--- title: "How to Update Inventory Data in WooCommerce" description: "Learn how to update inventory data in WooCommerce using the Product Import Export Plugin for WooCommerce." author: "Shesna" published_date: 2020-04-02 modified_date: 2026-07-12 canonical_url: "https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/update-inventory-data-woocommerce/" source: "https://www.webtoffee.com" reading_time: 4 min word_count: 656 categories: - "Documentation" - "Getting Started" - "Product Import Export Basic" - "Product Import Export Plugin for WooCommerce" - "Update" --- ## Summary Learn how to update inventory data in WooCommerce using the Product Import Export Plugin for WooCommerce. ## Breadcrumb [Home](https://www.webtoffee.com/) > [Documentation](https://www.webtoffee.com/category/documentation/) > [Product Import Export Basic](https://www.webtoffee.com/category/documentation/product-imp-exp-basic/) > How to Update Inventory Data in WooCommerce # How to Update Inventory Data in WooCommerce *Last updated on July 12, 2026* The [Product Import Export plugin for WooCommerce](https://www.webtoffee.com/product/product-import-export-woocommerce/) consists of several features to fulfil the varied needs of the store owner. One among them is its ease of managing the stock or inventory. The plugin allows the import and export of the products in CSV/XML/XLS/XLSX/TSV file formats. You can update the inventory data in two methods: - Method 1: Update inventory in input file before import - Method 2: Update inventory while importing ## Managing stocks WooCommerce, by default, gives provision to manage stock at the product level by enabling the option: ManageStock?. ![Enabled stock management at product level with existing stock quantity](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Existing-stock-quantity-1.png) *caption: Enabled stock management at product level with existing stock quantity* On disabling the option: Manage stock?, Stock status appears, where you can choose among the following. ![Stock status](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Stock-status-in-product-edit-page.png) *caption: Stock status* However, with this plugin in place, ensure that the manage_stock column of the CSV/XML/Excel/TSV file is marked as yes for an uninterrupted import/export of stock data. ![Image](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/manage_stock-column-in-the-CSV.png) The import-export plugin offers two methods for updating/modifying the stock or inventory in WooCommerce. Let’s walk through the inventory updating methods. ### Method 1: Update inventory in input file before import In the CSV column header for product stock, you can update the stock value for products. If you do not have a column header for product stock in the CSV file, create one and name it as stock, and update the product stock values. Our Product Import Export Plugin for WooCommerce facilitates three types of values that will help you update the product stock: - Replacing stock value: If the existing product stock value is 10, and you replace the stock value with 20, then the updated product stock after importing will result in 20. - Adding value to existing stock: You can use the (+) sign prefix to the stock value to update the product stock. If the existing product stock value is 10, replace the value with (+)5, then the updated product stock after importing will result in 15. - Reducing the value of the existing stock: You can use the (-) sign prefix to the stock value to update the product stock. If the existing product stock value is 10, replace the value with (-)5, then the updated product stock after importing will result in 5. ![Sample screenshot of updating stock in the Product import export CSV](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Updating-stock-via-CSV.png) *caption: Sample screenshot of updating stock in the Product import export CSV* Once the product stock values are updated, save the input file and import. Note: For updating product stock, three column headers are necessary: Parent SKU (or Parent ID), Product SKU (or Product ID) and stock header.### Method 2: Update inventory while importing As a first step, [install and activate](https://www.webtoffee.com/how-to-download-install-update-woocommerce-plugin/) the product import export plugin. Click on WebToffee Import Export (Pro) > Import menu from the WordPress admin panel. - Select Products under post type.![](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Product-Export-Step-1.png) - Select an import method: One can choose among: Quick import, Pre-saved template and Advanced import .![](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/product-advanced-import-method.png) - Map import columns: To map import columns. Here, you can map the commercial names to WooCommerce columns. Use Evaluation Field to fix/update the required value for a particular field. Make sure Inventory: Stock field is properly mapped to your CSV column header stock: stock value. On assigning +5 in the evaluation field against the Inventory: stock row, the existing stock value which is 20 will be increased by 5 so that the present stock will be 25. Click Use Expression as value to update the stock and proceed to the next step. ![Updating stock via importing products](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Updating-stock-via-importing-products.png) - Advanced Options/Batch Import: Provides advanced options to import and scheduling import. In this step, select Update for the option: If product exists in the store to update stocks of existing products on your store.![Advanced options during import of products in the product import export plugin](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/update-existing-products.png.webp) Next, click Import to finish. You can check the updated stock in the product data meta-box of the product edit page. A screenshot of the updated stock of a product is as shown below: ![Updated stock quantity](https://www.webtoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Updated-stock-quantity.png) *caption: Updated stock quantity* Related articles: - [Update numerical fields while product import/export](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp/evaluation-field-in-product-export-import-plugin-for-woocommerce/) - [Update single field for products during import](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp/evaluation-field-in-product-export-import-plugin-for-woocommerce/)## About the Author [Shesna](https://www.webtoffee.com/author/shesna/) Shesna is a technical content writer for WebToffee. She is familiar in working closely with the SMEs to break down complex technical information into a concise, easy to understand manner. ## Documentation Navigation - [Getting Started](#getting-started-product-imp-exp-basic)- [How to Use WooCommerce Product I...](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/product-import-export-plugin-woocommerce-basic-setup-guide/) - [Import and export WooCommerce Products](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/import-export-woocommerce-products-basic/) - [Import products with attributes](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/woocommerce-import-products-with-attributes/?cid=1283) - [Import google drive images](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/import-google-drive-images-to-products-woocommerce/?cid=1283) - [Import grouped products](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/importing-grouped-products-in-woocoomerce/?cid=1283) - [Update simple and variable products](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/update-products-in-woocommerce-using-csv/?cid=1283) - [Export definite number of products](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/export-products-offset-limit-woocommerce/?cid=1283) - [Bulk update product category](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/bulk-update-product-categories-woocommerce/?cid=1283) - [Update inventory data](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/update-inventory-data-woocommerce/?cid=1283) - [Importing google drive images](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/importing-google-drive-images/) - [Update product stock](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/update-product-stock-during-import-woocommerce/?cid=1283) - [Import and export WooCommerce Product Tags](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/import-and-export-woocommerce-product-tags/) - [Import WooCommerce products with images](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/import-woocommerce-products-with-images-from-a-csv-file/) - [Import products using CSV](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/import-woocommerce-products-from-csv-file/?cid=1283) - [Import and export WooCommerce Product Categories](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/import-and-export-woocommerce-product-categories/) - [How to Import Product Attributes...](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/import-product-attributes-exported-using-woocommerce-export-tool/) - [Finding PHP Error Logs](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/finding-php-error-logs/?cid=1283) - [Troubleshooting Guide - Products](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/troubleshoot-woocommerce-product-import-export/) - [How to Import and Export WooComm...](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/product-imp-exp-basic/import-and-export-woocommerce-product-reviews-and-ratings-userguide/) - [Bulk update product price](https://www.webtoffee.com/docs/bulk-update-product-price-woocommerce/?cid=1283)