Minimum catalog requirements

The following columns are required for all products. If you do not provide data in the required columns, your products are not displayed on your storefront.

note

If you are a Canadian retailer who conducts business in Quebec, your inventory file must include at a minimum name, details, and remote_image_url in both French and English. For more information, see Local requirements.

Column	Data type	Description	Example	Customer experience
`available`	boolean	If an item is available for purchase, TRUE. If you remove a row from a Full Inventory and Delta file, the item remains available. If you remove a row from a Reinventory file, the item as marked as unavailable. To manage availability, you can add additional availabilty data.	True: 1, T, True, Y, Yes or False: 0, F, False, N, No	None available
`brand_name`	text	The customer-facing product brand name (100 character limit). This is a static field that is only applied when you create a product. For products shared across retailers, this brand name is provided by the brand owner.	Dr. Pepper	View full image
`cost_price_per_unit`	float	The price per pound or per unit. This distinction is noted in the `cost_unit` column. Note: Markup rules can change the price. If selling in USA, provide the price in USD. If selling in Canada, provide the price in CAD.	32.99 0.75 Note: For numbers less than 1, the price includes a zero before the decimal.	View full image
`cost_unit`	text	Indicates how a product is sold: by unit or by weight unit (each, lb, g, kg). Note: All `par_weight` items must use a `cost_unit`of either 'lb’ or 'kg’. For more information, see Additional dimensions.	‘lb’, ‘kg’, or ‘each’ Example: Royal Gala Apples sold for $2.29/lb, weighing 0.38lbs each `cost_price_per_unit` = ’2.29’ `cost_unit` = ’lb’ `par_weight` = ‘0.38’ In the above example, customers are charged $0.87 per apple, because price of $2.29 / lb x 0.38 lbs = $0.87.	View full image
`location_code`	text	The store ID where this item is located.	38, 1172	None available
`lookup_code`	text	The unique code that represents each of your products (such as PLU or UPC). For scannable barcodes: the code provided should be the code on the product itself. If you have a group of `lookup_codes` tied to a single product, add a `retailer_reference_code`. Include a check digit on all UPCs to ensure we have a full UPC to correlate to what we have in our system. This helps provide the most accurate information for this product. IMPORTANT: Ensure that you provide the value as text and that the lookup code is not in scientific notation.	PLU examples: 4066 94066 UPC examples 00084114108142 00504124441282 00012000014260	None available
`name`	text	The name of the product on the storefront. (100 character limit) This is a static field that is only required when creating the product for the first time. Items in Instacart’s Universal Catalog can inherit a trusted product source, such as data from CPGs. This value is used as a method for matching PLU items to correct products and to create new products specific to a retailer. Do not use abbreviations.	Meat Beef Ground 90/10 Banana Ripe	View full image
`retailer_reference_code`	text	(Optional) The internal item code used by retailers to identify products or to group a series of lookup codes to the same product.	183452	None available
`size`	integer	The numerical amount of a unit within the pack. To define the associated unit of measure, use the `size_uom` field. To define the number of units in a pack, use the `unit_count` field. Can also be ‘per lb’. Note: For alcoholic products and non-alcoholic beverages the size provided must be a volume measurement.	12 For an 8-pack of 12 fl oz Pepsi: `size` = ‘12’ `size_uom` = ‘fl oz’ `unit_count` = ‘8’	View full image
`size_uom`	text	Unit of measure for the amount within the pack (size). Default is ‘each’. Note: For alcoholic products and non-alcoholic beverages the size provided must be a volume measurement.	each oz, ounce, ounces lb, pound, pounds mL, milliliter L, liter g, gram, grams kg, kilogram, kilograms fl oz, fl. oz., fluid ounce, fluid ounces, in, ft, yd, inch, foot, yard sq ft mm, cm, m, millimeter, centimeter, meter, gal	View full image
`unit_count`	integer	The number of units in a pack item. This value is combined with `size` and `size_uom` columns to create a customer experience that identifies when multiple units are included in a pack.	For an 8-pack of 12 fl oz Pepsi: `size` = 12 `size_uom` = ‘fl oz’ `unit_count` = `8’	View full image

tip

To temporarily change product details, such as pricing and availability, you can use Instacart Platform Portal. For more information, see Manage product details.