How to Insert Images from a Folder in Excel (Match by SKU)
You have a column of SKUs and a folder of photos named to match, and inserting each one by hand would take all afternoon. Here's why Excel can't look an image up by filename — and the one-click way that does.
Last updated: August 2026
| SKU column + folder | Row with photo | |
|---|---|---|
| A12 & /photos/A12.jpg | → | A12 row (image inserted) |
| 500 rows & 500 files | → | Each row matched |
Why doing it by hand is slow
Excel's Insert Picture drops an image wherever the cursor is and never links it to a row. To photograph a catalogue you'd insert, resize, and drag every picture onto the right line by hand — hundreds of times — and there's no built-in way to match an image to a cell by its filename. One inserted-out-of-order photo and the whole column is wrong.
The 1-click way — Tellsheet's Match Images to Rows
Run Match Images to Rows and point it at your folder. Tellsheet looks up each image filename — a barcode, SKU, or model number — against your chosen column and inserts the matching photo on every row. It reads and inserts locally, so nothing is uploaded. Pairs with Picture to Table and Barcode.
Frequently asked questions
How are images matched to rows?
By filename — the file's name is looked up against your chosen column and the photo is placed on that row.
Are my images uploaded?
No — the folder is read and images inserted entirely on your PC.
Can it handle hundreds of files?
Yes — it matches and places the whole folder in one pass, no hand-positioning.
What should the files be named?
After the value they match — the barcode, SKU, or model number in your lookup column.
Related Excel guides
Photograph your catalogue in one click
Match Images to Rows looks up each filename against your column and inserts the right photo on every row — all on your PC.
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