AnyTool
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How do I generate SKU codes for my products?

Open AnyTool’s SKU Generator and build codes two ways. In the segment builder, list ordered segments — a fixed code (e.g. a category abbreviation), an attribute word abbreviated to a few letters, and a zero-padded sequence — joined by a separator, broadest attribute first, for example TSH-NIK-BLK-M-001. In the variant matrix, enter a base code plus option lists (colours Black,White and sizes S,M,L) and it builds one SKU per colour × size combination in a table with the attribute columns. Output is uppercased, words are abbreviated, look-alike characters can be dropped, and you can copy or download a CSV — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.

  • Segment builder: fixed code + abbreviated attribute + padded sequence, in your chosen order
  • Variant matrix: base code × option lists → one SKU per combination (colour × size …)
  • Auto-abbreviate words to N letters, uppercase, optional drop of look-alikes (O/0, I/1, L)
  • Deduplicated output with a live preview; copy single, copy all, download CSV
  • 100% client-side — your product data is never uploaded

What is

SKU Generator

A SKU (stock-keeping unit) generator builds an internal, alphanumeric product code from meaningful attribute segments — typically Category-Brand-Style-Colour-Size plus a sequential number, for example TSH-NIK-001-BLK-M. Unlike a UPC or EAN barcode (which is externally assigned through GS1 and standardised across retailers), a SKU is created and controlled by you for your own inventory tracking, so it must be unique, consistent and human-readable.

E-commerce Tools

Related terms

Stock Keeping UnitProduct VariantUPCEANInventory ManagementAttribute Abbreviation

Frequently Asked Questions

Ordered, meaningful segments — broadest attribute first — joined by a dash, with a sequence number, e.g. TSH-NIK-BLK-M-001. Keep it 8–12 characters, uppercase and consistent across your catalogue.

A good SKU is built from short, meaningful attribute segments in a fixed order, broadest first: category, then brand, style, colour, size, and a unique sequential number — for example TSH-NIK-BLK-M-001 or ELC-SAM-PHN-128-0001. Use 2–3 character abbreviations per attribute, keep the whole code roughly 8–12 characters so it scans quickly on a pick list, separate segments with a dash (or use none), uppercase everything, and always use the same attribute order and the same abbreviation for a value across your entire catalogue. Start codes with letters rather than digits, and document your abbreviation choices so the scheme stays consistent.

Generate one SKU per combination of options. Enter the base code plus colour and size lists and the variant matrix builds every colour × size SKU automatically.

Each sellable variant needs its own SKU — that is the only way to track a blue medium separately from a black large. In the SKU Generator’s variant matrix you enter a base product code (e.g. TSH-NIK) and one list of values per option axis (colours: Black, White; sizes: S, M, L), and it produces the full cross-product: TSH-NIK-BLK-S, TSH-NIK-BLK-M, TSH-NIK-WHT-S, and so on, one row per combination with the original colour and size shown in separate columns. You can append a padded sequence number too, and export the whole matrix as a CSV ready to import into your store.

A SKU is your internal, alphanumeric code that you create and control; a UPC (12 digits) or EAN (13 digits) is an external, standardised barcode assigned through GS1 for retail checkout.

A SKU (stock-keeping unit) is an internal, alphanumeric identifier you create yourself to track inventory — it is unique to your business, encodes attributes like size and colour, and can be changed as your system needs. A UPC (12 digits) or EAN (13 digits) is a universal product code issued through GS1 that identifies the product the same way across every retailer and marketplace, is purely numeric, fixed, and used for barcode scanning at checkout. A product often has both: the UPC for external scanning, the SKU for your internal operations. This tool builds SKUs — your own codes — not UPCs or EANs.

Yes — it is free, needs no signup, and every SKU is built in your browser from the attributes you type. Nothing is uploaded, logged or stored.

AnyTool’s SKU Generator is completely free with no account. All codes are built locally in your browser from your segments and option lists, so your product names, attributes and codes are never sent to a server, logged or stored remotely. It works offline once the page is cached, and you simply export the finished list as a CSV to import into your inventory or e-commerce system.

