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Importing Item Inventory to Checkfront (Classic Items)

This article walks you through uploading your CSV file to import item inventory in Classic Items. Proper preparation and following these steps help prevent errors and save time.

Learn how to select your item spreadsheet for importing.

New to importing inventory? Read the first article in this series for an introduction to Inventory Import.

 

Accessing the features mentioned in this article


Where can I find this feature using the top menu?

  • Inventory > Import
     

What more do I need to use this feature?

  • Admin permission to manage Inventory.
     

Which Checkfront version supports this feature - Classic Items, Classic Products or both?

  • Your account must have access to classic items (Inventory > Items), a key feature of our Classic Items version of Checkfront. 
  • This feature is not yet supported with classic products (Inventory > Products), a key feature of our Classic Products version of Checkfront. 

 

Importing your items

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Inventory import form with file input field to upload a CSV file and a submit button to process the import.
  1. Save your spreadsheet (from Excel, Numbers, Google Sheets, etc.) in CSV (.csv) format, ensuring:
    • UTF-8 encoding (if applicable).
    • First row has headers that describe each column clearly.
    • No extra blank rows or trailing spaces.
    • Required fields filled (Name, Category, Price, Quantity, etc.).
  2. Go to Inventory → Import in the Checkfront menu.
  3. Click Choose File, locate your CSV, and select Submit.

 

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Import bookings in batches

When importing a large number of bookings, we suggest you enter them in batches of up to 600 bookings at a time.

 

Tips & Best Practices

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  • Use smaller batches for large inventories. Large CSV files may take longer to process or time out. If in doubt, split into smaller files.
  • Preview the first few rows after mapping to ensure everything is correctly aligned. Fields mapping matters!
  • Avoid special characters or formatting in headers and data (currency symbols, formulas, rich text).
  • Backup current inventory or export existing items first, just in case you need to roll back.

 

 

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Problem Likely Cause How to Resolve
Import fails or stalls CSV has missing required fields or bad formatting Check headers, remove blank rows, correct data types
Mismatched field mapping Header names are unclear or non-standard Rename headers to match field purpose; double-check the mapping screen
Duplicate items Multiple rows refer to the same SKU without distinguishing details Ensure each row is unique or managed via SKUs/custom identifiers
Data not displayed correctly (price, dates, etc.) Incorrect number format or date format Use consistent formats (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD for dates), decimal separators, etc.

 

Next Steps

You can learn how to map fields in preparation for imports in the article that follows in this series.

 

 

< Preparing to Import Item Inventory     |     Field mapping Item Inventory for Import >