How to use it
- Fill in Etsy's category and attributes first. Anything already covered there, like colour, material or occasion, doesn't need a tag slot.
- Write the title. Lead with the product term and write a full sentence. Don't stack keywords with commas or pipes.
- Fill the six groups. Type tags you already have, or use the prompt in step 3 to get AI suggestions and paste them back.
- Read the checks. Red must be fixed, amber should be, grey is a reminder. When everything passes, copy the tags into Etsy.
How to split 13 tags
Don't use every word that comes to mind. Treat the 13 slots as a budget and cover every group, so you match the different ways buyers search.
| Group | Suggested | Answers | Example (home candle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core product | 2–3 | What is it? | soy candle, scented candle |
| Attributes | 2–3 | What makes it different? | lavender candle, glass jar candle |
| Use & occasion | 2–3 | Where and when is it used? | bedroom decor, relaxation gift |
| Gift & recipient | 2 | Who is it for? | gift for mom, housewarming gift |
| Style | 2 | What does it look like? | minimalist decor, neutral home |
| Long-tail | 1–2 | A more specific search | soy candle gift set |
What the planner checks
- Count and length: exactly 13 tags, each within 20 characters including spaces, and a title within 140 characters.
- Duplicates: singular and plural (candle / candles), and the same words in a different order.
- Over-used words: a reminder when one word appears in 6 or more tags, so you can check the other groups are covered.
- Single-word tags: single words are crowded; multi-word phrases match more specific searches.
- Brand and IP terms: common brands and film, TV and character IP that can lead to infringement reports.
- Title style: a core term in the first 40 characters, and no comma stacking, all caps, exclamation marks or sales words.
- Special characters: anything other than letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens and apostrophes may be rejected.
The planner only does mechanical checks. What buyers actually call your product, and when to add or drop seasonal terms, are judgement calls. Base them on your shop's search terms, buyer messages and competitor reviews.
FAQ
How many tags can an Etsy listing have, and how long can they be?
Up to 13 tags per listing, each up to 20 characters including spaces. Titles can be up to 140 characters. Limits can change, so go by what the listing editor shows.
Do I need separate tags for singular and plural?
Usually not. Candle and candles, or scented candle and scented candles, side by side just waste a slot. Use the freed slots for occasions, recipients and style.
How do tags relate to Etsy's attribute fields?
If colour, material, occasion or holiday is already in an attribute field, it doesn't need a tag slot as well. Pick the most specific category, fill every attribute, then use tags for what's still missing.
Should tags repeat words from my title?
Having the core product term in both the title and the tags is normal. But slots are limited, so spend them on the occasions, recipients and style the title doesn't mention, not on splitting the title into pieces.
Is anything I type uploaded?
No. Every check runs in your browser, and your draft is saved only in this browser's local storage. It won't follow you to another device or survive clearing browser data.
Related reading
Rules checked 28 August 2026 against Etsy's help pages on tags and creating listings. The brand list covers common cases only and isn't legal advice. Platform limits can change, so go by what the listing editor shows on the day.