Overview

Every product sold on Amazon must be assigned to the right category and subcategory before it can appear in search results and browse pages. Proper product classification is a foundational step in listing creation that directly affects how customers discover your products. Understanding how Amazon's classification system works can help sellers improve product visibility and avoid listing errors.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Every product gets an ASIN — When you add a new product to Amazon's catalog, the platform automatically generates an Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) that uniquely identifies it across the marketplace.
• Product attributes define your listing — Each catalog entry includes attributes like product name, manufacturer, and other descriptive details that help Amazon and customers understand what the product is.
• Categories drive discoverability — Products are organized into categories and subcategories that customers see when they browse or search, making accurate classification essential for visibility.
• Two paths to listing a product — Sellers can either create a brand-new product listing by selecting the appropriate category, or match to an existing product already in Amazon's catalog and add their own offer details.
• Amazon may auto-match your product — Even when you attempt to add a new product, Amazon's system will try to match it to an existing listing in certain categories to prevent duplicate catalog entries.

How Product Classification Works

Amazon's product catalog is structured as a hierarchy of categories and subcategories, sometimes referred to as browse nodes. When a customer searches for an item or browses through department pages, the results are organized according to this classification structure. The category you choose during the listing process determines where your product appears within this hierarchy. Selecting the wrong category can bury your product in an irrelevant section of the marketplace, reducing the chances that interested buyers will find it. Amazon provides a guided workflow within Seller Central that walks you through selecting the most appropriate category and subcategory for your product.