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Create designs in bulk

Create multiple versions of a design using data from a Canva Sheet, spreadsheet file, connected app, or a table you enter manually.

How Bulk create works

Bulk create works by linking your data (organized in rows and columns) to placeholder elements on your design page.

  • Each column is a data field, such as a name or profile photo.
  • Each row creates one version of your design.

Before connecting your data, add the elements you want Canva to fill in your design.

  • For text, add a separate text box for each field.
  • For images, add a frame or grid.
  • For multi-page designs, connect data fields on each page.

You can connect up to 150 data fields.

Bulk Create is available on desktop web and the Canva desktop app for Canva Pro, Canva Teams, Canva Business, Canva Enterprise, Canva Education, and Canva for Nonprofit plans.

Step 1: Access Bulk Create

You can start Bulk Create in three main ways:

Access from the Editor toolbar

  1. Click on your page background.
  2. Select Edit from the toolbar.
  3. From the side panel opens, select Bulk create.
  4. Under Choose a starting point, select one of the following:
    • Bulk Create to create multiple designs from data.
    • Labels to set fields for connected apps to fill.

Access from the Apps tab

  1. From the editor side panel, select
    Apps.
  2. Under More from Canva, select Bulk create.
  3. Under Choose a starting point, select one of the following:
    • Bulk Create to create multiple designs from data.
    • Labels to set fields for connected apps to fill.

Access from a Canva Sheet

If you're working inside a Canva Sheet, you can start Bulk Create directly from the data range you select. Learn more about using Canva Sheets to create designs in bulk.

Step 2: Add your data

You can add data from a Canva Sheet, a spreadsheet file, a connected app, or a table you create manually.

Upload from Canva Sheets

You can start the Bulk Create process directly from your Canva Sheet.

  1. In your Canva Sheet, select the range of cells containing the data you want to use.
  2. From the toolbar that appears above your selection, select
    Actions.
  3. Select Bulk Create.
  4. Select Continue.
  5. From the side panel, choose a design template you’d like to use.
  6. You will now be on the Connect data to your design screen. Here, you have two options:
    • To connect automatically with AI: Click the Auto-match fields button in the side panel. Canva will analyze your design and connect your data for you.
    • To connect manually: Click and hold a data field from the side panel, then drag and drop it onto the design element you want to connect. Repeat for all fields.
  7. Once your data is connected, click Continue to proceed to the final step.

You can select up to 300 rows and 150 columns only. Selections beyond this won't be accepted.

Upload data using Excel or CSV file

Before uploading a file, make sure that your file is in Comma Separated Value (CSV), and Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (XLSX) formats.Here’s how to save or convert a spreadsheet into a CSV or XLSX file:

  1. Open the spreadsheet with the data you want to use for Bulk create. If you don’t have a spreadsheet yet, you can create one using the spreadsheet programmes mentioned above.
  2. Check that the data is in the correct order and in clearly labelled columns.
  3. If you’re using Google Sheets, click File and then Download. If you’re using Microsoft Excel, click File and then Save As. If you’re using Numbers, click File and then Export To….
  4. Choose either .csv, or .xlsx file option as the document type.

Once done, you can upload your file to Canva.

  1. From the Bulk create tab on the editor side panel, select Upload data.
  2. Select the file with the data for Bulk create.
  3. Once uploaded, if your file has multiple sheets, select the specific sheet on your file.
  4. Add the range where to fetch the data if applicable.
  5. Click Continue.

Import from Data apps

You can also bring in data from connected platforms such as Google Analytics, HubSpot, Statista, or World Bank.

  1. From the Bulk Create panel, find and select the data app you want to use.
  2. If prompted, sign in to your account and grant Canva access.
  3. Follow the on-screen steps to find and choose the specific data set you want to import.
  4. Once selected, your data will be imported into the Bulk Create table, ready to be connected to your design.

Enter data manually

This option lets you build your data table manually, adding columns for text and images right inside Canva.

  1. Under Connect your data, select Enter data manually.
  2. Set up your table structure:
    • We recommend clicking Clear table to remove the sample data first.
    • Select Add text to create a column for text-based information (like names, locations, or promo codes).
    • Click Add image to create a column where you can place images.
    • Repeat this until you have all the columns you need.
  3. Add your data to the table:
    • For text columns: Type or paste your information directly into the cells.
    • For image columns:
      • Hover over a cell.
      • Select the + Plus icon and find and select an image from your media library,
      • Select Done.
  4. To add more entries, click the + Add row button at the bottom of the table.
  5. Once your data is ready, select Done to proceed to the next step.
  6. Select
     Clear table to remove all data and start again.

You can use images in Bulk Create with both Canva Sheets and XLSX files. Please note that image URLs from cloud photo storage are not supported and will be treated as plain text.

To use images correctly, you must embed them directly into your sheet. When embedding, make sure each image is added directly within a single cell, rather than floating over multiple cells.

Step 3: Connect data to your elements

Connect data to your elements

After adding your data, select an element in your page, then connect it to a data field.

  1. After adding your data, select Match and fill fields. Canva opens and automatically matches the data fields it can identify to elements in your design.
  2. Once finished, your data fields will be connected.
  3. Review the matched fields in the side panel.
  4. To change a match, select the element in your design.
  5. From the toolbar, select Match data.
  6. Under Connect data, select the field you want to use.
  7. Repeat these steps for any other fields you want to change.

Step 4: Preview your designs

Before generating your full batch, you can preview each design to check that your data is connected correctly. This helps you catch issues early and avoid rework.

Preview your designs

  1. Select Preview to check how your data appears in each design.
  2. Check that your text, images, and other elements display correctly.
  3. Close the preview if you need to update a field match or your design.

Tip: Use the preview to verify that placeholder elements are replaced with the correct data before committing to the full batch.

Preview limitations

Keep these limitations in mind when using the preview:

  • Videos display as a frozen first frame and aren't playable in the preview.
  • 3D elements may not render correctly in the preview.
  • Media replacement in previews only works when using a directly-linked Canva Sheet.

Step 5: Create your designs

  1. Review your field matches.
  2. Select Create [number] designs. A confirmation message appears when your designs are created and saved to Projects.
  3. Select View design to open the design you created.

Troubleshoot incorrect data matches in Bulk create

What should I do if the AI connected my data to the wrong design elements?

What can cause this

The AI makes its best guess to connect your data fields to your design, but it can sometimes misinterpret the field names or element types. Manual correction is occasionally needed to get the perfect mapping.

What to do

You have two options, depending on how many connections are incorrect:

  • If most connections are wrong, select Connect manually instead while the analysis is running. This will cancel the AI process entirely, allowing you to connect all your data by hand.
  • If only a few connections are wrong, let the AI analysis finish. You can un-map the incorrect elements individually and re-map them using one of the manual methods (drag-and-drop or selecting an element).

FAQs

Can I edit my designs directly in the preview?

No, the preview is for reviewing only. To make changes, go back to the data connection step and adjust your data fields or template elements. Then, preview again to confirm your changes.

Why do videos appear frozen in the preview?

Videos display as a static first frame in the preview to keep loading times fast. Your final generated designs will include fully playable videos.

Why aren't my images updating in the preview?

If you're replacing media in the preview, this only works when your data source is a directly-linked Canva Sheet. For other data sources, generate your designs to see the final result with all images.

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