Migrating products between WooCommerce stores might sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re moving from a staging site to production, duplicating a store, or simply reusing a product catalog, WooCommerce offers straightforward tools for product export and import.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to export products from one WooCommerce store and import them into another, including handling images, variations, and custom product fields.
Why Export and Import Products?
There are several common scenarios where you might need to export and import WooCommerce products:
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Launching a new version of your store
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Migrating from a development/staging environment to a live site
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Cloning an existing product catalog to another domain
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Merging multiple stores
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Backing up product data
Let’s break down the easiest way to do this — using WooCommerce’s built-in tools.
Step 1: Export Products from the Source Store
WooCommerce includes a simple CSV export tool. Here’s how to use it:
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Log in to your WordPress dashboard on the original store.
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Go to Products > All Products.
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Click the “Export” button at the top.
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Choose which columns to export (by default, all will be selected). You can filter by product type or category if needed.
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Click “Generate CSV” to download your product data.
This CSV file will include product titles, SKUs, descriptions, prices, stock, categories, and more.
Step 2: Import Products into the New Store
On your destination WooCommerce store:
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Log in to the WordPress admin panel.
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Navigate to Products > All Products.
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Click the “Import” button at the top.
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Upload the CSV file you previously exported.
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WooCommerce will automatically map the columns. Review and adjust them if needed.
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Click “Run the Importer”.
WooCommerce will now create all the products from the CSV file, including simple and variable products.
Step 3: What About Product Images?
By default, WooCommerce will attempt to import images from the URLs specified in the CSV file.
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If the source and destination sites share the same media URLs (for example, if both are on the same server), images should import correctly.
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If the destination site can’t access the image URLs (e.g. different domains, protected folders), images may not appear.
Solutions:
Option 1: Manual Reupload (for small stores)
After importing, edit each product and manually re-upload missing images.
Option 2: Use a Plugin
If you want to include product images reliably, consider using a plugin like:
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Product Import Export for WooCommerce (by WebToffee)
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WP All Import (premium) with the WooCommerce add-on
These tools support full image imports, custom fields, and more advanced setups.
Step 4: Importing Variable Products
WooCommerce supports variable products (such as different sizes or colors), but importing them requires proper formatting in the CSV.
If your exported CSV includes variations, WooCommerce will typically handle them automatically — as long as the variation IDs and attributes are preserved.
However, for complex variations or custom setups, you may want to use a more advanced plugin like WP All Import, which gives you better control over parent-child product relationships.
Bonus: Export and Import with WP All Import / Export
If your store is large, or if you need more customization, WP All Export and WP All Import (by Soflyy) are excellent tools. They allow:
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Scheduled exports/imports
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Drag-and-drop field mapping
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Handling of custom meta fields and ACF fields
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Direct integration with external sources (XML, Google Sheets, etc.)
These are paid plugins, but they can save a huge amount of time for professional workflows.
Conclusion
Exporting and importing WooCommerce products doesn’t have to be a technical nightmare. For most stores, the built-in tools are more than enough to move data quickly and safely. For larger or more complex needs, plugins like WP All Import give you full control.
Key takeaway: Always back up your store before importing or exporting data. Test on a staging site if possible, and double-check your product content and images after migration.
Have questions or run into issues? Drop them in the comments — we’re happy to help!
