Short answer: Google’s product taxonomy is the fixed list of categories you can use in the
google_product_categoryattribute. The current file (version 2021-09-21) has 5,595 categories in 21 top-level groups, up to 7 levels deep, and each category has a numeric ID. Send one category per product, as the ID or the full path, never both. Download: TXT with IDs · XLS (en-US).
Google product category taxonomy is the category list Google Merchant Center uses to sort every product into a predefined category. Merchants usually ask three things about it: how many categories there are, how deep it goes, and which category and ID to use for a product. This guide answers all three with figures counted from Google’s own file on 19 October 2026.
Each category is a breadcrumb path. It starts at a top-level category and ends at the most specific one, for example Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile Phones (ID 267).
Getting the category right is part of how you optimize your product feed. If you run a WooCommerce store, you don’t need to type a category into every product: map each store category to a Google category once, and your feed fills it in for every product (how it works).
What is Google Product Category Taxonomy?
Google product category taxonomy is the list of product categories Google uses to organise products in Shopping, from broad categories down to specific ones.
Google automatically assigns every product a category from what it calls its “continuously evolving product taxonomy”. You can override that automatic category with the google_product_category attribute, which is optional. The published file you download is version 2021-09-21, with 5,595 categories. Check the version line at the top of the file before you rely on it (see how to check the version).
To see what the list looks like, open Google’s full product category list.
Where you can use Google’s categories in Shopping campaigns. In Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, you can use the Google product category to organise product groups in Shopping ads campaigns. In every other country, you organise product groups with the product_type attribute instead.
product_type is where your own store’s categories go: up to 750 characters, with > between levels and every level included, for example Home > Women > Dresses > Maxi Dresses.
How Many Levels Deep Is the Google Product Taxonomy?
The taxonomy is up to 7 levels deep, and most categories sit at levels 2 to 5 (92% of them). Here is how the 5,595 categories split by depth:
| Depth | Categories |
|---|---|
| Level 1 (top level) | 21 |
| Level 2 | 192 |
| Level 3 | 1,349 |
| Level 4 | 2,203 |
| Level 5 | 1,385 |
| Level 6 | 397 |
| Level 7 (deepest) | 48 |
Level 7 appears in only four branches: Arts & Entertainment, Health & Beauty, Office Supplies and Sporting Goods. Example: Arts & Entertainment > Hobbies & Creative Arts > Arts & Crafts > Art & Crafting Materials > Art & Craft Paper > Cardstock & Scrapbooking Paper > Cardstock (ID 543510).
Food, Beverages & Tobacco goes 6 levels deep, not 7. One path, level by level:
| Taxonomy Depth Level | Example Path | ID |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (top level) | Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 412 |
| Level 2 | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items | 422 |
| Level 3 | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Fruits & Vegetables | 430 |
| Level 4 | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Fruits & Vegetables > Fresh & Frozen Fruits | 5795 |
| Level 5 | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Fruits & Vegetables > Fresh & Frozen Fruits > Citrus Fruits | 503759 |
| Level 6 (deepest in Food) | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Fruits & Vegetables > Fresh & Frozen Fruits > Citrus Fruits > Oranges | 6658 |
Top-Level Categories in Google Product Taxonomy
The Google product taxonomy has 21 top-level (L1) categories. The number after each one is how many categories sit in that branch, the top level included:
| Top-level category | Categories in the branch |
|---|---|
| Animals & Pet Supplies | 125 |
| Apparel & Accessories | 240 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 500 |
| Baby & Toddler | 87 |
| Business & Industrial | 224 |
| Cameras & Optics | 104 |
| Electronics | 418 |
| Food, Beverages & Tobacco | 364 |
| Furniture | 121 |
| Hardware | 522 |
| Health & Beauty | 346 |
| Home & Garden | 1,035 |
| Luggage & Bags | 22 |
| Mature | 38 |
| Media | 30 |
| Office Supplies | 166 |
| Religious & Ceremonial | 13 |
| Software | 35 |
| Sporting Goods | 801 |
| Toys & Games | 174 |
| Vehicles & Parts | 230 |
Home & Garden alone holds almost a fifth of the list.
Note: Always work from Google’s current file (taxonomy.en-US.txt or taxonomy-with-ids.en-US.txt). The first line of the file is the version header. Today it reads # Google_Product_Taxonomy_Version: 2021-09-21.
