ScaleyGoogle Product Category for Google Shopping
How Google sorts your products into Shopping categories, the 3 cases where you should override it, and how to read the 5,595-line taxonomy.
Written and reviewed by Christopher Krassnig
Published Last checked
Google product category is the Shopping category Google gives each product, from a fixed list called the Google product taxonomy. Google now assigns it automatically. You can override it with the google_product_category attribute, using a category ID like 2271 or the full path, but Google only accepts that in 3 cases.
Also called: google_product_category, Google Shopping category, Google product taxonomy
Google Assigns the Category for You
Google says "all products are automatically assigned a product category from Google's continuously evolving product taxonomy." It works from your titles, descriptions, price, brand and GTIN. So the best way to get the right category is good product data, not a category field.
The taxonomy is a tree. Google's example goes from Electronics down to Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile Phones.
When to Override the Category
The attribute is optional. Google says it "will only accept a product category override" in these cases:
- Category rules. Some categories, like Apparel & Accessories, Mobile Phones or Software, need extra fields. If Google puts your product in one of them by mistake, override it to remove those rules.
- Campaign targeting. If your Google Ads campaigns are split by Google product category, override to place products where your structure needs them.
- Alcohol. Alcoholic drinks must be in the right category to stay within policy.
For your own categories, Google points you to a different attribute: "If no category matches the product, or if you want to submit your own product category, use the product type [product_type] attribute instead."
How to Write the Value
Submit either the numeric ID or the full path, "but not both." Google's example for a dress: 2271, or Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses. If the taxonomy is not available in your language, use the English path or the ID.
Pick the one most specific category for the product's main function. Google's example: an MP3 player charger goes in MP3 Player Accessories (ID 232), not just Electronics (ID 222).
The Google Product Taxonomy List
Google publishes the full list as a plain text file. The current US English file is version 2021-09-21 and holds 5,595 categories under 21 top-level ones, from Animals & Pet Supplies to Vehicles & Parts. Google also offers an Excel version with IDs on its help page.
Google says bidding on Shopping is based on the latest categories, and older values "published after August 2011" are translated to the latest version.
Using Categories in Shopping Campaigns
In some countries you can split Shopping product groups by Google product category, shown as "Category". Google lists Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Everywhere else, you organize product groups with product_type.
Most stores get more control from their own labels anyway, like margin or best seller tags in custom labels. Our product feed answer covers the attributes that matter more. ZenoX Media makes the same point about feeds in Performance Max isn't the problem, your feed is.
Example: A Phone Case Store Fixes a Wrong Category
Made-up case, to show the method. A store sells phone cases. Merchant Center starts flagging missing attributes for a few cases, because Google put them under Mobile Phones, which has extra required fields.
That is the first override case Google allows. The store sets google_product_category on those products to the mobile phone accessories path, and the warnings stop.
For its own campaign split, it uses product_type (Cases > Leather, Cases > Clear) and custom labels, not the Google category.
Common Mistakes
Setting the category on every product
Google assigns it automatically. Override only in the cases Google lists.
Sending both the ID and the path
Google wants one or the other, not both.
Inventing your own category text
Only predefined Google categories are accepted. Your own names go in product_type.
Choosing a broad category
Google says use the most specific category that fits the product's main function.
Questions People Ask
Google's product taxonomy is the fixed tree of Shopping categories. The US English list (version 2021-09-21) has 5,595 categories under 21 top-level ones.
Google's Own Pages We Quoted
Every rule, limit and size on this page comes from these pages, read on 8 October 2026. Google changes them, so check the page itself before you act.
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