Learn how to easily create a product file to showcase your products on Google. When you add your products to the file, you’ll assign pieces of data called "attributes" that provide details about your products (such as prices, availability, and other important details). When your product file is ready, you can add it to Merchant Center.
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Quick answers
What are attributes?
Attributes are the data points that describe a product. Some, such as condition [condition] and availability [availability], have standardized or accepted values. Others, including ID [id] or title [title], are left open for you to fill out for each of your products. When you use the required and suggested attributes to accurately describe your items, it helps people more easily search for and find your items.
What file formats are accepted?
You can use .txt, .xml, or .tsv files. Files can be up to 4 GB in size. Unsupported file formats, such as .html, will prevent your feed from being processed.
How do I add my file to Merchant Center?
When your product file is ready, you can add the file with a one-time upload or by providing a link to the file from another website. If you host the file on a website or a server, make sure the link that you provide starts with http://, https:// or sftp://.
Examples of product files
Discover what to expect when you create your product file.
The file format
You can use two types of product files for Merchant Center: a tab-delimited spreadsheet or XML. Each file format has their advantages and their disadvantages.
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<rss xmlns:g="http://base.google.com/ns/1.0" version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>Example - Google Store</title>
<link>https://store.google.com</link>
<description>This is an example of a basic RSS 2.0 document containing a single item</description>
<item>
<g:id>TV_123456</g:id>
<g:title>Google Chromecast with Google TV</g:title>
<g:description>Chromecast with Google TV brings you the entertainment you love, in up to 4K HDR</g:description>
<g:link>https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_google_tv</g:link> <g:image_link>https://images.example.com/TV_123456.png</g:image_link> <g:condition>new</g:condition>
<g:availability>in stock</g:availability>
<g:price>49.99 USD</g:price>
<g:shipping><g:country>US</g:country>
<g:service>Standard</g:service>
<g:price>7.99 USD</g:price></g:shipping>
<g:gtin>123456789123</g:gtin>
<g:brand>Google</g:brand>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
The attributes
Attributes need to be set up properly in the product file that you provide. Some attributes are required, while others are optional. It’s important to follow our product data specification when setting up the file, as incorrect formatting may result in Google being unable to add your products to Merchant Center.
The file extension
When creating your product file, remember to save your file in one of the supported file types with the appropriate filename extension.
Get started
Step 1 of 4
Open your preferred spreadsheet program on your computer. Using a spreadsheet program such as Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel makes it easy to create a product file and convert it to the proper format.
Step 2 of 4
On the first row of the spreadsheet, enter the names of the attributes that describe your products, each in its own column.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | id |
title |
description |
price |
condition |
link |
availability |
image_link |
| 2 | ||||||||
| 3 |
Step 3 of 4
In the rows below the top row, enter information about your products for the attributes you've chosen. Each product should be listed in a separate row, and its information divided into the appropriate columns. (For example, a product's description should be in the same column as the "description" header). You may leave a cell empty if there is no value for an attribute.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | id |
title |
description |
price |
condition |
link |
availability |
image_link |
| 2 | GooglePixel6a-US | Pixel 6a | It’s the more affordable, super fast and secure Google phone. | 449.00 | new |
https://store.google.com/product/pixel_6a | in_stock |
http://www.example.com/image1.jpg |
| 3 | GooglePixelBudsPro-US | Pixel Buds Pro | Premium, immersive sound that adapts to you. | 199.99 | new |
https://store.google.com/product/pixel_buds_pro | in_stock |
http://www.example.com/image2.jpg |
Step 4 of 4
Most spreadsheet programs allow you to export data into a tab-delimited file. Before uploading, make sure your file is saved with the correct extension (.tsv or .txt). Using an unsupported file type will prevent the file from being processed. This is the file you should submit to Merchant Center.
Google Sheets Instructions
- Open the File menu.
- Select Download > Tab-Separated Values (.tsv).
Microsoft Excel Instructions
- Select File > Save as.
- Choose where you want to save the file.
- In the "Save as" box, pick where you want to save the file, then choose Text (tab delimited)(*.txt).
Frequently asked questions
What are product attributes and why are they essential?
Attributes are specific data points used to describe your products and help Google understand what you are selling. Accurate attributes make your products visible in relevant search queries across Shopping ads and free listings.
Attributes generally fall into two categories:
- Standardized values: Attributes that require specific, predefined values from Google (for example, condition must be set to new, refurbished, or used; availability must be
in_stock,out_of_stock,preorder, orbackorder). - Open-ended values: Attributes where you supply your own product-specific text (for example,
id,title,description,link, orprice).
Which file formats and size limits are supported by Merchant Center?
Google Merchant Center accepts product files in the following formats:
- Delimited text files: .txt (tab-delimited text) or .tsv (tab-separated values).
- XML files: .xml (for example, RSS 2.0 or Atom 1.0 feeds).
Learn more about product data specifications.
Should I use a tab-delimited spreadsheet (.txt/.tsv) or an XML file?
| Format | Best For | Advantages | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tab-Delimited (.txt, .tsv) | Small-to-medium inventories; beginners | Easy to create and edit using spreadsheet software (like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel) and export as TSV/tab-delimited text. | Can be prone to formatting errors if special characters (for example, extra tabs or line breaks) are inserted inside fields. |
| XML (.xml) | Large catalogs; automated systems | Better suited for handling multiple variants, nested attributes, and automated exports directly from eCommerce platforms or CMS databases. | Requires technical knowledge of XML feed schemas (for example, RSS 2.0 or Atom 1.0) to avoid syntax and closing-tag errors. |
What common errors can prevent my product file from processing?
Common feed-processing errors include:
- Unsupported file formats: Uploading .html, .pdf, or improperly formatted .xlsx files directly instead of saving them as .txt, .tsv, or .xml.
- Missing required attributes: Omitting fundamental attributes, such as
id,title,price,availability, orlink. - Invalid attribute values: Using custom text for attributes with strict taxonomy (for example, entering "brand new" instead of "new" for the
[condition]attribute). - Delimiter and encoding issues: Missing tab separators in .txt/.tsv files, unclosed tags in .xml, or saving files in an encoding format other than UTF-8 / UTF-16.
Next steps
- Sync your product file with Merchant Center.
- After you sync the product file, Google reviews the product information that you submitted for any errors.
- You’ll be able to track the status of the sync from the "All products" page in Merchant Center.