How to Pick the Right Google Product Category
Google’s rules come down to five decisions:
- Use a category from Google’s list, and nothing else. Your own wording, or a category from another system, isn’t accepted. If you don’t follow this rule, Google disapproves the product (more in common Google Merchant Center errors).
- Send one category per product, as the ID or the full path, not both.
2271andApparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dressesare both valid. - Pick by the product’s main function, then go as specific as the list allows. An MP3 player with a clock is still an MP3 player:
Electronics > Audio > Audio Players & Recorders > MP3 Players(233). An MP3 player charger goes inElectronics > Audio > Audio Accessories > MP3 Player Accessories(232), not justElectronics(222). Google calls the most specific category “highly recommended” and says broad ones are “often too vague for effective automated bidding”. - No exact match? Use the closest category above it, and put your own wording in
product_type. Google says that if no category matches, you useproduct_typefor your own category. In practice, send the closest Google category ingoogle_product_categoryand your exact store path inproduct_type. For example, there is no “Jeans” category, so jeans go inApparel & Accessories > Clothing > Pants(204). - Override Google’s automatic category only when it matters. Google accepts an override in three cases only: a wrongly assigned category that brings extra required fields (such as Apparel & Accessories, Mobile Phones or Software), Shopping campaigns built on Google categories, and alcohol.
For a WooCommerce store, you make this decision once per store category, not once per product: see How to Set Google Product Category in WooCommerce.
Google Merchant Categories/Taxonomy List for Top Countries of the World
Google publishes the taxonomy by language, not by country. The 23 current language files we found share the same 5,595 IDs; only the category names are translated. So 2271 means Dresses in every current file.
These are the files we found on 19 October 2026: our own checked list, not an official Google index. Three of the files are still on the 2015 version, and only 10 of the files have a working XLS version:
| Language (file) | TXT with IDs | XLS | Version | Stores that might use it (our suggestion) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English, US (en-US) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | United States, Canada (English), South Africa, India, Singapore and other English-language feeds |
| English, UK (en-GB) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand |
| English, Australia (en-AU) | TXT | not available | 2015-02-19 (old) | Use en-GB or en-US instead |
| Arabic (ar-SA) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Arabic-language feeds |
| Czech (cs-CZ) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | Czechia |
| Danish (da-DK) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Denmark |
| German (de-DE) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Germany, Austria, Switzerland (German) |
| German, Switzerland (de-CH) | TXT | not available | 2015-02-19 (old) | Use de-DE instead |
| Greek (el-GR) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Greece, Cyprus |
| Spanish (es-ES) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and other Spanish-language feeds |
| Finnish (fi-FI) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Finland |
| French (fr-FR) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | France, Belgium (French), Canada (French), Switzerland (French) |
| French, Switzerland (fr-CH) | TXT | not available | 2015-02-19 (old) | Use fr-FR instead |
| Hungarian (hu-HU) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | Hungary |
| Italian (it-IT) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Italy, Switzerland (Italian) |
| Japanese (ja-JP) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | Japan |
| Dutch (nl-NL) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Netherlands, Belgium (Dutch) |
| Norwegian (no-NO) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Norway |
| Polish (pl-PL) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | Poland |
| Portuguese, Brazil (pt-BR) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | Brazil, Portugal |
| Romanian (ro-RO) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Romania |
| Russian (ru-RU) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | Russian-language feeds |
| Slovak (sk-SK) | TXT | XLS | 2021-09-21 | Slovakia |
| Swedish (sv-SE) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Sweden |
| Turkish (tr-TR) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Turkey |
| Chinese, Simplified (zh-CN) | TXT | not available | 2021-09-21 | Chinese-language feeds |
What this means for you:
- Use the TXT file for every language. The XLS version works only for en-US, en-GB, cs-CZ, fr-FR, hu-HU, ja-JP, pl-PL, pt-BR, ru-RU and sk-SK.
- Avoid the three 2015 files (en-AU, de-CH, fr-CH). They list 5,427 categories against 5,595 in the current files. Every ID in them still exists today, but you’d be choosing from an incomplete list.
- There is no Swiss Italian file (it-CH). Use it-IT.
- Your language isn’t listed? Google says to use the English names or the numeric ID. That’s the case for Korean, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Bulgarian, Croatian and Slovenian, among others: we found no file for them on 19 October 2026.
The “stores that might use it” column is our suggestion, not a Google table. Google’s help page offers the files by language, not by country.
Google Product Taxonomy for Food Categories: Depth, Levels, and Examples
Food is one of the more detailed parts of the taxonomy. The Food, Beverages & Tobacco branch has 364 categories and goes up to 6 levels deep.
