google_product_category [google_product_category]: Definition

When to use

Optional for each product.

Format

Follow these formatting guidelines to make sure that we understand the data that you're submitting. 

For format API information, please see Content API for Shopping.

Guidelines

Follow these guidelines to make sure that you submit high-quality data for your products and get the best performance from your ads.

Minimum requirements

These are the requirements that 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 on 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 [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.
• Each product must have a category. If a category is not provided for one of your products, Google will assign a relevant category to your offer. This automatically assigned category can be seen on the top of the product page in Merchant Center. This category may be used for validation and, in certain cases, enforcement. 
   

Best practices

These are best practices that 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 So if you use out-of-date categories, what you submit might not match what you see.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 the Diagnostics page of your Merchant Center account.

Examples