What is an MPN? Manufacturer Part Numbers Explained
What does MPN mean on eBay? It is the manufacturer part number. Find out where to locate it and when eBay or Google Shopping asks for one.
An MPN is the part number a manufacturer assigns to a product model. MPN stands for manufacturer part number. If eBay asks for one, copy the manufacturer’s code from the product or its packaging instead of entering your store’s stock code.
MPN Meaning: Manufacturer Part Number
An MPN identifies a particular product within a manufacturer’s range. It can contain letters as well as numbers, even when a listing form calls it an “MPN number”. Pair it with the brand so the code identifies the right manufacturer’s product.
These are two real examples from Australian suppliers:
- NGK uses BKR6E for a spark plug sold by Supercheap Auto.
- Brother’s TN251BK identifies a genuine black toner cartridge sold through Brother Australia.
The code describes the product model, so multiple identical units can share an MPN. A serial number identifies an individual unit. Copy the code for the item you actually have, including any suffix that distinguishes its variant.
What is MPN on eBay
On eBay, MPN is an item specific that identifies the manufacturer’s exact part or product model.
eBay uses product details to match listings with catalogue entries and help buyers find the item they want.
After you choose the listing category, look for MPN in the listing form’s Item specifics section. eBay marks required fields in that flow. You must complete them before you can publish or revise the listing. Requirements depend on the selected category, so use the fields shown for your item instead of assuming every category requires an MPN.
For a spare part, enter its brand beside the correct MPN. An exact eBay catalogue match can supply product details and compatibility information. Review the match before accepting it. A correct part number helps identify the part, while vehicle fitment details establish which vehicles it fits. An MPN alone doesn’t prove compatibility.
The Australian option is “Does not apply”. Use it where the field allows it and the product genuinely has no manufacturer-assigned MPN. eBay’s item description policy prohibits using that answer when the manufacturer has supplied the identifier. A missing box or an unreadable label doesn’t mean the product has no MPN.
Where to Find an MPN
Look for the manufacturer’s part number on the packaging or product label first. Depending on the product, the label can say “part number”, “P/N”, “model” or “MPN”. A retailer’s sticker can show its own stock code, so distinguish that sticker from the manufacturer’s label.
If the label is missing, use these other places:
- The manufacturer’s product page, specification sheet or parts catalogue for the exact model.
- Your supplier’s product listing or invoice, where it includes the manufacturer’s code.
Match the colour, capacity or other variant details to the item in your hands. If an invoice only shows the supplier’s internal code, ask the supplier for the manufacturer’s part number.
For a genuine NGK BKR6E spark plug, the correct MPN is BKR6E. In a hypothetical store, SPARK-004 could be your stock code for that same plug. Entering SPARK-004 as its MPN would be incorrect. Don’t invent a number to get past a required field.
MPN vs SKU vs GTIN
MPN, SKU and GTIN identify products in different systems. A stock keeping unit (SKU) is your store’s inventory code. A Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is the trade identifier eBay or Google can request alongside other product details.
| Identifier | Who assigns it | Where you use it |
|---|---|---|
| MPN | The manufacturer assigns a part or model code | eBay’s MPN item specific where requested and Google’s mpn attribute under its identifier rules |
| SKU | Your store assigns its own inventory code | Your stock records and a platform’s seller inventory field |
| GTIN | The product’s brand owner assigns a trade identifier under the applicable standard | eBay’s barcode identifier field where required and Google’s gtin attribute for products with an assigned GTIN |
Keep your store code in its SKU field. Read the guide to stock keeping units for store-made codes, or the GTIN guide for the barcode identifier.
When Google Shopping Needs an MPN
Google Merchant Center uses the mpn attribute to receive the manufacturer’s part number in your product data. Google’s MPN attribute rule says it is “Required for all products without a manufacturer-assigned GTIN”.
The same rule makes MPN optional when a product has no clearly associated MPN or is custom-made. Supply the manufacturer’s actual code when it exists. For a compatible replacement cartridge, use the replacement manufacturer’s MPN, not the original printer brand’s code.
Google’s guidance on unique identifiers accepts brand plus MPN to identify products that have no assigned GTIN. If a product does have a GTIN, provide it. Leaving it out and supplying brand plus MPN can limit visibility.
Before submitting a feed, compare its brand and MPN with the manufacturer’s information for the exact item. Keep invented stock codes out of the MPN field. If Merchant Center flags an identifier problem, use the guide to Merchant Center errors to diagnose that warning.