Food Category Path Examples
| Product | Full Google Taxonomy Path | ID | Depth Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apples | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Fruits & Vegetables > Fresh & Frozen Fruits > Apples | 6566 | 5 |
| Oranges | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Fruits & Vegetables > Fresh & Frozen Fruits > Citrus Fruits > Oranges | 6658 | 6 |
| Milk | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Beverages > Milk | 418 | 3 |
| Cheddar Cheese | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Dairy Products > Cheese | 429 | 4 |
| Yogurt | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Dairy Products > Yogurt | 1954 | 4 |
| Sliced Bread | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Bakery > Breads & Buns | 424 | 4 |
| Potato Chips | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Snack Foods > Chips | 2392 | 4 |
| Frozen Pizza | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Prepared Foods > Prepared Meals & Entrées (closest: there is no “Frozen Foods” category) | 499988 | 4 |
| Green Tea | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Beverages > Tea & Infusions | 2073 | 3 |
| Flavored Carbonated Water | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Beverages > Water > Carbonated Water > Flavored Carbonated Water | 543534 | 5 |
| Ground Beef | Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Meat, Seafood & Eggs > Meat > Fresh & Frozen Meats | 5805 | 5 |
| Baby Food | Baby & Toddler > Nursing & Feeding > Baby & Toddler Food > Baby Food (not under Food) | 5719 | 4 |
Note that milk sits under Beverages, not Dairy Products, and baby food sits under Baby & Toddler, not Food. Searching the file is faster than guessing.
How Many Categories Are in the Food, Beverages & Tobacco Section?
Food, Beverages & Tobacco has 364 categories in the 2021-09-21 file, including the top level. That puts it sixth of the 21 branches, behind Home & Garden, Sporting Goods, Hardware, Arts & Entertainment and Electronics.
Its deepest categories are at level 6, for example Oranges (6658) under Citrus Fruits. Most food categories (333 of 364) sit at levels 3 to 5.
Tip: If you sell food, use the most specific category for each item. For example, Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Dairy Products > Cheese (429) rather than Food, Beverages & Tobacco (412). Google says broad categories are often too vague for effective automated bidding.
How to Download the Google Product Taxonomy File?
Google publishes the taxonomy as free files in three formats. All three English (US) links below were checked on 19 October 2026.
Available Download Formats
| Format | File Name | Download URL | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXT (plain text) | taxonomy.en-US.txt | Download TXT | Developers, feed tools (paths only, no IDs) |
| TXT with IDs | taxonomy-with-ids.en-US.txt | Download TXT with IDs | When you need numeric category IDs |
| Excel (XLS) | taxonomy-with-ids.en-US.xls | Download XLS | Manual lookup, category research |
If the TXT file shows garbled characters, switch your browser’s text encoding to Unicode (UTF-8). For other languages, use the table in the language section.
How to Check the Taxonomy Version?
Each Google product taxonomy .txt file starts with a version header (the XLS file has none). In the current files it reads:
# Google_Product_Taxonomy_Version: 2021-09-21
The date is the version of the list. Check it before a big feed change. If the date changes, re-check your mappings for categories that were added, moved or removed.
How to Use the XLS Download for Category Lookup?
Open the XLS file and use Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on a Mac) to search for a product word. For example, search “chips” to find the row with 2392 in the first column and Food, Beverages & Tobacco, Food Items, Snack Foods and Chips in the next columns: one level per column. In the feed, that’s 2392 or Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Snack Foods > Chips. Then put either the ID or the full path into your feed, not both.
Google Product Category IDs: How to Find and Use Them
Every category in the Google product taxonomy has a unique numeric ID, and you can submit the ID instead of the full path.
Popular Google Product Taxonomy Category IDs
| Category ID | Full Category Path |
|---|---|
| 1604 | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing |
| 2271 | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses |
| 203 | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Outerwear |
| 212 | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts & Tops |
| 204 | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Pants |
| 187 | Apparel & Accessories > Shoes |
| 267 | Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile Phones |
| 404 | Electronics > Video > Televisions |
| 224 | Electronics > Audio > Audio Components > Audio Amplifiers |
| 233 | Electronics > Audio > Audio Players & Recorders > MP3 Players |
| 736 | Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Appliances > Coffee Makers & Espresso Machines |
| 2422 | Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Appliances > Coffee Makers & Espresso Machines > Espresso Machines |
| 412 | Food, Beverages & Tobacco (top level) |
| 632 | Hardware (top level) |
Should you use the ID or the full category path? Google accepts either one, but not both in the same product. We suggest the ID: it’s shorter, and it can’t break because of a typo or a translated name. Keep a reference sheet with both the ID and the path so you can audit your feed.
