RecipeAgents / n8n nodes / Loop Over Items
Node reference · data pulled Oct 26, 2026n8n Loop Over Items node: what the data shows
Feeds items through part of a workflow in batches, looping until all are done.
What it does
It used to be called Split in Batches. You set a batch size; each pass sends one batch out of the loop output, and once everything has been through, the done output fires with the combined results. Most n8n nodes already run once per item, so you only need it when you must control pace or size.
Templates pair it with Wait, Limit and Split Out: rate-limited API calls and large lists processed in chunks.
How often public templates use it
2,319 of the 13,574 public templates on n8n.io (17.1%) contain this node, in the snapshot we took on 2026-10-20. The table splits that by the year each template was published. 2026 runs to October 20.
| Year published | Templates with the node | Share of that year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 69 of 462 | 14.9% |
| 2025 | 1,235 of 6,564 | 18.8% |
| 2026 | 985 of 5,845 | 16.9% |
The median template using this node has 277 views on n8n.io, against 284 for all templates. Template counts show what people publish, not what runs in production.
What it is used with
The most frequent partners are the nodes that appear most often in the same templates. "Lift" compares that with the whole library: 2× means the partner turns up twice as often next to this node as in an average template.
| Most frequent partner | Share of its templates | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Code | 72.4% | 1.22× |
| Edit Fields (Set) | 62.1% | 1.12× |
| HTTP Request | 60.5% | 1.17× |
| If | 59.6% | 1.18× |
| Google Sheets | 47.1% | 1.32× |
| Schedule Trigger | 46.4% | 1.46× |
Strong pairings (in at least 5% of its templates, lift 1.5× or more): 7. The top ones:
| Strong partner | Share of its templates | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Limit | 9.0% | 2.59× |
| Split Out | 25.7% | 2.21× |
| Wait | 36.8% | 2.08× |
| Filter | 18.4% | 1.92× |
| Default Data Loader | 5.5% | 1.87× |
| Aggregate | 16.9% | 1.81× |
| Convert to File | 6.2% | 1.63× |
Most viewed public templates that use it: Generate leads with google maps (255,561 views); Scrape business emails from google maps without the use of any third party apis (216,868 views); Lead generation system google maps to email scraper with google sheets export (135,981 views).
Versions and changes
Node versions from the npm packages n8n-nodes-base and @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain, version 2.44.4. New workflows get the default version; workflows built earlier keep the version they were built with until you replace the node.
| Node | Versions | Default | Credential types | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop Over Items (Split in Batches) | 1, 2, 3 | 3 | none needed | – |
Source on GitHub: packages/nodes-base/nodes/SplitInBatches: 33 commits since the repository was reorganised on 2021-11-17, last on 2026-10-01.
Recent fixes and features
- 2025-04-28: fix(n8n Split In Batches Node): Rewrite hint for reset (PR #14844)
- 2023-10-06: feat(Loop Over Items (Split in Batches) Node): Automatically add a loop + rename (PR #7228)
- 2023-06-16: fix(Split In Batches Node): Add "done" context to allow simple reset (PR #6437)
- 2023-03-22: fix(Split In Batches Node): Roll back changes in v1 and create v2 (PR #5747)
- 2023-03-14: feat(Split In Batches Node): Make it easy to combine processed data (PR #5655)
- 2022-12-09: fix(Split In Batches Node): Fix issue with pairedItem (PR #4873)
Merged dates from GitHub. A fix only helps once your n8n instance runs a release that includes it, so check your version.
Known problems
- You may not need it. Most nodes already process every item. The docs list the exceptions where you have to loop yourself. Source: n8n docs
- Infinite loop with Reset. If you turn on Reset, the loop needs a termination condition that will actually match, or the execution never ends. Source: n8n docs
- Knowing when it's finished. Check the node's noItemsLeft context value to tell whether items remain. Source: n8n docs
- v1 vs v3 behaviour. Version 3 (2023) added the automatic loop-back and the rename; older templates on v1 or v2 behave differently. Source: n8n PR #7228
Forum trouble signal: not measured. The n8n community forum's terms forbid automated access, so we don't count forum threads.
Our recipes that use it
None of our 25 recipes uses this node yet. Browse all of them on the free n8n templates page.
Official docs and sources
Usage, pairings, AI share and views: our count of 13,574 public n8n.io templates (snapshot 2026-10-20). Versions: npm packages, version 2.44.4. Changes: n8n's GitHub repository. Docs read and data pulled Oct 26, 2026. We describe each node in our own words; the docs are the authority on settings.
Related nodes
- Switch2,069 templates · score 59.3
- Merge2,616 templates · score 55.1
- Wait2,398 templates · score 51.2
- If6,849 templates · score 49.6
- All 22 nodesSortable table with the scoring method
Questions
- How many n8n templates use the Loop Over Items node?
- 2,319 of the 13,574 public templates on n8n.io (17.1%), in our snapshot of 2026-10-20.
- What is the Loop Over Items node most often used with?
- Code, which appears in 72.4% of its templates. The most distinctive partner is Limit (lift 2.6×).
- Is Loop Over Items the same as Split in Batches?
- Yes, renamed in 2023. The internal type is still splitInBatches.
- Do I need a loop to process many rows in n8n?
- Usually not. Use it for rate limits, very large lists, or the node exceptions in the docs.