google_product_category: Definition
google_product_category
attribute to indicate the category of your item based on the Google product taxonomy. Categorizing your product helps ensure that your ad is shown with the right search results.
When to use
Required for all products in these categories:
Apparel & Accessories > Clothing
(1604
)Apparel & Accessories > Shoes
(187
)Apparel & Accessories > Clothing Accessories > Sunglasses
(178
)Apparel & Accessories > Handbags, Wallets & Cases > Handbags
(3032
)Apparel & Accessories > Jewelry > Watches
(201
)Media > Books
(784
)Media > DVDs & Videos
(839
)Media > Music & Sound Recordings
(855
)Software > Video Game Software
(1279
) (includes computer games)Note: For products in these categories, you can't just provide the highest-level category, like
Apparel & Accessories
(166
) orMedia
(783
).
Optional for products in all other categories
If your product is in a required category or if you’d like help ensure that your ad is shown in the right situations, submit the category that your product fits into using the google_product_category
attribute.
Format
Follow these formatting guidelines to make sure we understand the data you're submitting.
Supported values |
Predefined Google product category: the ID or the full path of the product category Download a list of all Google product categories: To download this list in another language:
To prevent garbled text in the .txt version, use one of these methods:
|
---|---|
Limit |
1 category per product |
Repeated field | No |
File format | Example entry |
---|---|
Text feeds |
|
XML feeds | <g:google_product_category>2271</g:google_product_category> or <g:google_product_category>Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses</g:google_product_category> |
Content API v2 (JSON) | "googleProductCategory": "2271" or "googleProductCategory": "Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses" |
Content API v2 (XML) | <google_product_category>2271</google_product_category> or <google_product_category>Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses</google_product_category> |
Guidelines
Follow these guidelines to make sure you submit high-quality data for your products and get the best performance from your ads.
Minimum requirements
These are the requirements you'll need to meet to show ads for your product. If you don't follow these requirements, we'll disapprove your product and let you know in the Diagnostics page of your Merchant Center account.
- Use only a predefined Google product category. You can choose to submit either the ID or the full path of the product category. If you want to submit your own product category, use the
product_type
attribute. - Use the one category that best describes your product. Choose the category based on your product’s main function. For example, even though an MP3 player might have other functions, like a clock, its main function is as an MP3 player. So you would use the MP3 player category:
Electronics > Audio > Audio Players & Recorders > MP3 Players
(233
). - Use the most specific category possible. Use a specific category to help ensure that your ads are shown in the most relevant situations. For example, an MP3 player charger, use the MP3 player accessories category:
Electronics > Audio > Audio Accessories > MP3 Player Accessories
(232
). Don’t just use:Electronics
(222
) - Use categories published after August 2011. Don’t use categories that were published before August 2011. Use the links above for the latest values.
Best practices
These are best practices that can help you go beyond the basic requirements to optimize your product data for performance.
- Use the latest categories. In AdWords, bidding on Shopping campaigns is based on the latest categories. While you can submit any version of the categories published after August 2011, we'll translate these to the latest version. So if you use out-of-date categories, what you submit might not match what you see.
Additional guidelines
Review each section closely to determine if the requirements apply to your country or product. If you don't follow requirements that apply to you, we'll disapprove your product and let you know in the Diagnostics page of your Merchant Center account.
- Use
google_product_category
to help organize your product groups for bidding in your Shopping campaign. Learn more about managing a Shopping campaign with product groups.
- You can only use the
product_type
attribute to help organize your product groups for bidding in your Shopping campaign. Learn more about managing a Shopping campaign with product groups.
- Make sure your product meets the alcoholic beverages policy.
- Use the following Google product categories when submitting alcohol-related products:
Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Beverages > Alcoholic Beverages
(499676
) or any of its subcategoriesArts & Entertainment > Hobbies & Creative Arts > Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies
(3577
) or any of its subcategories
- Use the Google product category that's most appropriate for your bundle of different products. If the bundle contains a main product, use the category of the main product. For example, for a digital camera bundled with a bag, use:
Cameras & Optics > Cameras > Digital Cameras
(152
)
- Use the following Google product categories to let us know when you're submitting a mobile phone or tablet with a contract or an installment plan (US only):
Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile Phones
(267
)Electronics > Computers > Tablet Computers
(4745
)
- Use the following Google product category to let us know when you're submitting a gift card:
Arts & Entertainment > Party & Celebration > Gift Giving > Gift Cards & Certificates
(53
)
- Use the
Software > Computer Software
(313
) category to let us know when you're submitting a software subscription, or use one of its subcategories. For example:Software > Computer Software > Antivirus & Security Software
(5299
)
Examples
Product | Skater dress |
title |
Skater dress - Black |
google_product_category |
Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses |
Product | Google Malibu sunglasses |
title |
Google Malibu sunglasses - Brown |
google_product_category |
178 |
Product | Google Jacket Black |
title |
Google Men's Performance Full Zip Jacket Black |
google_product_category |
Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Outerwear > Coats & Jackets |
Product | Google Performance Pullover |
title |
Google Men's Performance 1/4 Zip Pullover Heather/Black |
google_product_category |
Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Outerwear |
Product | Google Hoodie |
title |
Google Tri-blend Hoodie Grey |
google_product_category |
Apparel & Accessories > Clothing |
Product | White gold wedding band |
title |
White Gold Wedding Band - 14K - 3mm |
google_product_category |
Apparel & Accessories'> Jewelry > Rings |
color |
white gold |
material |
white gold |
Product | Platinum-plated engagement ring |
title |
Round Platinum-Plated Classic Engagement Ring |
google_product_category |
Apparel & Accessories > Jewelry |
color |
silver |
material |
platinum |
Product | Quartz multi-finger ring |
title |
Silver Quartz Multi-Finger Ring |
google_product_category |
Apparel & Accessories |
color |
silver |
material |
silver/quartz |
Product | Google Nexus 6 |
title |
Google Nexus 6 - 32 GB - Midnight Blue - With contract |
google_product_category |
Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile Phones |
gtin |
00723755006386 |
brand |
Product | Google Security Software Basic Edition (1-year subscription) |
title |
Google Security Software Basic Edition (1-year subscription) |
price |
29.90 USD |
google_product_category |
Software > Computer Software > Antivirus & Security Software |
brand |
|
gtin |
1234567890123 |
shipping |
0.00 USD |
image_link |
http://www.example.com/logo.jpg |