How to Find a Category ID for Any Product?
Download taxonomy-with-ids.en-US.txt (or the XLS file) and search for the product name. Each line of the TXT file has this format:
2271 - Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses
The number at the start of the line is the category ID. You can use it directly as the value of the google_product_category attribute in your feed.
GS1 GPC vs. Google Product Taxonomy: Which Is More Detailed for Food?
If you sell food and grocery products, you may wonder whether you can use the GS1 Global Product Classification (GPC) instead of Google’s taxonomy.
What Is GS1 GPC?
GS1 Global Product Classification (GPC) is a standard from GS1 that helps trading partners group products the same way everywhere in the world. Its levels are segment, family, class and brick, and brick attributes describe product details. For example, a bottle of milk sits in the food, beverages and tobacco segment, and a brick attribute says whether it’s animal or plant milk. It’s a separate system from Google’s product taxonomy, and Google doesn’t accept its codes in google_product_category.
GS1 GPC vs Google Product Taxonomy: Key Differences
| Feature | Google Product Taxonomy | GS1 GPC |
|---|---|---|
| Maintained by | GS1 | |
| Structure | One path of up to 7 levels, each category with a numeric ID | Segment > family > class > brick, plus brick attributes |
| Used for | Categorising products in Google Merchant Center and Shopping | A common product language between trading partners |
Accepted as google_product_category? | Yes | No: Google accepts only its own predefined categories |
Is GS1 GPC More Detailed Than Google Product Taxonomy for Food?
It doesn’t matter for your feed: google_product_category accepts only a category from Google’s own list, however detailed another system is. Google’s own food branch goes up to 6 levels deep.
Bottom line: Use Google’s taxonomy for google_product_category. If you want finer food detail in your feed, such as your own grocery hierarchy, put it in product_type.
Google Product Category Path Examples by Product Type
Every path below was checked against Google’s 2021-09-21 file. Where Google has no exact category, the table says so and gives the closest one.
Apparel & Accessories Category Examples
| Product | Google Product Category Path | ID |
|---|---|---|
| Jeans | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Pants (closest: there is no “Jeans” category) | 204 |
| Socks | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Underwear & Socks > Socks | 209 |
| Hoodie / Sweatshirt / Sweater | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts & Tops (closest: there is no hoodie or sweater category) | 212 |
| Sweatpants | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Pants (closest: there is no sweatpants category) | 204 |
| Pajamas | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Sleepwear & Loungewear | 208 |
| Robe | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Sleepwear & Loungewear > Robes | 2302 |
| Underwear | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Underwear & Socks > Underwear | 2562 |
| Lingerie | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Underwear & Socks > Lingerie | 1772 |
| White Dress | Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses | 2271 |
| Slippers | Apparel & Accessories > Shoes (Shoes has no sub-categories) | 187 |
Luggage & Bags Category Examples
| Product | Google Product Category Path | ID |
|---|---|---|
| Backpack | Luggage & Bags > Backpacks | 100 |
| Suitcase / Rolling Suitcase | Luggage & Bags > Suitcases | 107 |
Electronics Category Examples
| Product | Google Product Category Path | ID |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone / Mobile Phone | Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile Phones | 267 |
| Television | Electronics > Video > Televisions | 404 |
| Phone Charger | Electronics > Electronics Accessories > Power > Power Adapters & Chargers | 505295 |
| Audio Cable | Electronics > Electronics Accessories > Cables > Audio & Video Cables | 1867 |
| Hi-Fi / Speakers | Electronics > Audio > Audio Components > Speakers | 249 |
| MP3 Player Charger | Electronics > Audio > Audio Accessories > MP3 Player Accessories | 232 |
Home & Other Category Examples
| Product | Google Product Category Path | ID |
|---|---|---|
| Robot Vacuum Cleaner | Home & Garden > Household Appliances > Vacuums (closest: there is no robot vacuum category) | 619 |
| Rug | Home & Garden > Decor > Rugs | 598 |
| Bunk Bed | Furniture > Beds & Accessories > Beds & Bed Frames (closest: there is no bunk bed category) | 505764 |
| Toothbrush | Health & Beauty > Personal Care > Oral Care > Toothbrushes | 527 |
| Kick Scooter | Sporting Goods > Outdoor Recreation > Riding Scooters | 5879 |
| Motor Scooter | Vehicles & Parts > Vehicles > Motor Vehicles > Motorcycles & Scooters | 919 |
How to Set Google Product Category in WooCommerce
Your WooCommerce categories are your own, and they almost never match Google’s list exactly. So if you send google_product_category, each product needs a category from Google’s list. A feed plugin such as CTX Feed fills the google_product_category attribute in two ways:
- One fixed category for the whole feed. In the feed’s Config tab, set the google_product_category row’s Source to Text and type one ID or path. Every product in the feed gets that value, so it only suits a feed with one kind of product.
