Updated October 2026
How to use the keyword tool
- Describe the product. "Handmade soy candle" works, but "fig and cedar soy candle in amber jar" gives sharper ideas. Or start from one of the quick templates and edit it. If a template mentions a year, change it to the one you're selling for.
- Add a customer and an occasion (optional). "Gift for new homeowners" or "Mother's Day" steer the ideas toward buyers with a reason to purchase. Leave the occasion blank for items you sell all year.
- Read the results table. You get 12 phrases, each with search volume, competition and opportunity scores from 1 to 100, plus the buyer intent and a note on how to use it. The highest-opportunity phrases are listed at the top.
- Save your list. Copy all keywords copies the phrases with their opportunity scores. Export CSV downloads them with their scores, intent and notes for a spreadsheet.
The scores are AI estimates, not Etsy data. Use them to compare ideas with each other, then check the shortlist against Etsy's own numbers (see the FAQ below).
Where Etsy looks for keywords
Etsy search works in two steps. It first finds listings whose title, tags, attributes, categories and description match the shopper's words. Then it ranks them, mostly on how often views turn into favorites, add-to-carts and sales (How Etsy Search Works). That gives each keyword a place:
- Title: up to 140 characters, but Etsy recommends fewer than 15 words. Use the two or three phrases that best describe the item.
- Tags: 13 tags of up to 20 characters each. Put the other phrases here, as multi-word phrases.
- Attributes and categories: choose the most specific category and fill in every attribute. They count as keywords, so you don't need to repeat them in tags.
- Description: Etsy reads it for search, so mention the main phrases naturally while answering buyers' questions.
Sources: Etsy Help, How to Create a Listing and How to Use Tags; Etsy Seller Handbook, Insider's Guide to Etsy Search, Keywords Edition.
Weak keywords vs. stronger keywords
| Weak keyword | Stronger keyword | Why |
|---|---|---|
| candle | fig soy candle | One word matches thousands of listings. The longer phrase matches a shopper who wants this item. |
| best candle | candle gift for her | Subjective words aren't how people search. A recipient phrase is. |
| aromatic vessel | scented jar candle | Use the words buyers type, not the words a maker uses in the workshop. |
| christmas candle (on a year-round scent) | cozy home gift | A seasonal keyword on a non-seasonal item brings the wrong clicks. Use the holiday attribute for true seasonal items. |
| soy wax (already a material attribute) | housewarming gift | Attributes already count as keywords. Spend the tag on a phrase you haven't covered. |
FAQ
Where do the search volume numbers come from?
They're AI estimates on a 1 to 100 scale. For real data, Etsy offers Marketplace Insights in Shop Manager under Stats, where you can look up a limited number of searches per week for free. Your shop's Stats also show which Etsy search terms already bring you visitors.
How is this different from the Etsy tags generator?
The tags generator takes one keyword and returns a list of short tag ideas. This tool takes a fuller brief (product, customer, occasion) and returns fewer phrases with intent and notes, which helps when planning titles, descriptions or Etsy Ads.
How many keywords should one listing target?
Two or three main phrases in the title, then up to 13 tags. Fill in attributes and categories as well, because they add matches without using tag slots.
How do I know if a keyword is working?
Give a change a few weeks, then look at the Etsy search terms in your Stats. If a phrase brings visits but no sales, the listing matches the search but the photos, price or title may not be what those shoppers want.
Turn your shortlist into a listing with the Etsy title and description generator. Keywords matter on Pinterest too: see how to create Pinterest Pins for your Etsy store.