How to Bulk Update Inventory in Shopify: The Quick and Easy Way

Managing your inventory is one of the most critical aspects of running a successful Shopify store. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing a large online retail operation, ensuring your stock levels are accurate can make or break the customer experience.

Imagine a customer excited to purchase their favorite item, only to find it’s out of stock because your inventory hasn’t been updated—ouch.

But no need to worry. Shopify makes it simple to bulk update your inventory, especially if you’re using tools like CSV files or working with robust inventory software like Craftybase Shopify Inventory Management for added efficiency.

This step-by-step guide will show you all about why bulk inventory updates matter, explore the pitfalls of inaccurate stock management, and help you streamline the process of managing your products without breaking a sweat.

What’s inside:

• Why You Should Bulk Update Your Stock on Shopify
• The Risks of Not Keeping Stock Updated on Shopify
• 3 Ways to Update your Inventory on Shopify in Bulk
• How to use the Bulk Editor in Shopify to Update your Products
• How to Bulk Update Inventory in Shopify Using a CSV File

Why You Should Bulk Update Your Stock on Shopify

There are several reasons why updating your stock in bulk can save you time and improve your operations:

• Time-Saving: Manually updating stock for hundreds—or even thousands—of products one by one isn’t just tedious; it’s downright inefficient. Bulk updates allow you to adjust stock for multiple products at once with just a few clicks.
• Accurate Stock Levels: With bulk updates, you ensure real-time accuracy across your inventory, avoiding costly errors. Accurate stock levels minimize the chances of stockouts or overstocking.
• Scaling with Ease: If your business is growing (yay, congrats!) and you’re adding more products regularly, bulk updates prevent inventory management from becoming overwhelming.

The Risks of Not Keeping Stock Updated on Shopify

Failing to maintain accurate inventory levels in Shopify can significantly impact your business. Here’s how:

• Stockouts Lead to Lost Sales: Nothing frustrates a customer more than placing an order, only to learn the product is unavailable. Stockouts can lead to canceled orders and lost revenue.
• Overstocking Wastes Money: Holding excessive stock ties up capital that could be spent elsewhere in your business, like marketing or new products.
• Operational Headaches: Outdated inventory data can lead to discrepancies between what’s actually in your warehouse and what’s listed online. This creates chaos for both you and your team.

Keeping your inventory accurate isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a fundamental part of keeping customers happy and your business thriving.

3 Ways to Update your Inventory on Shopify in Bulk

There are a few different ways to update your inventory in bulk on Shopify, let’s take a quick look at each to see which is the best for your particular needs:

1) Bulk Editing in the Shopify Interface

If you have a small number of products or only need to make minor changes, using the bulk editing tool is likely your best bet.

This is especially useful if you have seasonal products that require frequent updates. It’s however not so great when you need to make more frequent or widespread changes so typically one of the other options below are best in this case.

2) Importing from a Spreadsheet

Importing products from a spreadsheet is another time-saving method for adding or updating your inventory on Shopify.

This feature allows you to upload a CSV file containing all the necessary product information, such as title, description, pricing, and inventory levels.

Disadvantages are that this method is less efficient for making frequent updates and there is a higher risk of errors if the spreadsheet isn’t properly formatted.

However, it can still be a useful option for adding bulk products or making occasional updates to your inventory.

3) Using an Inventory System

Managing your inventory manually can be tedious and time-consuming. By implementing an inventory management system, you can create real-time views of your product levels, sales, and more. Depending on the capabilities of your chosen program, you can either export and import via CSV when required, or automatically “push” updates when required.

Disadvantages are the initial investment and onboarding process to set up the system, but the benefits far outweigh these costs in the long run.

How to use the Bulk Editor in Shopify to Update your Products

To bulk update your stock levels using the Shopify admin UI, follow these steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Inventory.
2. If you have multiple locations, select the location from the drop-down menu where you want to update the inventory.
3. Use the checkboxes to select the products and variants you want to update.
4. Click Edit variants to open the bulk editor.
5. In the bulk editor, you can adjust the inventory quantities for each product variant.
6. Click Save to apply your changes.

This method allows you to efficiently manage inventory levels for multiple products and variants at once.

How to Bulk Update Inventory in Shopify Using a CSV File

One of the easiest ways to bulk update your inventory in Shopify is by using a CSV file (short for a comma-separated values file, and it’s really just a spreadsheet file saved in a particular format).

While it might sound a little intimidating, the process is beginner-friendly and incredibly effective. Here’s exactly how to do it:

Step 1: Export Your Current Inventory

1. Log into your Shopify admin account.
2. Navigate to Products → Inventory.
3. Click the Export button to download your current inventory data as a CSV file.

Step 2: Edit Your CSV File

1. Open the file in a spreadsheet editor like Google Sheets or Excel.
2. Find the column for inventory quantities, and update the numbers as needed.
   • If you chose the “Only Available Quantities” CSV option, update the “Available” column.
   • If you opted for the “All Quantity Types” option, adjust the “On Hand” column.
3. Keep it simple—stick to whole numbers (like 10, -3, or 0). Don’t use decimals!
4. Save the updated file in the correct format.

Step 3: Import Your Updated CSV File

1. Go back to Shopify’s admin dashboard → Products → Inventory.
2. Click Import, then choose your updated CSV file.
3. Press Upload file and verify the file details.
4. Click Start import to update your store’s inventory.

Pro Tips:

• Double-check your file formatting to avoid errors. Shopify has specific guidelines for how your CSV needs to be structured.
• If you manage stock at multiple locations, ensure you’re correctly updating inventory for the right location.
• Avoid making manual adjustments while imports are happening—this can overwrite data or cause discrepancies.

Take It to the Next Level with Craftybase Inventory

While Shopify’s bulk editor works great, things can get a bit tedious, especially as your business grows. That’s where tools like Craftybase come in.

Craftybase is a robust inventory management tool designed for makers and sellers. Here’s how it can simplify your life:

• Real-Time Inventory Tracking: Forget manual spreadsheets. Craftybase automatically tracks your stock levels across Shopify and other platforms.
• Complete Cost Tracking: Get an accurate cost of goods sold (COGS) calculation, helping you price products effectively.
• Detailed Reports: Craftybase generates helpful sales and inventory reports so you can make data-driven decisions.

By integrating Craftybase with Shopify, you’ll eliminate the hassle of juggling spreadsheets, reduce stock inaccuracies, and free up valuable time for growing your business. Curious? Try Craftybase for free today (14 day trial available) →.

Wrap-Up

Managing your Shopify inventory doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With bulk updates via CSV files and tools like Craftybase, you can avoid stockouts, overstocking, and unnecessary stress.

Now’s the perfect time to ensure your inventory processes are as efficient and accurate as possible. Happy selling!

Get Started with Craftybase for Free →