- Category mapping (recommended). Match each WooCommerce category to a Google category once, and every product in that category gets it, without editing products one by one.
What category mapping does in CTX Feed (free):
- Search Google’s list by name or ID for each store category. The ID and full path are filled in for you, and only categories from Google’s list can be saved.
- Copy a parent’s mapping down to all its sub-categories in one click, then change any child that needs a more specific category.
- See what’s left. A counter shows how many store categories are mapped, and an All | Unmapped | Mapped filter takes you straight to the gaps.
- Reuse one mapping set in every Google feed: on the feed’s Config tab, the google_product_category row uses Source = Attribute and the set from the Category Mapping group.
- Products in several categories get the deepest mapped category. An unmapped category is skipped, and a variation uses its parent product’s categories.
- Keep Google’s list current. Before you map, go to CTX Feed → Settings → Product taxonomy → Update taxonomies to load Google’s file. It loads the English (US) file by default; to use another language, paste that language’s
.txtfile URL into Taxonomy file URL. - Upgrading from a version before 8.0? Text mappings that exactly match a Google category are converted to their IDs on update. Rows that don’t match show Unknown category until you pick one from the search.
Step-by-step: Map store category to merchant category (building the mapping set) and Configure product category into feed (adding it to the feed).
Multilingual store? With WPML or Polylang, each translated category is a separate category. CTX Feed Pro (8.0.26 or later, with CTX Feed 8.0.35 or later) lets you map each category once, in your default language, and every translation uses that mapping. See Category mapping in a multilingual store.
product_type and google_product_category are separate attributes. product_type carries your own store category path (in CTX Feed, from your WooCommerce categories), and google_product_category carries Google’s category. Send both: Google uses product_type for your own categories and for organising Shopping campaigns.
How Does Google Product Category Affect Your Ads?
Google calls an accurate product category “a key signal” for its algorithms: it helps match your products to the right searches. Google also uses your titles, the Google Shopping description attribute, prices, brands and GTINs to categorise products correctly.
The category also changes which rules apply to a product. Some categories, such as Apparel & Accessories, Mobile Phones and Software, require extra fields. Alcohol has its own policy, and Google asks you to put alcoholic drinks in Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Beverages > Alcoholic Beverages (499676) or one of its sub-categories.
Brand is an example of a rule that depends on the product. Google requires a brand for products with a clear brand or manufacturer, but it’s optional for products without one, such as movies, books, music and posters. For media products like CDs, Google suggests the publisher’s name as the brand.
The category affects bidding too. Google says the most specific category is “highly recommended” and that broad categories like “Electronics” are “often too vague for effective automated bidding”. In the 11 countries listed above, you can also build Shopping campaign product groups by category.
Guidelines for Google Product Category
Follow these guidelines when you set google_product_category:
Use a single, predefined category: one category from Google’s list, as the ID or the full path, not both.
Choose the category that best describes your product: pick by the product’s main function. An MP3 player may also have a clock, but its main function is playing music, so it goes in MP3 Players (233), not with clocks.
Be very specific: if you sell an MP3 player charger, don’t just use Electronics. Use Electronics > Audio > Audio Accessories > MP3 Player Accessories (232).
Use the latest categories: In Google Ads, bidding on Shopping campaigns is based on the latest categories. It still accepts any version published after August 2011 and translates it to the latest, but what you submit might then not match what you see. Work from the current file.
When Should You Use the Google Product Category Attributes?
The google_product_category attribute is optional. Google accepts an override of its automatic category only in these three cases:
Category-specific attribute requirements: some categories, such as Apparel & Accessories, Mobile Phones or Software, require extra fields. If Google puts your product in one of them by mistake, override the category to remove those requirements.
