Reconfigure a SKU's master data; only the fields present change

PATCH /items/{sku}

Lists are replaced whole (409 BarcodeConflict for another SKU's barcode), null clears an optional field, accounts must be codes in the chart (409 UnknownAccountCode), and tracking and costingMethod change only while the SKU holds and expects no stock. Appends an inventory.item-updated event carrying exactly that patch, as the SKU's activity log shows. 409 ItemUpdateRefused when the change contradicts the SKU: an identity or costing switch with stock on hand, or a service asked to be counted or tracked. Idempotent by content: a retry that changes nothing is acknowledged and appends nothing.

Access

Requires stock:write or products:write.

Any one of these scopes is enough.

How scopes come from roles: Scopes and roles. Getting a token: Authentication and app tokens.

Retries

Idempotent by content: a retry that changes nothing is acknowledged and appends nothing.

Why every write carries a key: Idempotency and retries.

Facts appended

inventory.item-updated

What a fact is: Facts and the journal.

AI agent tool

Agents call this as inventory_update_item (Inventory: Update item), in the stock toolset.

Connecting an agent: AI agents.

Example

Add a second barcode and correct the packed weight; nothing else changes.

curl

curl -X PATCH 'https://inventory.getmanifold.io/items/WIDGET-BLUE' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MANIFOLD_TOKEN" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "barcodes": [
    {
      "value": "9300000000019",
      "type": "gtin"
    },
    {
      "value": "093000000019",
      "type": "upc"
    }
  ],
  "weightGrams": 250
}'

JavaScript (fetch)

const response = await fetch("https://inventory.getmanifold.io/items/WIDGET-BLUE", {
  method: "PATCH",
  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.MANIFOLD_TOKEN}`, "Content-Type": "application/json" },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    "barcodes": [
      {
        "value": "9300000000019",
        "type": "gtin"
      },
      {
        "value": "093000000019",
        "type": "upc"
      }
    ],
    "weightGrams": 250
  }),
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`${response.status}: ${await response.text()}`);
const answer = await response.json();

Request body · application/json

{
  "barcodes": [
    {
      "value": "9300000000019",
      "type": "gtin"
    },
    {
      "value": "093000000019",
      "type": "upc"
    }
  ],
  "weightGrams": 250
}

Response · 200 · application/json

{
  "id": "itm_019cd543-e6f8-7bec-b392-ec0ac6b812ed",
  "sku": "WIDGET-BLUE",
  "name": "Widget, blue",
  "tracking": "none",
  "costingMethod": "fifo",
  "kind": "stock",
  "counted": true,
  "sellable": true,
  "barcodes": [
    {
      "value": "9300000000019",
      "type": "gtin"
    },
    {
      "value": "093000000019",
      "type": "upc"
    }
  ],
  "hsCodes": [
    {
      "country": "AU",
      "code": "39269000"
    }
  ],
  "countryOfOrigin": "AU",
  "weightGrams": 250,
  "packedSize": {
    "lengthMm": 120,
    "widthMm": 80,
    "heightMm": 60
  },
  "ownPackaging": false,
  "accounts": {
    "inventory": "1400",
    "revenue": "4000",
    "expense": "5000"
  },
  "taxClass": "standard",
  "stock": [
    {
      "locationId": "loc_019cadd3-8330-7e12-aa44-2cd5f05da74a",
      "onHand": 140,
      "reserved": 10,
      "damaged": 2,
      "awaitingIdentification": 0,
      "inTransit": 0,
      "incoming": 24
    },
    {
      "locationId": "loc_019cd06e-3b38-7e92-b496-c92f8184a3aa",
      "onHand": 18,
      "reserved": 0,
      "damaged": 0,
      "awaitingIdentification": 0,
      "inTransit": 6,
      "incoming": 0
    }
  ],
  "backordered": 0,
  "cost": {
    "costCents": 1250,
    "source": "receipt",
    "at": "2026-10-22T01:20:03.000Z"
  },
  "createdAt": "2026-03-10T01:02:03.000Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-22T06:12:30.000Z"
}

The panel writes this call in other languages. It does not send it: Manifold's APIs do not take calls from a web page on another site, so run the call from your own code or terminal. The whole API as OpenAPI: inventory-manager.openapi.json. Base URL https://inventory.getmanifold.io.

Errors

Every refusal is a status and a JSON body whose _tag names it. A refused call changes nothing.

`401`

Refusal	What it means	What to do
`Unauthorized` reason	The token is missing, expired or not one Manifold issued.	Get a fresh token and send the call again.
`TokenAlreadyUsed` tokenId	A single-use app token was already spent.	Mint a new token for this call.

`402`

Refusal	What it means	What to do
`SubscriptionRequired` status	The organization's subscription has lapsed, so writes are refused.	An owner settles billing. Reads still work meanwhile.

`403`

Refusal	What it means	What to do
`TenantRequired` userId	The token names no organization.	Choose the organization, then get a new token.
`ScopeRequired` required	The token's roles do not grant the scope this call needs.	Ask an owner or admin for a role that grants it.

`404`

Refusal	What it means	What to do
`ItemNotFound` sku	No such record in this organization.	Check the id in the path or the body.

`409`

Refusal	What it means	What to do
`ItemUpdateRefused` sku, reason	The change contradicts the SKU as it stands. `reason` says how.	Move the stock out first, or make the change on a new SKU.
`BarcodeConflict` barcode, sku	Another SKU already has this barcode. `sku` names it.	Use another barcode, or take it off the other SKU first.
`UnknownAccountCode` role, code	An account code is not in the chart of accounts.	Use a code the chart holds, or add the account first.
`MirroredFromSource` source	This area is fed by your source system until the organization goes live.	Make the change in the source system, or go live first.

`503`

Refusal	What it means	What to do
`RequestLogUnavailable` tokenId, reason	The service could not record the request, so it did nothing.	Send the same request again shortly.

How refusals work everywhere: Errors.

Used in

Keeping the chart of accounts, step 7: Move the SKU back to the defaults