google_product_category [google_product_category]: Definition

All products are automatically assigned a product category from Google's continuously evolving product taxonomy. Providing high-quality, on-topic titles and descriptions, as well as accurate pricing, brand and GTIN information will help make sure that your products are correctly categorised.

The google_product_category [google_product_category] attribute is optional, and can be used to override Google's automatic categorisation in specific cases. 

When to use

Optional for each product.

Google will only accept a product category override in the following cases:

  1. Calculation of US taxes. For products sold in the US, you can override Google's automatic categorisation to make sure that the correct US tax rate is applied to your product.
  2. Enforcement of category-specific attribute requirements. Some product categories (such as Apparel & Accessories, Mobile Phones or Software) impose additional required fields. If Google incorrectly assigns your product to one of these categories, use this attribute to override the categorisation and remove the category-specific requirements.
  3. Targeting of Google Ads campaigns. If you've defined any of your ad campaigns based on Google's product categories, you can use this attribute to reassign products within your campaign structure.  Learn more about managing a Shopping campaign with product groups.
  4. Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages must be categorised correctly. If the category of your product is assigned incorrectly, you can use the google_product_category [google_product_category] attribute to override it and ensure that your product remains compliant. Learn more about our alcoholic beverages policy.
     

Format

Follow these formatting guidelines to make sure that we understand the data that 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: 

  • Select that language from the menu at the bottom of this article. These links will update to that language.

To prevent garbled text in the .txt version, use one of these methods:

Limit

One category per product
Repeated field No
 
File format Example entry
Text feeds

2271
or
Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses
XML feeds <g:google_product_category>2271</g:google_product_category>
or
<g:google_product_category>Apparel &amp; Accessories &gt; Apparel &gt; Dresses</g:google_product_category>


To format your data for Content API, have a look at the Content API for Shopping.

Guidelines

Follow these guidelines to make sure that you submit high-quality data for your products.

  • 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 [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. For example, for 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 best practices can help you go beyond the basic requirements to optimise your product data for performance.

  • Use the latest categories. In Google Ads, 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 whether 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 Diagnostics in your Merchant Center account.

Products sold on Google
In the United States, Google will use any google_product_category [google_product_category] values that you supply in your feed to help determine the tax rate for products you sell directly on Google in applicable states. Learn more about marketplace facilitator tax
Shopping ads 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 [google_product_category] attribute (displayed as 'Category') to help organise your product groups in your Shopping ads campaigns. For all other countries, you can only use the product_type [product_type] attribute to help organise your product groups for bidding in your Shopping campaign. Learn more about managing a Shopping campaign with product groups

Alcoholic drinks
  • Make sure that your product meets the alcoholic drinks policy.
  • Use the following Google product categories when submitting alcohol-related products:
    • Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Beverages > Alcoholic Beverages (499676) or any of its subcategories
    • Arts & Entertainment > Hobbies & Creative Arts > Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies (3577) or any of its subcategories
Merchant-defined bundles 
  • 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)
Mobile phones or tablets with a contract or instalment plans
  • Use the following Google product categories to let us know when you're submitting a mobile phone or tablet with a contract or an instalment plan:
    • Electronics > Communications > Telephone > Mobile Phones (267) 
    • Electronics > Computers > Tablet Computers (4745)
  • For mobile phones sold with a contract, you may set the price attribute to 0. If you submit a price of 0, you'll need to set the google_product_category [google_product_category] attribute to: Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile Phones (267).
Gift cards
  • 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)
Software subscriptions
  • 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

Clothing products

An illustration of a woman wearing a black dress

Product Skater dress
title [title] Skater dress – Black
google_product_category [google_product_category] Clothing & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses

Google Malibu Sunglasses

Product Google Malibu sunglasses
title [title] Google Malibu sunglasses – Brown
google_product_category [google_product_category] 178
Coats and jackets
Product Google jacket – Black
title [title] Google men's Performance full zip jacket – Black
google_product_category [google_product_category] Clothing & Accessories > Clothing > Outerwear > Coats & Jackets

 

Product Google Performance pullover
title [title] Google men's Performance 1/4 zip pullover – Heather/black
google_product_category [google_product_category] Clothing & Accessories > Clothing > Outerwear

 

Product Google hoodie
title [title] Google tri-blend hoodie – Grey
google_product_category [google_product_category] Clothing & Accessories > Clothing
Rings and jewellery
Product White gold wedding band
title [title] White gold wedding band – 14 K – 3 mm
google_product_category [google_product_category] Clothing & Accessories> Jewellery > Rings
color [colour] white gold
material [material] white gold

 

Product Platinum-plated engagement ring
title [title] Round platinum-plated classic engagement ring
google_product_category [google_product_category] Clothing & Accessories > Jewellery
color [colour] silver
material [material] platinum

 

Product Quartz multi-finger ring
title [title] Silver quartz multi-finger ring
google_product_category [google_product_category] Clothing & Accessories
color [colour] silver
material [material] silver/quartz
Mobile phones

An illustration with 3 different colors of one mobile phone

Product Google Pixel 3
title [title] Google Pixel 3 – 32 GB – Midnight Blue – with contract
google_product_category [google_product_category] Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile phones
gtin [gtin] 00723755006386
brand [brand] Google
Software subscription
Product Google Security Software Basic Edition (1-year subscription)
title [title] Google Security Software Basic Edition (1-year subscription)
price [price] USD 29.90
google_product_category [google_product_category] Software > Computer Software > Antivirus & Security Software
brand [brand] Google
gtin [gtin] 1234567890123
shipping [delivery] 0.00 GBP
image_link [image_link] https://www.example.com/logo.jpg
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