How to Use SKU as MPN in Product Feeds

Some merchants don’t have manufacturer part numbers (MPNs) for their products, especially when selling custom, handmade, or private-label items. In these cases, it’s common to consider using the SKU as the MPN. Google Merchant Center accepts this approach when the product does not have an official manufacturer identifier. This article explains when it’s appropriate, how to implement it, and how to ensure your feed remains compliant.

When It’s Appropriate to Use SKU as MPN

You can use your SKU as the MPN when:

• The product does not have an official MPN from a manufacturer.
• You are the manufacturer, brand owner, or private-label creator.
• The SKU is the only unique and consistent identifier you control.

You should not use SKU as MPN when selling branded items that already have a real MPN or GTIN. In those cases, Google expects you to provide the official identifier.

How to Map SKU to MPN

Follow these steps to map your product’s SKU to the MPN field in your feed:

1. Open your feed and choose Create or Edit.
2. Go to the Field Mapping section.
3. Locate MPN (mpn) in the list of available fields.
4. In the Value or Product Attribute dropdown, choose SKU.
5. Save the mapping.
6. Generate or refresh your feed so the new mapping is applied.

This ensures your SKU is used as the MPN in the final product feed.

Important Notes

Check for official product identifiers

Before you map your SKU to the MPN field, make sure the product doesn’t already have a valid GTIN or MPN from the manufacturer. If an official identifier exists, Google expects you to use it instead of replacing it with a SKU.

Make sure your SKU is unique

Each SKU should point to one specific product or variant. If two items share the same SKU, Google may treat them as duplicates or return warnings during feed processing.

Keep identifiers consistent across review feeds

If you submit product reviews through a review feed or a third-party platform, use the same SKU-as-MPN value there as well. Matching identifiers ensures Google can link your reviews to the correct products.

Conclusion

Using a SKU as the MPN is a valid and often practical solution for products without official manufacturer identifiers. As long as the SKU is unique and consistently applied across your product and review feeds, Google will accept it and link your data correctly.

Need More Help?

If you need any further assistance, feel free to create a new ticket to reach out to our support team.

Please note that the ticket support system is exclusive to Product Feed ELITE users.

If you’re using only the Product Feed Pro plugin, feel free to open a new topic in the WordPress.org forum.