---
title: Import Product Costs From Another Meta Key
description: "Copy WooCommerce product costs from another plugin's meta key into cost of goods with the free Import Costs tool."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-product-costs-from-meta/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
---

# Import Product Costs From Another Meta Key

The Import Costs tool copies product costs from one meta key into the cost of goods meta, so you can bring costs across from another plugin without re-entering them. It is a free feature of [Cost of Goods: Product Cost & Profit Calculator for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/), and it is the standard way to migrate from a different cost-of-goods plugin.

![Tools / Import Costs page and the Import tool options on the Tools sub-tab](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/import-product-costs-from-meta-1.png)

## How it works

The tool reads a value from a meta key you name (the "from" key) and writes it into the plugin's own cost meta (`_alg_wc_cog_cost`) on every matching product. By default it imports from `_wc_cog_cost`, the key used by another common cost plugin, into `_alg_wc_cog_cost`. You can swap the two keys to run the migration in the opposite direction, or point it at any other meta key.

## Where to configure it

Go to **WPFactory > Cost of Goods** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Cost of Goods**), open the **Tools** sub-tab, and find the **Product import costs tool** group. The tool page itself runs at **Tools > Import Costs** (`tools.php?page=wpfcogs-import-costs`).

## Options reference

| Label | Option ID | Default | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Key to import from | `alg_wc_cog_tool_key` | `_wc_cog_cost` | The meta key the cost value is read from. |
| Meta key replaced | `alg_wc_cog_tool_key_to` | `_alg_wc_cog_cost` | The meta key the value is written to. This is the plugin's own cost meta. |
| Check if key exists | `alg_wc_cog_import_tool_check_key` | Yes | Only replaces the value when the "from" key exists on the product. |
| Check key value | `alg_wc_cog_import_tool_check_value` | Yes | Only replaces when the "from" value is not empty, null or zero. |
| WooCommerce Import | `alg_wc_cog_import_tool_sync_wc_import` | No | Runs the tool automatically whenever you run the WooCommerce Product Importer. |
| Import page table | `alg_wc_cog_import_tool_display_table` | No | Shows a table on the Import Costs page. Turn it off if that page is slow to open. |
| Run automatically | `alg_wc_cog_import_tool_cron` | No | Runs the import on a recurring schedule. |
| Frequency | `alg_wc_cog_import_tool_cron_frequency` | Daily | How often the recurring import runs: hourly, daily, twice daily or weekly. |

## Step-by-step

1. Go to **WPFactory > Cost of Goods > Tools** and set **Key to import from** to the meta key that holds your existing costs.
2. Leave **Meta key replaced** as `_alg_wc_cog_cost` unless you are exporting in the opposite direction.
3. Decide whether to keep **Check if key exists** and **Check key value** on. Both are on by default and protect products that have no cost from being overwritten with a blank.
4. Click **Save changes**.
5. Open **Tools > Import Costs** and run the tool.

## Notes

- You are not limited to cost keys. The tool copies any meta value from one key to another, so it also works as a general meta-migration helper.
- If you change the frequency after enabling **Run automatically**, turn the option off and on again so the new schedule takes effect.
- Migrating from ATUM Inventory Management? The **Compatibility** sub-tab has a dedicated ATUM "Import costs tool" option that pulls purchase price directly.

## Get more from Cost of Goods

The Import Costs tool 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 and Export Product Costs via CSV](https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-export-product-costs-csv/)
- [Track Product Cost History with the Cost Archive](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-cost-history-archive/)
- [Add Extra Order Costs: All Orders, Per Order, and From Meta](https://wpfactory.com/docs/extra-order-costs/)
- [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/)