Detailed Explanation

Methodology

How the SKU Generator Builds Codes

AnyTool SKU Generator builds stock-keeping unit codes entirely in the browser in two ways. The segment builder takes an ordered list of segments, each one a fixed code (such as a category abbreviation), an attribute word that is abbreviated to a configurable number of letters, or a zero-padded running sequence number; segments are joined by a chosen separator with the broadest attribute first, producing codes like TSH-NIK-BLK-M-001 or ELC-SAM-PHN-128-0001. Every segment is sanitised to letters and digits, optionally uppercased, and look-alike characters (O/0, I/1, L) can be dropped so the code never gets misread on a label or break a CSV import. A live preview shows the next SKU as settings change, and presets cover apparel, electronics, simple sequential and a no-separator scheme.

  • Segment builder: fixed code, abbreviated attribute, or padded sequence, in your chosen order
  • Broadest attribute first (Category-Brand-Style-…-Sequence) with a configurable separator
  • Words abbreviated to N letters; output uppercased; special characters stripped
  • Optional drop of ambiguous characters (O/0, I/1, L) for scannable, import-safe codes
  • All generation is client-side JavaScript — no server round-trip
Use Cases

Variant Matrix — One SKU Per Combination

The variant matrix generates one SKU for every combination of product options, which is the only correct way to track a blue medium separately from a black large. The user enters a base product code plus one list of values per option axis (for example colours Black, White, Blue and sizes S, M, L, XL), and the tool builds the full Cartesian product: each combination becomes a row with its SKU plus the original attribute values in separate columns. The base code, each abbreviated option value and an optional padded sequence are joined with the same separator and formatting rules as the segment builder. Results are deduplicated, capped at 2,000 combinations to stay manageable (over-cap requests are reported), shown in a scrollable table, and exported as a CSV whose columns are the SKU followed by each option axis — ready to import into Shopify, WooCommerce or another store.

  • Cartesian product of option lists → one SKU per colour × size (× …) combination
  • Base code + abbreviated option values + optional padded sequence
  • Output table includes the original attribute values as separate columns
  • Deduplicated and capped at 2,000 combinations; over-cap is reported
  • CSV export with sku + one column per option axis
Privacy & Security

Internal Codes, SKU vs UPC, and Privacy

A SKU is an internal, alphanumeric code that the business creates and controls for its own inventory, so the page is explicit that SKUs must be unique, consistent and human-readable, that the same attribute order and abbreviation should be used across the whole catalogue, and that price should never be encoded into a SKU because prices change while the code should not. It also clarifies that a SKU is not a UPC or EAN: those are external, standardised barcodes assigned through GS1 (a 12-digit UPC or 13-digit EAN) for retail checkout, whereas a SKU is the seller’s own identifier. Because the tool cannot see what has already been issued, it advises de-duplicating new batches against the existing catalogue and keeping the inventory or e-commerce system as the master record. All generation happens in the browser — product names, attributes and codes are never uploaded, logged or stored, and the page works offline once cached.

  • SKUs are your internal codes — keep them unique, consistent and human-readable
  • Don’t encode price into a SKU; prices change, the code should not
  • A SKU is not a UPC/EAN — those are external GS1 barcodes for checkout
  • De-duplicate new batches against your catalogue; the inventory system is the master record
  • Nothing is uploaded, logged or stored — works offline once cached
SKU generation: in-browser (AnyTool) vs typical online generators
CapabilityAnyToolTypical online generators
ProcessingRuns entirely in your browserOften server-side
Code structureOrdered attribute segments, broadest firstOften a fixed field layout
Variant SKUsVariant matrix — one SKU per combinationUsually single SKU only
AbbreviationAuto-abbreviate words to N lettersManual or absent
ReadabilityUppercase + optional drop of O/0, I/1, LRarely handled
Output columnsCSV with sku + each attribute columnPlain list common
PrivacyNever uploaded, works offlineMay transmit or log your data
Cost / signupFree, no signupOften gated or limited

AnyTool builds every SKU locally from your attributes and uploads nothing. SKUs are your internal codes — de-duplicate against your catalogue and keep your inventory system as the source of truth.