In short. Review Column mapping after selecting a CSV, assign supported product fields in the dropdowns, and select Do not import for columns to skip.
Definition: Column mapping assigns each column in a CSV (comma-separated values) file to a WooCommerce product field. As of 17 October 2026, the built-in importer matches recognized headers automatically and provides dropdown menus for changing assignments or skipping columns.
Key facts
- WooCommerce's Product CSV Importer and Exporter guide states that unrecognized columns are skipped by default.
- The mapping screen template pairs Column name with Map to field and includes a Do not import option.
- The importer controller provides separate destinations for Short description, Description, Regular price, and Sale price.
- WooCommerce's Product CSV Import Schema limits custom metadata imports to plain text and excludes JSON and serialized data.
Where does column mapping happen?
WooCommerce's import guide places the workflow under Products > All Products > Import. After file selection, Continue opens Column mapping. Each dropdown assigns a destination field or excludes that column. Run the importer starts processing after review.
The mapping template displays the source header and, when present, a sample value alongside its destination. A review therefore compares the actual column contents with the selected field. Price data, for example, has distinct Regular price and Sale price destinations in the importer controller.
Which headers correspond to product fields?
WooCommerce's controller code recognizes the following product headers. This is a header row for a CSV, with product records supplied below it:
Type,SKU,Name,Short description,Description,Regular price,Images
The same code maps SKU to the product's SKU field, Name to its name, and Images to its image data. Short description and Description remain separate assignments. The controller compares ordinary recognized header names after converting them to lowercase.
Attribute columns also have separate roles. The controller recognizes numbered patterns for attribute names, values, visibility, global status, and defaults. Mapping an attribute's value column therefore requires the Attribute value(s) destination; the Attribute name destination identifies the attribute itself.
What happens to skipped or unsupported fields?
WooCommerce's import documentation distinguishes an unrecognized column from an intentional exclusion: unrecognized columns start out skipped, while Do not import explicitly excludes a column. The same documentation states that the core importer cannot add or change product image alt text.
Custom metadata means additional data stored under a product metadata key. The controller recognizes the meta: prefix and offers Import as meta data. For the documented product_depth key, the header is:
meta:product_depth
WooCommerce's schema describes this support as plain text only. JSON and serialized structures fall outside that documented format. The import guide directs extension-specific fields to the relevant extension's documentation and says entirely new importer fields require custom code.
Related terms
- How do I update existing WooCommerce products with a CSV?
- How do I import WooCommerce product variations by CSV?
- How do I export WooCommerce product data to a CSV?
- How do I add alternative text to WooCommerce product images?
FAQ
Can I ignore a column without deleting it from the file?
Yes. You can select Do not import in that column's dropdown on WooCommerce's mapping screen.
Why is a column missing from the imported data?
WooCommerce's import guide says unrecognized columns are skipped by default. You can review the destination dropdown and select the appropriate supported field before running the importer.
Can I put structured custom data in a metadata column?
WooCommerce's schema supports plain-text custom metadata. You need to account for its exclusion of JSON and serialized data when preparing the file.
Sources
- WooCommerce, "Product CSV Importer and Exporter", updated 9 October 2026
- WooCommerce, "Admin View: Importer - CSV mapping", undated
- WooCommerce, "Product CSV Importer Controller", undated
- WooCommerce, "Product CSV Import Schema", undated
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