cost_of_goods_sold
The cost to acquire or produce the item. Internal margin data — used by some channels for profitability-aware reporting and by automated repricers to enforce minimum margins.
Also known as: cogs , unit_cost
Channel support
| Channel | Status | Field name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Merchant Center | Optional | cost_of_goods_sold | — Docs → |
| Meta Commerce Manager | Not supported | — | — |
| TikTok Shop | Not supported | — | — |
| Pinterest Catalog | Not supported | — | — |
| Amazon | Optional | manufacturer_cost | — |
| Bing Merchant Center | Optional | cost_of_goods_sold | — |
Why it matters
Internal-only — channels don't display this to users. But it's the input that lets channels and tools optimise for profit, not just revenue. Without COGS, ROAS reports show revenue-on-spend; with COGS, they show actual margin.
COGS is internal-only — channels don't display it to users. But populating it enables profit-aware reporting (ROAS becomes margin-ROAS, not just revenue-ROAS) and minimum-margin enforcement by automated repricers.
The 2026 trend: Google Ads is increasingly using COGS-aware bidding when available. Performance Max can optimise for profit rather than revenue when COGS is in the feed, which changes the optimisation outcomes meaningfully on low-margin items.
Privacy: COGS data stays within Google's optimisation systems; it doesn't surface to users or other sellers. The "loss-leader" concern (revealing internal costs to competitors) doesn't apply.
Format rules
-
Same format as price: 'amount CURRENCY'
Applies to: Google Merchant Center, Bing Merchant Center
-
Must be less than price (or you're selling at a loss)
Applies to: Google Merchant Center, Bing Merchant Center
Valid examples
12.50 GBP Cost to acquire/produce
Related fields
price The product's standard selling price including the currency code. The single field every shopping channel reads first — wrong prices, wrong currency, or mismatches against the landing page break delivery outright.
Read moreauto_pricing_min_price The minimum price below which automated repricers shouldn't drop. Used when Google's Smart Bidding or third-party repricers have permission to adjust price — sets a floor to protect margins.
Read moreRelated tools
FAQ
Does Google share this with users?
No — it's purely for your internal use and Google's profit-optimisation calculations. Users never see it.
Last reviewed: 26 May 2026
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