Adding a variable product

Adding a variable product

Variable products are arguably the most complex of product types. They let you define variations of a single product where each variation may have a different SKU, price or stock level.

Step 1. Set the product type

To add a variable product, create a new product or edit an existing one.

1. Go to: WooCommerce > Products.
2. Select the Add Product button or Edit an existing product. The Product Data displays.
3. Select Variable product from the Product Data dropdown.

Step 2. Add attributes to use for variations

In the Attributes section, add attributes before creating variations — use global attributes that are site wide or define custom ones specific to a product.

Global attributes

To use a global attribute:

1. Select one from the dropdown and Add.

2. Choose Select all to add all attributes to the variable product (if applicable).

3. Tick the Used for variations checkbox to tell WooCommerce it’s for your variations.

Custom attributes specific to product

If adding new attributes specific to this product:

1. Select Custom product attribute, and Add.

2. Name the attribute (e.g. Size),

3. Set values separated by a vertical pipe (e.g., small | medium | large)

4. Enable the Used for variations checkbox.

5. Click Save attributes.

Step 3. Add variations

To add a variation, go to Variations section in the Product Data meta box.

Manually Adding a Variation

. Select Add variation from the dropdown menu, and click Go

2. Select attributes for your variation. To change additional data, click the triangle icon to expand the variation.

3. Edit any available data. The only required field is Regular Price.

4. Save Changes.

Editing Many Variations

If you have more than 10 variations, use the buttons to navigate forward and backward through the list. Each time you navigate to a new set of variations, the previous set are saved. This ensures that all data is saved.

Setting Defaults

We recommend setting defaults you prefer on variations. In the example, we have no defaults set, so users can pick any color and size right away from the product page.

If you want a certain variation already selected when a user visits the product page, you can set those. This also enables the Add to Cart button to appear automatically on variable product pages.

You can only set defaults after at least one variation has been created.

Variation Data

Each variation may be assigned.

General:

• Enabled – Enable or disable the variation.
• Downloadable – If this a downloadable variation.
• Virtual – If this product isn’t physical or shipped, shipping settings are removed.
• Regular Price (required) – Set the price for this variation.
• Sale Price (optional) – Set a price for this variation when on sale.
• Tax status — Taxable, shipping only, none.
• Tax class – Tax class for this variation. Useful if you are offering variations spanning different tax bands.

• Downloadable Files – Shows if Downloadable is selected. Add file(s) for customers to download.
• Download Limit – Shows if Downloadable is selected. Set how many times a customer can download the file(s). Leave blank for unlimited.
• Download Expiry – Shows if Downloadable is selected. Set the number of days before a download expires after purchase.

Inventory:

• SKU – If you use SKUs, set the SKU or leave blank to use the product’s SKU.
• Manage Stock? – Manage stock at the variation level.
• Stock Quantity – Shows if Manage Stock is selected. Input the quantity. Stock for the specific variation, or left blank to use the product’s stock settings.
• Allow Backorders – Choose how to handle backorders.
• Stock Status – Set the status of your variation’s stock.
• Sold Individually? — Allow only one to be sold in an order.

Shipping

• Weight – Weight for the variation, or left blank to use the product’s weight.
• Dimensions – Height, width and length for the variation, or left blank to use the product’s dimensions.
• Shipping class – Shipping class can affect shipping. Set this if it differs from the product.

Linked products

• Upsells
• Cross-sells
• Grouped

If the SKU, weight, dimensions and stock fields are not set, then it inherits values assigned to the variable product. Price fields must be set per variation.

Add an image for the variation

1. Expand the variation.
2. Click the blue image placeholder (screenshot).
3. Select the image you wish to use.
4. Save.

Duplicating a variable product

To save time, you can make a copy of a product and its variations to create similar ones.

Bulk editing

You can bulk-edit variations by selecting the specific piece of data you want from the dropdown. In this example, I want to edit prices for all variations.

Linking possible variations

If your example had two attributes – color (with values blue and green) and size (with values large and small), it creates the following variations:

• Large Blue
• Large Green
• Small Blue
• Small Green

What customers see

On the frontend, when viewing a variable product, the user is presented with dropdown boxes to select variation options. Selecting options will reveal information about the variation, including available stock and price.

If the user tries to click the greyed out add to cart button before choosing an attribute, a message will appear asking them to create some attributes.

In the product archive page, Add to Cart does not display because a variation must first be chosen before adding to cart on the product page.