To create a variable product in WooCommerce, go to Products, then Add New Product in WP-Admin, name it and choose Variable Product from the Product data dropdown. Add attributes on the Attributes tab, generate or add variations on the Variations tab, fill in each one, click Save changes and Publish. Each variation needs its regular rate set to show.
A variable product is one product with options. The classic example is a t-shirt in several sizes and colours. Each combination is a variation, and each variation can have its own rate, stock and image. That's what lets you sell one design in twelve forms without creating twelve products.
Attributes come before variations
Everything starts with attributes, the options a customer picks from, like size or colour. WooCommerce builds variations out of them, so set your attributes up with care first and the rest follows.
On the Attributes tab you can pick a global attribute from the add existing dropdown, which is handy if you sell many products in the same sizes, or create a new custom attribute just for this product. For a new one, give it a name such as size and enter the values separated by a vertical bar, for example Medium | Large | XL. Then click Save Attributes.
Building the product
- In WP-Admin, go to Products, click Add New Product and enter the product name.
- Choose Variable Product from the Product data dropdown.
- Open the Attributes tab, add a global attribute or a new one with its values, then click Save Attributes.
- Open the Variations tab and click Generate variations, or Add manually.
- Expand each variation and enter its details. Use Bulk Actions to apply common values.
- Click Save changes, then Publish.
Generate every combination, or pick your own
Generate variations creates one variation for every combination of your attributes. Three sizes and four colours gives you twelve. Add manually lets you choose which combinations exist, which is better when some don't, for example a colour that only comes in two sizes.
Bulk Actions at the top of the Variations menu sets information for all variations at once. Use it for anything that's the same across the range, such as weight or shipping class, then adjust the exceptions one by one.
What each variation can hold
| Field | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Image | Show the right colour when the customer picks it |
| SKU and GTIN/UPC/EAN/ISBN | Stock control and barcode lookups |
| Enabled switch | Hide a combination without deleting it |
| Regular and sale rate | What each option sells for |
| Downloadable and virtual flags | Digital versions or services |
| Weight, dimensions, shipping class, tax class | Accurate shipping and tax per option |
| Stock quantity, backorders, low stock threshold | Per-variation stock, with an email when stock runs low |
Downloadable variations take files, a download limit and a download expiry in days. Leave the limit blank and downloads are unlimited.
Why a variation doesn't show in your shop
The WooCommerce Docs page on variable products is clear on this: the regular rate is required for each variation, and variations without it don't show in your store. If a customer can't select Large in red, that's the first thing to check. It's easy to miss when you generate a dozen variations and fill in most, but not all.
Two more things to watch. If you change a product's attributes after you've created variations, you may need to redefine the variations, so settle your attributes before you start filling in details. And products with more than 30 variations change how the dynamic dropdowns on the product page behave, so test a large product from the customer's side before launch.
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A quick pre-launch check
- Every variation has its regular rate filled in.
- Each colour variation has the right image.
- Stock levels and low stock thresholds are set where you track stock.
- Combinations you don't sell are switched off or never created.
- You've picked an option on the live page and added it to the basket.
My advice for your first variable product
Decide your attributes and values on paper first, then build them once. Use global attributes for options you'll reuse across products, generate variations only when every combination exists, and lean on Bulk Actions for shared details. Then test the product page as a customer. If you're still choosing your platform, my Shopify versus WooCommerce comparison will help, and the right WordPress theme for an ecommerce store makes variation dropdowns look their best.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a variable product?
A product with options, like size and colour, where each variation has its own stock, image and rate.
How do I add attributes?
On the Attributes tab, use a global attribute or add a new one with values separated by a vertical bar.
Why is my variation missing?
Variations without a regular rate don't show in your store.
Can I edit all variations at once?
Yes, using Bulk Actions on the Variations tab.
Is there a variation limit?
Dynamic dropdowns behave differently above 30 variations.
