How to Set Up Variable Products in WooCommerce

Setting up variable products in WooCommerce allows you to offer different variations of a product, such as different sizes or colors, all within a single product listing. This is incredibly useful for simplifying the shopping experience for your customers. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of setting up variable products in WooCommerce.

What is a Variable Product?

A variable product in WooCommerce is a product type that allows you to offer a set of variations on a product, with control over prices, stock, and more for each variation. These can be different versions of a product, differing in size, color, material, etc.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Variable Products

Step 1: Create a New Product

1. Login to your WordPress Dashboard: First, log in to your WordPress admin area.
2. Navigate to Products: Go to Products > Add New to create a new product.
3. Enter Product Details: Fill in the product details such as the name, description, and product image.

Step 2: Select Product Type

1. Scroll Down to Product Data: Below the main product description area, you will find a section called ‘Product Data’.
2. Choose Variable Product: From the Product Data dropdown, select Variable product.

Step 3: Add Attributes

1. Navigate to Attributes: Click on the Attributes tab.
2. Add New Attribute: Click on Custom product attribute and then Add. For example, you can add attributes like Size or Color.
3. Set Terms for Attributes: Enter the terms for each attribute in the ‘Value(s)’ field. Separate each term with a | (pipe) symbol. For example, for Size, you could add Small | Medium | Large.
4. Save Attributes: Check the box that says Used for variations and then click on Save attributes.

Step 4: Configure Variations

1. Navigate to Variations: Go to the Variations tab within the Product Data section.
2. Add Variation: Select Add variation from the dropdown menu and click Go.
3. Configure Each Variation: For each newly created variation, you can customize the following settings:
   • Regular Price: Set the price for this variation.
   • Stock Status: Indicate if the variation is in stock or out of stock.
   • SKU: Set a unique SKU for each variation.
   • Image: Upload a variation-specific image.
   • Shipping Details: Set the weight and dimensions if applicable.
4. Save Changes: Click on Save changes after configuring the variations.

Step 5: Publish the Product

1. Check Settings: Review all the product settings to ensure everything is correct.
2. Publish: Click on the Publish button to make your variable product live on your WooCommerce store.

Tips for Setting Up Variable Products

Use Clear Naming Conventions

Ensure that the attribute names and terms are clear and easy to understand. This will help your customers make informed choices when selecting product variations.

Optimize Images

Use high-quality images for your product variations. Visuals play a significant role in the customer’s decision-making process.

Manage Inventory

Keep track of your stock for each variation to avoid selling out. WooCommerce allows you to manage stock for each product variation individually.

Test the Shopping Experience

Before making your variable product live, test the shopping experience yourself. Ensure that selecting different variations updates the product details and pricing accordingly.

Conclusion

Setting up variable products in WooCommerce can enhance your store’s functionality and improve the shopping experience for your customers. With this guide, you should be able to create and manage variable products with ease. Happy selling, and don’t forget to keep your product variations updated based on customer feedback and inventory levels!

For more WooCommerce tutorials, check out our blog and WooCommerce documentation.