Inventory file templates
Overview
An Inventory File Template is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that contains multiple data columns for describing your products. Sellers use Inventory File Templates to upload listings to Amazon.
Most Inventory File Templates are designed for a specific product category. Additional templates are available to create or update listings in all categories, when the target products are already known in the Amazon catalog.
Category Specific Templates and Lite Templates
You can use these templates to list your products on Amazon. They help you to either create new product detail pages, or match to existing items in our catalog. The templates contain detailed instructions and data definitions.
To create new listings quickly, you can get started using Lite Templates. These templates contain less columns because they are limited to the attributes that are essential for listing on Amazon. You always have the option to add additional product data to your listings at a later date using the Standard Template.
For detailed instructions on how to create an inventory file using the Inventory File Template, see Building Your Inventory File.
Inventory Loader and Listing Loader
If you intend to sell items which exist already in Amazon's catalog, you can use either the Inventory Loader or Listing Loader to assign your offers to these products. The Inventory Loader and Listing Loader are similar templates with slightly different uses:
- The Inventory Loader allows you to enter shipping settings for media products (Books, Music, Video, DVD, usually referred to as "BMVD") with optional fields for expedited-shipping and will-ship-internationally.
- The Listing Loader allows you to enter information for non-BMVD features, with optional fields such as "sale-start-date" and "is-gift-wrap-available".
Browse Tree Guides
Browse Tree Guides (BTGs) contain information about our catalog structure and help to classify products correctly. They provide the same information as is exposed in the Product Classifier tool, but in list format. BTGs also contain required refinements for each listing and valid values. We use the refinements to improve the customer discovery experience. For example, the refinement "Cuff Type" is displayed to customers in the Men's Dress Shirt browse node, but not to customers in the Electronics node.
Category Style Guides
There are general requirements that are applicable to all categories. In addition, each category has slightly different listing requirements that sellers should follow. These requirements ensure your listings are displayed optimally on the website. For more information, consult the style guide for your category in the table below. (Style guides are not available for all categories. Where no style guide exists, refer to the general listing guidelines.)
General Templates (not category specific)
| Template Name | Use Case | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Loader | To upload your inventory by assigning your offers to existing products in the Amazon catalog. | Use for BMVD products (Books, Music, Video, DVD) including their shipping settings. |
| Listing Loader | To upload your inventory by assigning your offers to existing products in the Amazon catalog. | Use for non-media products, including the option to set sales prices or gift options. |
| Price & Quantity Update | Update Prices and Quantities of items already listed in your seller account. | Use for price and quantity updates of items already listed in your seller account. |
| Shipping Overrides | Modify shipping settings for individual products in your seller account. | Use only for non-media products as exceptions where the regular shipping settings in Seller Central are not sufficient. |
| Invoice By Amazon SKU Management File | Modify enrollment status within the Invoice by Amazon program for items that are already listed in your seller account. | Use for opting in or opting out items that are already listed in your seller account. |
Category Specific Inventory Templates
- The Template Name values do not necessarily correspond to categories or product tabs on Amazon.
- The Required column in the inventory file's data definition tab specifies which elements are mandatory and which are optional.
- We recommend that you keep a back-up copy of your completed inventory file on your computer for future reference.