Google Ads campaign targeting: if your campaigns are built on Google product categories, use the attribute to move products within that structure.
Alcohol: alcoholic beverages must be categorised correctly. If Google assigns the wrong category, override it so the product stays compliant with the alcoholic beverages policy.
What are the Benefits and Challenges of Categorization?
Categorization Benefits
Google lists three benefits of accurate categories:
- Relevance: Google can match your products to the right searches. Google says this helps improve click-through rates.
- Better automated bidding: specific categories group your products with comparable items, so Smart Bidding learns from similar products.
- Less wasted spend: correctly categorised products are less likely to show for irrelevant searches.
Categorization Challenges
Google’s automatic categorization can put a product in the wrong category. That’s why Google lets you override it with google_product_category in the cases above.
The bigger challenge is volume. With 5,595 categories and hundreds or thousands of products, choosing a category per product by hand doesn’t scale, and every new product would need one. A store maps its categories once instead: see How to Set Google Product Category in WooCommerce.
How to Set Google Product Category?
You can fill google_product_category in one of three ways:
Method 1: Leave it blank and let Google categorise. Google assigns every product a category automatically. This works for many products, but you don’t control the result.
Method 2: One value for every item. Set a single category that applies to every product in the feed. In CTX Feed, that’s the Text source on the google_product_category row. It suits a feed with one kind of product only.
Method 3: Map your store categories to Google categories. Match each WooCommerce category to a Google category once with CTX Feed‘s category mapping, and every product in that category reports it in the feed. This is the method we recommend for most stores.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Many Categories Are in the Google Product Taxonomy?
The current English (US) file, version 2021-09-21, has 5,595 categories in 21 top-level groups. To check it yourself, count the lines in taxonomy.en-US.txt and leave out the version header on the first line.
How Often Does Google Update the Product Taxonomy?
Google describes its taxonomy as “continuously evolving”, but the downloadable file still carries the version 2021-09-21 (checked 19 October 2026). Check the header line of the file before a big feed change. If the date has changed, re-check your category mappings.
What Is the google_product_taxonomy_version Attribute?
It isn’t a feed attribute. It’s the header on the first line of Google’s taxonomy .txt files: # Google_Product_Taxonomy_Version: 2021-09-21. The date tells you which version of the list you have. If you process the file with a script, read this line to see whether a newer version has been released since your last download.
Can I Use Google Product Category Numbers (IDs) Instead of Category Names?
Yes. Google accepts either the numeric ID or the full category path, but not both. For example, send either 2271 or Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses. The ID is shorter and doesn’t depend on the language of the file.
Is the Google Product Taxonomy the Same as the Google Shopping Category?
Yes. “Google product taxonomy”, “Google Shopping categories”, “Google merchant categories” and “Google product category” all refer to the same predefined list. You send it in the google_product_category attribute. In Shopping campaigns it appears as “Category”.
What Is the Google Product Category for Jeans, Socks, or Hoodies?
Jeans: Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Pants (204); there is no Jeans category. Socks: Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Underwear & Socks > Socks (209). Hoodies: there is no hoodie category; the closest is Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts & Tops (212).
What Is the Difference Between product_type L1, L2 in Google Shopping Feed?
product_type is your own category path, with > between levels, for example Home > Women > Dresses > Maxi Dresses. Each > marks a level you can use to subdivide product groups in a Shopping campaign, and product types can be subdivided up to five times. People call these levels L1 (the first level, “Home”), L2 (“Women”) and so on. You can send up to 5 product_type values, but only the first is used for bidding and reporting. More on this in how to create product groups in Google Shopping.
Do I Have to Submit google_product_category?
No. It’s optional. Google assigns every product a category automatically, and accepts an override only for category-specific requirements, campaign targeting and alcohol. You can still send it to control the category in those cases.
Final Thoughts
Pick one specific category per product from Google’s current list, send it as the ID or the full path, and keep your own structure in product_type. On a WooCommerce store, map each store category once and let the feed fill in every product.
Map your WooCommerce categories to Google’s taxonomy once, and every product ships a valid google_product_category. Get CTX Feed free on WordPress.org
Selling in several languages? CTX Feed Pro applies one category map to every WPML or Polylang translation.
You May Also Read
- Google Shopping Product Feed Specifications: Every Required & Optional Attribute (2026)
- How to Fix Common Google Merchant Center Errors
- How To Create Product Groups In Google Shopping in 2026
- 23 Google Shopping Feed Optimization Tips & Best Practices (2026)
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