How to add a product
Step-by-step instructions for adding a new product to your Shopify store, including title, description, images, price, and inventory.
- Time
- 5–10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- You’ll need
- Product photos · Your product's price
Adding a product to Shopify is one of the first things you will do when setting up your store. This guide walks you through every field so you know exactly what to fill in — and what you can skip for now.
Quick summary
Go to Products in your Shopify admin, click Add product, fill in the title, description, images, price, and inventory details, then click Save. New products are set to Active by default, so a saved product is available in your store unless you set it to Draft first.
What you'll need
- Product photos (you will upload these in a moment)
- Your product's price
- A description of the product
- Basic inventory details (how many you have in stock, if applicable)
How to add a product
Go to Products in the left-hand menu of your Shopify admin.
Click Add product. A blank product form opens.
Enter a title. This is the product name your customers will see. Keep it clear and descriptive — for example, "Organic Cotton Tote Bag" rather than just "Bag."
Write a description. This appears on the product page. See Writing product descriptions that sell for tips on making this count.
Add images. In the Media section, click Upload new (or drag your photos in) and choose your product photos. Shopify accepts common image formats, including JPEG, PNG, and WebP. The first image in the list is the main product image; drag the images to change the order.
Set the price. In the Price section, enter the amount in your store's currency. If the product is on sale, click Compare at and enter the original, higher price. It must be higher than the price. Your theme decides whether and how the sale is shown in your store.
Fill in inventory details. If you track stock, turn on inventory tracking in the Inventory section and enter how many you have available. Shopify then adjusts the count as orders come in. You can also enter a SKU (a code you use internally for the product) if you have one.
Set shipping details (for physical products). In the Shipping section, make sure Physical product is turned on, then enter the product's exact weight. Shopify uses it to calculate shipping rates.
Check the product status. New products are set to Active by default, which makes them available in your store once saved. To save the product without publishing it yet, change the status to Draft.
Click Save. Your product is now saved. If its status is Active, customers can see and buy it straight away, as long as it's published to your Online Store (it is by default).
Product saved
To check how the product looks in your store, click Preview on the product page.
Optional fields worth knowing
You do not have to fill in every field when you first add a product. Here are useful ones to come back to:
| Field | Where to find it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Collections | Product organization section | Groups your product with related products |
| Tags | Product organization section | Keywords that help customers find the product in your store's search, and that collections can use as rules |
| Search engine listing | Search engine listing section (click the pencil icon) | The page title and description shown in search engine results, such as Google |
| Product type | Product organization section | Your own category label (e.g. "Clothing," "Accessories") |
| Vendor | Product organization section | The manufacturer, wholesaler, or other supplier |
Adding variants (sizes, colors, options)
If your product comes in different sizes, colors, or other options, do not add a separate product for each — use variants instead. See Product variants for a full guide.
Common questions
Can I add a product without publishing it?
Yes. Set the status to Draft before saving. Draft products are saved but not shown in your store. Change the status to Active when you are ready to publish.
How many images can I add per product?
Shopify allows up to 250 media items (images, videos, and 3D models) per product. In practice, 3–8 high-quality images is usually enough to show a product well.
What is a SKU?
A SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a code you assign to a product for tracking purposes. It is optional. You might use it if you manage stock in a spreadsheet or warehouse system alongside Shopify.
My product is not showing up in the store — why?
Check two things: first, is the product status set to Active? Second, is the product published to your Online Store sales channel? On the product page, find the Publishing section and make sure Online Store is selected. (A product set to Unlisted can be bought from its direct link, but it doesn't appear in collections or store search.)
Related guides
- A tour of your Shopify admin
- Product variants (size, color, options)
- Product images & galleries
- Writing product descriptions that sell
- Managing stock & inventory
- Organizing products into collections
- Troubleshooting Shopify problems
Need a hand?
Learn more
Last updated
A tour of your Shopify admin
A plain-English walkthrough of the Shopify admin interface — every menu, panel, and section explained so you can navigate confidently.
Product variants (size, color, options)
How to add variants to a Shopify product so customers can choose from different sizes, colors, or other options before buying.