Variable products let customers choose options while keeping related items on one product page. A shirt might have sizes and colours, with a separate price or stock quantity for each combination. This guide explains the difference between attributes and variations and gives you a method for testing the choices before customers order.
Decide whether variations are needed Use a variable product when choices affect the item being sold, its SKU, price, stock or other purchase information. A descriptive attribute such as material does not have to create a variation. Optional gift messages or custom uploads may need an appropriate extension rather than hundreds of product variations.
List the combinations you actually sell. For a shirt with three sizes and two colours, six combinations may be valid. If one colour is not produced in a certain size, do not create an apparently available combination just because the editor can generate it.
Create the parent product Add a new product or carefully convert the intended draft. Enter its name, shared description, category and main image. In Product data, select Variable product. Shared information belongs on this parent product; choice-specific information belongs on the relevant variation.
Add the attributes used for choices Open Attributes. Reuse a global attribute such as Size or Colour when your catalogue already has one, or create a product-specific attribute if appropriate. Add only the values needed for this product. Mark the attribute as used for variations and save it.
Global attributes support consistent catalogue organisation across products. Avoid creating Size, Sizes and Clothing size as separate concepts without a reason. Displaying an attribute in the additional information area and using it to generate variations are different settings.
Create and configure variations Open Variations. Add the combinations manually or use the available generation tool, then remove any combinations that are not sold. Large attribute sets can create many combinations quickly; check the total before generating them.
Open each variation and enter a valid regular price. Add a sale price only where intended. Set a unique SKU where used, the correct availability, a variation image if useful and any weight or dimensions that differ from the parent. Save variation changes and then save or update the product itself.
For example, if a blue medium shirt costs more than the small version, put that difference on the relevant variations. Changing a parent description will not set every variation’s price. Bulk actions can help, but inspect several results before relying on a bulk change.
Choose the right stock approach Decide whether inventory is tracked for the whole product or separately for each combination. Separate stock is usually clearer when the medium blue item can sell out while small blue remains available. Shared stock can suit a different business process, but it must match the way you fulfil orders.
Do not unintentionally promise more items by using unrelated parent and variation quantities. Document the approach and test what happens when a particular combination becomes unavailable. Backorders should be deliberate and supported by a clear delivery expectation.
Check every customer choice Preview the public product and select each valid combination. Confirm the price, image, availability and Add to cart behaviour. Test the default selection if you set one. A default should be available and intentional, rather than hiding the need for the customer to choose.
Check a sold-out or unavailable combination too. Store settings and extensions affect whether choices are hidden, disabled or shown with an availability message. Test the behaviour customers actually see instead of assuming that the admin value tells the whole story.
Frequently asked questions Why does a variation not appear? Check that it is enabled, has a price, uses the expected attributes and meets your stock-visibility rules.
Can I put all sizes into the description instead? You can describe them there, but the customer still needs a working purchase choice if sizes represent different items.
