Etsy Titles and Tags for Handmade Products: What Etsy Recommends
Great photos won’t help if shoppers never see your listing. On Etsy, most shoppers find items by typing a few words into search, and Etsy matches those words against your title, tags, categories and attributes. Here’s how to set those up for a handmade product, based on Etsy’s own Seller Handbook.
Write a clear, short title
In its April 2026 guidance, Etsy suggests keeping titles to fewer than 15 words. Start with what the item is, then add the most important traits, such as material, color and size.
- Name the item once. Don’t repeat words or phrases.
- Leave out words like “perfect” or “beautiful.”
- Skip sale or shipping details. Etsy adds badges for those in search.
- Avoid stacking gift phrases such as “gift for him,” and add holiday words only when they describe the item.
For example, “Walnut cutting board, end grain, 12 x 16 inch” tells a shopper more than a long string of keywords.
Use all 13 tags
Etsy allows 13 tags per listing, each up to 20 characters, and recommends using all of them. Its Keywords 101 article gives a few rules of thumb:
- Use multi-word phrases like “custom dog collar” instead of single words.
- Make every tag different, with no repeats.
- Don’t add plurals or misspellings. Search matches root words.
- Don’t repeat your category or attributes as tags, since they already count.
Good tag ideas include materials, techniques, style, size, occasions, who the item is for and the problem it solves.
Fill in categories and attributes
Etsy says categories and attributes work like tags. Choose the most specific category you can, and fill in every attribute that fits, such as color, material or occasion. Etsy describes attributes as an important factor in showing up in relevant searches.
Think like your buyer
Shoppers who know what they want often type longer, more specific phrases, and Etsy notes these tend to turn into sales more often. Write down how a customer would describe your product out loud, then use those words in your title and tags. Etsy also says search changes often, so revisit your listings a few times a year.
More on Garage Business Blueprint
- Etsy Fees in 2026: What a Garage Seller Actually Pays per Sale
- Product Photos That Sell: A Simple Home Setup for Handmade Goods
- How to Price Handmade Products: A Simple Formula for Garage Makers
