How do I set up a product catalog for Meta ads?
In Commerce Manager, click Add products, keep Online products selected, choose the business portfolio and name the catalog. Connect your Meta Pixel or app SDK so Advantage+ catalog ads can show relevant products, set who can manage it, then add products through a data feed, a partner platform or a manual form.
A catalog is the list of products, or services, that Meta draws on when it builds catalog ads. You create it once in Commerce Manager, connect your Meta Pixel or app SDK so you can run Advantage+ catalog ads that show people relevant products, and then keep it filled with up-to-date product data. Meta recommends using only one catalog where possible, which it says helps ad performance.
What do you need first?
You need a business portfolio to hold the catalog, and full control of that portfolio. For a feed upload, you also need full control of the catalog itself.
How do you create the catalog?
- Go to Commerce Manager and click Add products on the Get started page.
- Keep Online products selected, which is the default.
- If your products live on a partner platform with a Meta integration, turn on Connect a partner platform and follow its setup.
- Select the business portfolio for the catalog.
- Turn on Give people access to let people in your business manage it, or assign permissions later.
- Enter a catalog name and click Next.
- Turn on the toggle next to your Meta Pixel or app SDK and click Next, or click Skip.
- Choose to connect a data feed, add products manually, or skip for now.
If you already have catalogs, the same link opens the Assets page, where you start a new one from the Catalogs section.
How do you upload a data feed?
- Prepare a file in XLSX, CSV, TSV, XML (RSS/Atom) or Google Sheets format with the required fields.
- In Commerce Manager, select your catalog and go to Products or Data sources.
- Click + Add and select Data file.
- Keep Commerce Manager as the format, or choose Google Merchant Center if your file is built for Google.
- Paste a link to your file, or upload it from your computer.
- Match any unrecognized fields to Meta’s fields, then click Next.
- Name the feed, set a default currency, and choose an hourly, daily or weekly schedule if you used a link.
- Click Upload and review the summary of products added, errors and issues.
What limits apply to a feed?
| Rule | Detail from Meta |
|---|---|
| Maximum file size | 4 GB |
| Large catalogs | Split into several feeds above that size or above a million items |
| Feed link | Must start with http://, https://, ftp:// or sftp:// and lead to the file itself |
| Google Sheets | Data in the first tab, sharing set to anyone with the link |
| Scheduled uploads | Hourly, daily or weekly |
FAQ
Can I give my agency access to the catalog?
Yes. If you left Give people access off during setup, click Partners, then + Assign partner, and enter their business portfolio ID with partial access or full control. You can also send a one-time invitation link, which Meta says expires in 30 days.
Can I create a catalog in Meta Business Suite instead?
Yes. In Business Suite settings, click Data sources, select Catalogs, then Add and Create a new catalog. Meta says Commerce Manager remains the main tool, so you go there afterwards to add and manage your products.
Can a catalog hold things other than shop products?
Yes. Meta supports catalogs for hotels, flights, destinations, vehicles, streaming media, apps and software, publications, professional services, real estate and local products. The type you pick decides which product data you provide, and it can’t be changed later.
Sources
- Create a catalog in Commerce Manager (Meta, checked 2 Oct 2026)
- Create a catalog in Meta Business Suite (Meta, checked 2 Oct 2026)
- Upload products to your catalog with a data feed in Commerce Manager (Meta, checked 2 Oct 2026)
Drafted with AI and checked claim by claim against the pages linked under Sources. Found a mistake? Tell us via the corrections policy.