Create Nested Data Processing Loops Using n8n Sub-workflows

Nested Loops with Sub-workflows

Template Description

This template provides a practical solution for a common n8n challenge: creating nested loops. While a powerful feature, n8n's standard Loop nodes don't work as expected in a nested structure. This template demonstrates the reliable workaround using a main workflow that calls a separate sub-workflow for each iteration.

Purpose

The template is designed to help you handle scenarios where you need to iterate through one list of data for every item in another list. This is a crucial pattern for combining or processing related data, ensuring your workflows are both clean and modular.

Instructions for Setup

This template contains both the main workflow and the sub-workflow on a single canvas. Copy the sub-workflow part of this template (starting with the Execute Sub-workflow Trigger node) and paste it into a new, empty canvas. In the Execute Sub-workflow node in the main workflow on this canvas, update the Sub-workflow field to link to the new workflow you just created. Run the main workflow to see the solution in action.

For a detailed walkthrough of this solution, check out the full blog post