| Standard Category-Specific Inventory File Templates (Create new products with access to all detail attributes) |
Browse Tree Guide - BTG (Are you selling on more than one EU marketplace? Check our EU Browse Node Mapping table) |
Style Guide (only available in German) (PDF file) |
Use for | Approval Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic Beverages**
(Producttype: Beer, Wine, Spirits) |
BTG | Style Guide | For example, beer, wine, spirits To ensure that you only upload the appropriate product types, click here. |
Yes, for further information see Grocery requirements |
|
Automotive: Car & Motorbike Parts and Accessories Motorcycles and Skooters |
BTG | Style Guide | For example, Car and Motorcycle parts and accessories, tyres and rims, lubricants, protective wear, helmets, boots. | No |
|
Business, Industrial & Scientific Supplies |
BTG | Style Guide | Business, Industrial & Scientific Supplies developed for professional use | No |
| Toys Baby | BTG | Style Guide | For example, beds, pushchairs, babyphones, pacifiers, diapers. Use the
Clothing template
for baby clothes. To ensure that you only upload the appropriate product types, click here. |
No |
| Home Improvement | BTG | Style Guide | For example, DIY tools, building supplies,plumbing, work safety equipment. | No |
| Homewares, Living & Decoration | BTG | Style Guide | For example, pots, pans, tableware, furniture, home textiles, bedclothes etc. | No |
| Beauty | BTG | Style Guide | For example, fragrances, make up, hair care, shampoo, shower gel,
etc. To ensure that you only upload the appropriate product types, click here. |
No |
| Apparel * ** | BTG | Style Guide | Women, men, kids & baby clothing. Use the Shoes & Accessories Template for clothing accessories like belts or scarfs. Use the new Eyewear template for glasses. | Yes, for further information see Clothing requirements |
| Sunglasses and Fashion Eyewear* | BTG | Style Guide | Eyewear is now separated from the Clothing category; e.g. sunglasses | Yes, for further information see Clothing requirements |
| Lighting | BTG | Style Guide | For example, indoor and outdoor lamps, light bulbs | No |
| Books | BTG | The Book Loader will either match your listing data to an existing product page in the Amazon catalogue or create a new product detail page if none exists. Instructions | No. Please note that the sale of books in condition "new" will usually be covered by the German law on fixed book prices ("Gesetz über die Preisbindung für Bücher") and ensure that your listings comply with the relevant legal requirements. For further information see Offering Books in Condition New | |
| Office | BTG | Style Guide | For example, calculators, fax machines, copiers, printer cartridges, stationary, office furniture | No |
| Computer and Software | BTG | Style Guide | For example, computers, laptops, computer parts, tablets and tablet accessories. | No |
| Health & Personal Care | BTG |
Health & Personal Care, Personal Care Appliances (electronic), Dietary Supplements, Sexual Wellness, Optics. See here for details. To ensure that you only upload the appropriate product types, click here. |
No | |
| Consumer Electronics | BTG | Style Guide | For example, TV, HiFi equipment, headphones, cameras. | No |
| Large consumer electronics | BTG | Style Guide | For example, Washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators | No |
| Garden | BTG | Style Guide | For example, flowers, plants, garden furniture, BBQ accessories, watering | No |
| Pet supplies | BTG | Style Guide | For example, pet food, dog leashes, rabbit hutches, aquarium accessories etc. | No |
| Amazon Device Accessories | Not available | Use this template to load your accessories for Amazon Devices like Kindles or Fire tablets. | No | |
| Luggage | BTG | Style Guide | For example, travel bags, suitcases, satchels | No |
| Kitchen and Household | BTG | Style Guide | See here for details. | No |
| Food & Beverages
* (Producttype: Food, Beverages) EU Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers |
BTG | Style Guide | For example, tea, coffee, pasta, spices, chocolate, snacks. Use the
"Health & Personal Care" template for dietary supplements, vitamins,
medicines To ensure that you only upload the appropriate product types, click here. |
No |
| Music | The Music Loader will either match your listing data to an existing product page in the Amazon catalogue or create a new product detail page if none exists. | No | ||
| Musical Instruments | BTG | Style Guide | For example, Instruments, DJ Equipment, PA | No |
| Jewellery* ** | BTG | Style Guide | Yes, for further information see Jewellery requirements | |
| Shoes & Accessories | BTG | Style Guide | No | |
| Software | BTG | Style Guide | No | |
| Toys | BTG | Style Guide | No | |
| Sports | BTG | Style Guide | See here for details. | No |
| Video/DVD | The Video & DVD Loader will either match your listing data to an existing product page in the Amazon catalog or create a new product detail page if none exists. Instructions | No | ||
| Video Games | BTG | Not available | No | |
| Watches** | BTG | Style Guide | Yes, for further information see Watches Requirements | |
| Product Compliance | Use to add information required as part of the EU laws regulating the sale of chemicals and dangerous substances. | See Requirements |
**Can only be used by pre-authorised merchants. See this page for more information.
Instructions for selecting the category specific file
To identify which category-specific inventory file to use, we recommend you to follow these steps:
- Identify the classifications for the listings in your catalog using the Product Classifier tool. This produces a Product Classifier file.
- Use the Product Classifier file to identify the inventory file template you will use to upload your listings and classifications.
- When filling in required, preferred and optional values in an inventory file, please refer to the instructions provided in the Inventory File Template as well as in the category specific Style Guide.
Instructions for downloading the file
We recommend you save the file to your computer and then open it using a spreadsheet program.
- In your browser, right-click the link for the file you want from the list below.
- When the pop-up menu appears, click Save Target As.
- When the Save As dialogue box appears, choose a location on your computer, and then click Save.
For detailed instructions on how to create an inventory file using the Inventory File Template, see Building Your Inventory File.
