Adding a Variable Product, Step By Step

Variable products are a product type that lets you offer a set of variations of your product, you can set prices, stock, images and more for each variation of your product. Variable products are best used for items with such options as size, colour or material etc.

Adding a variable product

Step 1. Set the Product Type

To add a variable product, edit your product from the product edit page. create a new product or edit an existing one.

1. Go to: Dashboard > View all Gifts. Select Edit on the product you want to make into a variable product.
2. Select the Variable option in the product type section at the top of the page. This will update the options below and give you an Attributes and Variation section.
3. Select Variable product from the Product Data dropdown.

Step 2. Add Attributes to Use for Variations

In the Attributes and Variation section, add attributes before creating variations. You can use global attributes that are site-wide or define custom ones for your specific product.

Global Attributes

To use a global attribute:

1. Create global attributes.
2. Select one from the dropdown and click Add.
3. Choose Select all to add all attributes to the variable product (if applicable).
4. Enable the Used for variations checkbox to tell your store it’s for your variations.
5. Click Save attributes.

Custom Attributes

To add a new attribute specific to your product:

1. Select Custom product attribute and click 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 the Variations section in the Product Data meta box.

Manually Add a Variation

1. Select Add variation from the dropdown menu, and select Go.
   

2. Select attribute for your variation, the panel will expand to display all the options for this variation.
   
3. Edit any available data. The only required field is Regular Price.
4. Click Save changes.

Creating All Possible Variations

Select Create variations from all attributes to create every possible combination of variations and click Go:

It will create a new variation for each and every possible combination of variation attributes (max 50 per run). If you have more possible combinations you can run it again.

If you have two attributes – colour (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

Setting Defaults

Set defaults you prefer on variations. In the example, no default form values were set, so users can pick any colour and size right away from the product page.

If you want a certain variation already selected when a user visits the product page, choose the default form values. 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.

Adding Variation Data

Each variation can have the following properties.

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.
• Stock quantity – Shows if Manage stock? is selected. Allows to set the current stock level for the variation.
• Allow backorders? – Shows if Manage stock? is selected. Allows to set if backorders are allowed for the variation; if enabled, stock can go below zero.
• Low stock threshold – Shows if Manage stock? is selected. When the stock for the variation reaches this level you will get a notification email. If not set, the product-wide threshold will be used (see Inventory Management below).

Inventory Management

Inventory for variable products can be managed on product and variation level.

Сhoose how to manage stock by toggling Enable stock management at product level on the Inventory tab:

The following settings are available if you choose to manage stock on a product level:

• SKU – If you use SKUs, set the SKU or leave blank to use the product’s SKU.
• Manage Stock? – Tick the box to 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.
• Low stock threshold – When the stock for the variation reaches this level you will get a notification email.
• Sold Individually? – Allow only one to be sold in one order. (This setting is used for the product itself. You cannot set a specific variation to only be sold once per order)

If Low stock threshold isn’t set then the store-wide default of 2 will be used. 

Choosing to manage stock for variations individually allows you to edit the same properties for each variation.

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 to the Variation

1. Expand the variation.
2. Click the image icon on the left.
3. Select the image you wish to use.
4. Save.

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: