locations, or make bulk changes.

But there’s an important distinction between an inventory export and a product export. The right option depends on what you actually need from your data.

Here’s how Shopify inventory exports work and how to make sense of the CSV you download.

What is a Shopify Inventory Export?

A Shopify inventory export is a CSV file with your inventory information, including products, SKUs, locations, and stock quantities.

You can use the exported file to:

• Review current inventory levels.
• Analyze stock in Excel or Google Sheets.
• Compare inventory across locations.
• Identify products that need replenishment.
• Make bulk inventory updates.

Shopify allows you to filter products before exporting in order to have a smaller CSV.

For exporting one page, you can directly download it in your browser, whereas for large exports, Shopify emails you a download link.

How to Export Inventory from Shopify

You can export your inventory from Shopify with just a few steps.

1. Go to Products > Inventory in your Shopify admin.
2. Click Export.
3. Choose the location you want to export, or select all locations.
4. Choose the inventory information you want to include.
5. Select the variants you want to export.
6. Click Export inventory.

Your inventory CSV file must be 15 MB or smaller; product images are not included in the exported file.

Shopify gives you two main options when exporting Shopify products: Available and All states.

Available vs. All States

Available shows the quantity currently available for sale.

All states provides a more complete view of your inventory by including quantities such as available, committed, unavailable, incoming, and on hand.

If you want to see how much stock you can sell, Available may be enough. If you're trying to understand your complete inventory position, All states is more useful.

Exporting Inventory for Multiple Locations

If you sell through multiple locations or channels, having a clear view of your inventory becomes increasingly important.

Shopify allows you to export inventory by location, making it easier to review how stock is distributed across your business.

Wildling is a good example of why this visibility matters. The footwear brand connected its online and offline operations through Shopify POS, bringing its sales, orders, and inventory into one system. After integrating its sales channels, Wildling saw a 5% increase in stock availability.

Read the full case study here.

When exporting inventory across locations, pay attention to the Location column. The same SKU can appear multiple times because its inventory is being tracked separately at different locations.

Understanding Your Shopify Inventory CSV

Once you open the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets, you'll see several columns containing product and inventory information.

Some of the most important fields include:

The difference between these fields matters. For example, you might have 100 units physically on hand but fewer units available for sale because some are committed to orders or marked unavailable.

For multi-location stores, the Location field is particularly important. It allows you to separate inventory by warehouse, retail store, fulfillment center, or another location.

Inventory Export vs. Product Export: What's the Difference?

Shopify's inventory and product exports serve different purposes.

An inventory export is primarily for managing stock. It gives you information about quantities, inventory states, SKUs, and locations.

A product export focuses on your product catalog. It can include product titles, descriptions, variants, prices, tags, and other product details.

So, if you're trying to answer “How much stock do I have?”, use the inventory export.

If you're trying to manage “What information do I have about my products?”, use the product export.

In some cases, you may need both files if you're analyzing inventory alongside detailed product information.

What Can You Do With a Shopify Inventory Export?

Once you've downloaded your inventory in CSV format, you can use it for more than simply viewing your stock.

You can open it in Excel or Google Sheets to filter products, sort inventory by location, identify low-stock items, or compare stock levels across warehouses.

As discussed in the eCom Logistics podcast, knowing where your inventory is and when it's expected to arrive gives you better visibility into your supply chain. This can help you plan purchase orders and manage cash flow more effectively.

Listen to the full podcast here.

This is especially useful when you're managing multiple locations or regularly replenishing fast-moving products.

Instead of waiting for a product to run out, you can use your inventory data to understand what's selling, what's available, and when you may need to reorder.

You can also use the file when preparing a replenishment plan. For example, you could filter your inventory to find products with low available quantities and use that list to decide what to reorder.

Shopify also allows you to use inventory CSV files for bulk inventory updates, so you don't necessarily have to change every product's quantity individually in the Shopify admin.

For merchants managing inventory across several stores, warehouses, or sales channels, however, regularly exporting and editing CSV files can become a manual process. An inventory management system can help centralize inventory and reduce the need for repeated spreadsheet updates.

Shopify Inventory Export FAQs

Can I export inventory for a specific Shopify location?

Yes. You can choose a specific location when creating your inventory export or export inventory across multiple locations.

Does the inventory CSV show committed and incoming stock?

Yes, if you choose the All states inventory export. This gives you a broader view of your inventory.

Can I edit the Shopify inventory CSV?

Yes. You can edit the appropriate inventory quantities in the CSV and use it for bulk inventory updates.

Should I use an inventory CSV or product CSV?

Use an inventory CSV when you need stock and location information. Use a product CSV when you need broader product catalog information.