How long should a Shopify product description be?

Long enough to answer the questions a buyer would ask in a shop: usually 80 to 200 words, with a short opening line, a few scannable bullets and the practical details. Simple, cheap items need less; expensive or technical items need more.

Where do I add the SEO title and meta description in Shopify?

Open the product in your Shopify admin and scroll to the search engine listing section at the bottom. Click edit to change the page title, meta description and URL handle. If you leave them blank, Shopify uses the product title and the start of the description.

Can I copy the manufacturer description?

You can, but the same text is then on every other shop selling that product, so Google has no reason to show yours first and buyers see nothing new. Rewriting it in your own words, with your own details, usually does better.

How do I update lots of product descriptions at once?

Export your products as a CSV from the Products page, edit the Body (HTML), SEO Title and SEO Description columns in a spreadsheet, then import the file again and tick the option to overwrite existing products with the same handle. Test with a few products first.

Should I use AI to write my descriptions?

It can help with a first draft, but read every line. Generic AI text tends to sound the same as everyone else and can get sizes, materials or care details wrong, which leads to returns.

Guide · Product descriptions

How to write Shopify product descriptions that sell (UK)

Most Shopify stores lose sales on the product page, not the home page. A good description tells the buyer what it is, why it is worth the money and everything they need to know before they press Add to cart. Here is a layout that works for almost any product, real UK-style examples, and how to do the SEO fields and bulk updates without breaking your store.

Want them written for you? 10 descriptions for £20

The five-part layout

One opening line that says what it is and who it is for, in plain words. "A heavy cotton hoodie that keeps its shape wash after wash."
Two or three benefits, each tied to a feature. Not "premium quality" but "brushed fleece inside, so it is warm without being bulky".
Scannable bullets for the facts: size, material, dimensions, what is in the box, care.
Delivery and returns in one line, such as "Dispatched in 1 to 2 working days from Essex. 30-day returns."
A reason to buy now where it is true: a gift deadline, limited stock, or a bundle.

Use the same order on every product so returning customers know where to look.

Example: a candle (before and after)

Before: "Luxury scented candle. High quality wax. Great gift."

After: "A hand-poured soy candle that smells of fig and cedar, made in small batches in Norfolk. It burns cleanly for around 45 hours, so one candle sees you through the whole of winter evenings in. Comes in a reusable amber glass jar with a gift box."

Size: 8.5 cm high, 200 g
Wax: 100% soy, cotton wick
Burn time: about 45 hours
Care: trim the wick to 5 mm before each use

Example: a T-shirt

"A relaxed-fit tee in soft, 180 gsm organic cotton, printed in the UK. The fabric is thick enough not to go see-through and the print is washed in, so it will not crack."

Fit: unisex, true to size (size guide below)
Fabric: 100% organic cotton, 180 gsm
Care: wash inside out at 30°C, do not tumble dry
Made to order and dispatched in 2 to 4 working days

Example: a printable or digital download

"A one-page weekly meal planner for the fridge, with a shopping list down the side. Print it at home on A4 as many times as you like."

Format: PDF, A4 and US Letter
Delivery: PDF emailed after payment (usually within a few hours, always within 12 hours), no posting
For personal use

The SEO fields most stores leave blank

At the bottom of each product in Shopify admin is the search engine listing section. Fill it in yourself:

Page title (about 60 characters): the product name plus the words people actually search for, such as "Fig and Cedar Soy Candle 200g | Hand-poured in Norfolk".
Meta description (about 155 characters): one sentence on what it is and one reason to click, such as delivery speed or a gift box.
URL handle: short and readable, for example fig-cedar-soy-candle. If you change it on a product that already gets traffic, Shopify can add a redirect from the old address; leave that box ticked.
Image alt text: describe the photo in plain words. It helps image search and screen-reader users.

Updating hundreds of products at once

In Shopify admin go to Products and choose Export, then pick a CSV for Excel or a plain CSV.
Open it in Excel or Google Sheets. The description is in the Body (HTML) column, and the SEO fields are SEO Title and SEO Description.
Write the new text in those columns. Keep simple HTML such as <p> and <ul><li> for paragraphs and bullets.
Do not change the Handle column: Shopify uses it to match rows to existing products.
Import the file and tick the option to overwrite products with matching handles. Try five products first and check them on the live store.

Shopify’s own help centre has the full CSV column list if you need it.

Mistakes that cost sales

Pasting the supplier’s description word for word.
Walls of text with no bullets, which nobody reads on a phone.
Missing sizes, materials or what is included, which leads to questions and returns.
Claims you cannot back up, like "best in the UK", which Advertising Standards rules do not allow without proof.
Writing the same description for every colour or variant instead of one good one with the options listed.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a Shopify product description be?: Long enough to answer the questions a buyer would ask in a shop: usually 80 to 200 words, with a short opening line, a few scannable bullets and the practical details. Simple, cheap items need less; expensive or technical items need more.
Where do I add the SEO title and meta description in Shopify?: Open the product in your Shopify admin and scroll to the search engine listing section at the bottom. Click edit to change the page title, meta description and URL handle. If you leave them blank, Shopify uses the product title and the start of the description.
Can I copy the manufacturer description?: You can, but the same text is then on every other shop selling that product, so Google has no reason to show yours first and buyers see nothing new. Rewriting it in your own words, with your own details, usually does better.
How do I update lots of product descriptions at once?: Export your products as a CSV from the Products page, edit the Body (HTML), SEO Title and SEO Description columns in a spreadsheet, then import the file again and tick the option to overwrite existing products with the same handle. Test with a few products first.
Should I use AI to write my descriptions?: It can help with a first draft, but read every line. Generic AI text tends to sound the same as everyone else and can get sizes, materials or care details wrong, which leads to returns.

Got a store full of thin or copied descriptions?

Send us your product export or a list of links. We write a fresh description, SEO title and meta description for each product in plain British English, and send back a spreadsheet ready to import into Shopify. 10 products for £20 or 25 products for £45, paid by a one-off card payment, with one round of changes included.

Get your Shopify descriptions written · from £20

Written by TCH Works, Harlow, Essex, October 2026.