---
title: Import and Export Product Costs via CSV
description: Export and import WooCommerce product costs in bulk with the standard product CSV. A free Cost of Goods feature.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-export-product-costs-csv/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
---

# Import and Export Product Costs via CSV

The cost you record for each product travels with the standard WooCommerce product CSV, so you can export your costs to a spreadsheet and import them back in bulk. This is a free feature of [Cost of Goods: Product Cost & Profit Calculator for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/): it adds a **Cost** column to the built-in WooCommerce importer and exporter.

![WooCommerce Product Exporter with the Cost column selected](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/import-export-product-costs-csv-1.png)

## Export costs to a CSV

1. Go to **Products > All Products** and click **Export**.
2. Leave the columns set to export everything, or pick specific columns and include **Cost**.
3. Click **Generate CSV**. The downloaded file has a **Cost** column alongside the usual product data.

The exporter reads the plugin's cost meta (`_alg_wc_cog_cost`) into the column mapped as `alg_wc_cog_cost`.

## Import costs from a CSV

1. Go to **Products > All Products** and click **Import**.
2. Choose your CSV and continue to the column-mapping step.
3. Map your cost column to **Cost**. If the header is already named **Cost**, the importer selects it automatically.
4. Run the import. Costs are written to each matched product and profit updates automatically.

## Handling number formats

Spreadsheets and other plugins format numbers in different ways: some use a comma as the decimal separator, some wrap the value in a currency symbol. The plugin has a **Cost sanitization** group to keep those imports clean. Find it at **WPFactory > Cost of Goods** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Cost of Goods**), on the **Products** sub-tab.

| Label | Option ID | Default | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost update | `alg_wc_cog_replace_cog_comma_by_dots` | Depends on your store locale | Replaces commas with dots when the cost meta is saved. |
| Cost import: get only number | `alg_wc_cog_import_csv_get_only_cost_number` | No | Strips everything except the number when importing with the WooCommerce Importer. |
| Cost import: normalize | `alg_wc_cog_import_csv_normalize_cost` | No | Normalizes the imported cost so mixed separators resolve to a valid number. |
| Product export | `alg_wc_cog_product_export_csv_convert_cost_to_number` | No | Converts the cost to a plain number in the exported CSV. |

If an import brings in costs that look wrong (for example everything reads as a whole number when it should have decimals), enable **get only number** and **normalize** and import again.

## Which tool should I use

- Use the **CSV import and export** here when you manage costs in a spreadsheet or receive a supplier price list.
- Use **Tools > Bulk Edit Costs** to edit costs directly in the admin, without a file.
- Use **Tools > Import Costs** to copy costs in from another plugin's meta key.

## Get more from Cost of Goods

CSV import and export of costs is free. [Cost of Goods: Product Cost & Profit Calculator for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/) Pro adds cost and profit in WooCommerce Analytics, order-email cost and profit, and multicurrency support. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Import Product Costs From Another Meta Key](https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-product-costs-from-meta/)
- [Bulk Edit and Import/Export Issues in Cost of Goods](https://wpfactory.com/docs/cog-bulk-edit-import-issues/)
- [Track Product Cost History with the Cost Archive](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-cost-history-archive/)
- [Bulk Edit Product Costs](https://wpfactory.com/docs/bulk-edit-product-costs/)
- [Show Product Cost and Profit with Shortcodes](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-shortcodes-cost/)