Skuvera

Fix “Illegal quoting on line” in a Shopify CSV import

There's a quote character Shopify can't read on that line, either because it's in the wrong place or because the file isn't saved as UTF-8. Wrap values that contain quotes or commas in straight double quotes, double any quote inside a value, and save the file as CSV UTF-8.

Error message in Shopify

Illegal quoting on line

What this error means

In a CSV file, a value that contains a comma, a line break or a quote must be wrapped in straight double quotes, and any quote inside it must be written twice. A quote in the middle of an unquoted value, or a curly quote saved in a non-UTF-8 encoding, breaks this rule and Shopify stops reading the line.

Common causes

  • A value contains a quote mark, such as inch measurements like 12", and isn't wrapped in quotes.
  • The file was saved in an encoding other than UTF-8, so curly quotes or accented letters turn into characters Shopify can't read.
  • Text was pasted from a word processor and brought in curly quotes.

How to fix it

  1. Open the file in a plain-text editor and go to the line number in the error message.
  2. Look for quote marks inside values. Wrap the whole value in straight double quotes and write each inner quote twice, for example "12"" ceramic mug".
  3. Replace curly quotes (“ ”) with straight quotes (").
  4. Save the file with UTF-8 encoding. In Excel, choose CSV UTF-8. Google Sheets uses UTF-8 by default.
  5. Import the file again.

Example

Before
URL handle,Title,Price
ceramic-mug,12" ceramic mug,15.00
After
URL handle,Title,Price
ceramic-mug,"12"" ceramic mug",15.00

The title contained an inch mark. Quoting the value and doubling the inner quote makes it valid CSV.

How to prevent it

  • Edit product CSVs in Google Sheets, or save from Excel as CSV UTF-8.
  • Avoid pasting text from word processors, which often add curly quotes.

Find this problem before you import

Skuvera checks your product CSV against all of Shopify’s rules in your browser and points to the exact row and column. Free, no sign-up.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Excel cause this error?
Some versions of Excel save CSV files in a regional encoding instead of UTF-8, and may add curly quotes. Choosing CSV UTF-8 when saving avoids both problems.
Can I use quotes in product titles?
Yes. Spreadsheet programs add the required quoting automatically when they save a CSV. Problems usually come from editing the file by hand or using the wrong encoding.

Related checks in Skuvera

Read Shopify’s explanation

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Updated October 30, 2026