Understanding the Whatnot CSV Format: Every Column Explained (Updated October 2026)
A complete guide to every column in the WhatNot CSV format -- what each field does, which ones are required, and how to avoid upload errors.
Updated October 2026. An earlier version of this guide listed column names and category values from an older Whatnot template. Whatnot has changed the template since. Everything below was checked against the template on October 15, 2026.
Whatnot’s bulk upload lets you add many listings at once from one spreadsheet. It’s fast, but strict: each cell has to match what Whatnot expects. Here is every column in the current template, in order, and what goes in it.
Get the template first
Download a fresh copy from your Whatnot Seller Hub’s bulk upload page each time. It’s a workbook with four tabs: Template (where you fill in rows), Values, Subcategory Dropdown and Condition Dropdown. Fill in the Template tab, then save just that tab as a CSV to upload. Our template download guide walks through it.
The 21 columns
1. Category
The top-level category, written exactly as the Values tab has it. For comics: Comics & Manga. “Comics” or “Comic Books” fails.
2. Sub Category
Must belong to the category in column 1. Under Comics & Manga: Modern Comics, Vintage Comics, Comic Art, Anime & Manga, Pop Culture Memorabilia. Graphic novels are Graphic Novels under the Books category.
3. Title
What buyers see. Lead with the title, issue number and the detail that sells it: Amazing Spider-Man #300 – 1st Venom – CGC 9.4. Stick to standard keyboard characters; curly quotes and special symbols can come through garbled.
4. Description
Two or three sentences: condition notes, defects, why the book matters. Put the grade and grading company here or in the title, since the Condition column only takes Whatnot’s fixed values.
5. Quantity
A whole number. Usually 1 for a single comic.
6. Type
Auction, Buy it Now or Giveaway, spelled exactly that way.
7. Price
A plain number: 5.00, not $5.00. For an auction it’s the starting bid; for Buy it Now it’s the sale price. Dollar signs and commas are the most common reason a row fails.
8. Shipping Profile
A weight range from the Values tab, such as 1-3 oz, 4-7 oz or 1 lb, or the exact name of a custom shipping profile you created in Whatnot. Weigh one packed item to choose.
9. Offerable
Whether buyers can make offers. The template’s own example row uses 1.
10. Hazmat
Not Hazmat for comics. The other options are Hazmat - Standard and Hazmat - Lithium Battery.
11. Condition
Must be allowed for the row’s Sub Category. Comic subcategories use: Graded, Gem Mint, Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. For a slabbed book use Graded and put “CGC 9.8” in the title. Graphic Novels use Brand New, Like New, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.
12. Cost Per Item
What you paid. Optional, but useful for tracking profit.
13. SKU
Your own item code. Optional, but it makes matching sales back to inventory much easier after a show.
14-21. Image URL 1 through Image URL 8
Direct links to up to eight photos. Each link must open the image for anyone, without a login. Test one in a private browser window.
After you upload
Uploaded listings land in your Drafts. Review a few, then publish them or assign them to a show. If something fails, see Whatnot CSV upload not working? Fixes for the common errors.
Or let LiveSeller Pro write the file
LiveSeller Pro builds the Whatnot file against the current template from your CLZ export, distributor shipment file or slab scans, with the category and cover images filled in. See Exporting to Whatnot or start with Comic Edition.