Should every variant have its own SKU?

Usually yes, so you can count and reorder each size and colour. If you only stock one SKU for all variants, SGT can give every variant of a product the same SKU instead.

Can I change SKUs later?

Yes, but update any spreadsheets, labels and other systems that use them. Plan the pattern before you print labels.

How to create SKUs in Shopify, with naming examples

What a SKU is for

A SKU (stock keeping unit) is your own code for one sellable variant. Customers rarely see it. Your team uses it to pick, pack, count and reorder. Unlike a barcode number, you can make a SKU readable.

A simple SKU pattern

Build the SKU from a few short parts, always in the same order, joined by one separator:

Brand or category, 2 to 4 letters: TEE, LEA.
Product or style, a short code: CLS for Classic.
Options, in a fixed order: colour then size, RED-M.
A number if two products could still collide: 001.

Result: TEE-CLS-RED-M-001.

Examples

Product	Variant	SKU
Classic Tee	Red / M	`TEE-CLS-RED-M`
Classic Tee	Red / XL	`TEE-CLS-RED-XL`
Leather Handbag	Tan	`LEA-HAN-TAN-01`
Soy Jar Candle	Cedarwood and Moss	`LUM-SOY-CED-001`

Mistakes to avoid

Removing numbers from sizes. 2XL and 3XL both become XL, and two variants share a SKU.
Using the letter O and the number 0, or I and 1, in the same place. They are easy to misread.
Starting with zeros. Spreadsheets often strip them.
Spaces and special characters. Stick to letters, numbers and one separator.
Putting price or stock in the SKU. Those change; the SKU should not.

Generate SKUs for every variant

Typing SKUs for hundreds of variants by hand invites mistakes. In SGT you build the pattern once from parts such as product name, vendor, option values and a counter, see a live preview of every new SKU, then write them to Shopify in one go. Existing SKUs stay unless you choose to overwrite them, and new products can get SKUs automatically.

Prefer video? Watch the 90-second SGT tour on YouTube.