Creating and Organizing Variants in Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this article, we will explore the process of creating and organizing variants in Shopify, a popular e-commerce platform.
We will provide a step-by-step guide for merchants to effectively manage their product options and ensure a smooth customer experience when shopping on their store.
We will cover following topics:
- How To Add Multiple Variants In Shopify
- How To Reorder Variants In Shopify
- How To Add Size Variants In Shopify
- How To Hide Variants In Shopify
- How To Bulk Edit Variants In Shopify
- How To Add More Than 100 Variants In Shopify
- How To Delete Variants Options In Shopify
- How To Filter Images With Variants In Shopify
- How To Turn Variants Into Products In Shopify
- How Many Variants Are Allowed In Shopify
- Who Should Use Shopify Product Variants
- How To Find Your Product Variant Id
- The Best Apps To Customize Your Shopify Product Variants
- Conclusion
How To Add Multiple Variants In Shopify
To add multiple variants to a product in Shopify, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product you want to add variants to.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Click “Add variant”.
- Fill in the variant options, such as size, color, etc.
- Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each additional variant you want to add.
- Fill in the variant details, such as price, SKU, etc.
- Click “Save”.
Note: Each variant of a product in Shopify must have a unique combination of options and details.
How To Reorder Variants In Shopify
To reorder variants in Shopify, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product whose variants you want to reorder.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Click and drag the variants to rearrange them in the desired order.
- Click “Save”.
Note: The order of variants in Shopify can affect the display order on your product pages and in the checkout process, so it is important to arrange them in a logical and user-friendly manner.
How To Add Size Variants In Shopify
To add size variants to a product in Shopify, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product you want to add size variants to.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Click “Add variant”.
- In the “Option 1” field, type “Size”.
- In the “Values” field, enter the size options, separated by a comma (e.g. “Small, Medium, Large”).
- Fill in the variant details, such as price, SKU, etc. for each size variant.
- Repeat steps 5-8 for each additional option you want to add.
- Click “Save”.
Note: Each variant of a product in Shopify must have a unique combination of options and details. The size options you enter will become selectable by customers on your product page.
How To Hide Variants In Shopify
To hide variants in Shopify, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product whose variants you want to hide.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Click on the variant you want to hide.
- Uncheck the “Available” checkbox.
- Click “Save”.
Note: Hiding a variant in Shopify will make it unavailable for purchase on your store. If a customer attempts to add the hidden variant to their cart, they will receive an error message.
How To Bulk Edit Variants In Shopify
To bulk edit variants in Shopify, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product whose variants you want to bulk edit.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Select the variants you want to bulk edit by clicking the checkbox next to each one.
- Click the “Actions” dropdown and select “Edit variants”.
- Make the desired changes to the variants, such as price, SKU, or weight.
- Click “Save”.
Note: When bulk editing variants in Shopify, the changes you make will apply to all selected variants. It is important to be careful when making changes, as errors or inconsistencies can impact the functionality and user experience of your store.
How To Add More Than 100 Variants In Shopify
To add more than 100 variants to a product in Shopify, you can create multiple variants for each option and then use the “Options” dropdown in the product editor to select which options are displayed on the product page. Here’s how:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product you want to add more than 100 variants to.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Click “Add variant”.
- In the “Option 1” field, type the name of the first option (e.g. “Color”).
- In the “Values” field, enter the values for the first option, separated by a comma (e.g. “Red, Green, Blue”).
- Repeat steps 6 and 7 for each additional option you want to add (e.g. “Size”).
- Fill in the variant details, such as price, SKU, etc. for each combination of options.
- In the “Options” section, select which options you want to display on the product page.
- Click “Save”.
Note: This approach allows you to add an unlimited number of variants, although it may make the product page more complex and harder for customers to navigate. It is important to consider the trade-off between having more variants and providing a smooth user experience.
How To Delete Variants Options In Shopify
To delete variants options in Shopify, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product whose variants options you want to delete.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Select all variants for the option you want to delete by clicking the checkbox next to each one.
- Click the “Actions” dropdown and select “Edit variants”.
- In the “Option 1” field, delete the name of the option you want to delete (e.g. “Color”).
- In the “Values” field, delete the values for the option you want to delete.
- Click “Save”.
Note: Deleting an option will also delete all variants associated with that option. It is important to be careful when deleting options, as it can impact the functionality and user experience of your store. Before making any changes, it is recommended to backup your store data.
How To Filter Images With Variants In Shopify
To filter images with variants in Shopify, you can use the “Variant Image” feature, which allows you to assign specific images to each variant. Here’s how:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product whose images you want to filter with variants.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Click on the variant for which you want to assign a specific image.
- In the “Variant Image” section, click “Add image”.
- Select the image you want to assign to the variant from your computer or from your Shopify media library.
- Repeat steps 5-7 for each additional variant you want to assign a specific image to.
- Click “Save”.
Note: When a customer selects a variant on the product page, the variant image will be displayed instead of the main product image. This allows you to showcase different images for each variant and provide customers with a more comprehensive understanding of the product they’re considering purchasing.
How To Turn Variants Into Products In Shopify
To turn variants into separate products in Shopify, you will need to create new individual products for each variant. Here’s how:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product whose variants you want to turn into separate products.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Click on the first variant you want to turn into a separate product.
- Change the product title and handle to match the variant name.
- Fill in the product details, such as the description, images, and price, for the variant.
- Click “Save”.
- Repeat steps 5-8 for each additional variant you want to turn into a separate product.
Note: Creating separate products for each variant will result in a larger product catalog, which may make it more difficult to manage and navigate. Consider carefully whether this is the best approach for your store before making any changes.
How Many Variants Are Allowed In Shopify
Shopify allows up to 3 options and 100 variants per product. For example, if you have a t-shirt product, you could have up to 3 options such as size, color, and material, and up to 100 different combinations of those options (e.g. small red cotton, medium blue cotton, large green cotton, etc.).
It is important to note that having too many variants can slow down the performance of your store, as well as make it more difficult for customers to navigate and find the product they’re looking for. To ensure the best user experience, it’s recommended to keep the number of variants per product to a reasonable level.
Who Should Use Shopify Product Variants
Shopify product variants can be useful for businesses selling products that come in different variations, such as different sizes, colors, or materials. If your product has multiple options or variations, then using product variants can help make it easier for customers to select the option they want, and also make it easier for you to manage your product inventory.
Here are a few examples of businesses that can benefit from using product variants in Shopify:
- Clothing retailers – Offer different size and color options for clothing items.
- Jewelry stores – Offer different metal and stone options for jewelry products.
- Furniture stores – Offer different finish options for furniture products.
- Electronics retailers – Offer different storage and color options for electronics.
Overall, if your product has different variations that can be selected by customers, then using Shopify product variants can be a useful tool to help manage and sell your products more effectively.
How To Find Your Product Variant Id
To find your product variant ID in Shopify, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Shopify store’s admin panel.
- Go to “Products” > “All products”.
- Click on the product whose variant ID you want to find.
- Scroll down to the “Variants” section.
- Click on the variant whose ID you want to find.
- The variant ID can be found in the URL of the variant page, in the format of “/admin/variants/[variant-id]”. The variant ID is the number between “/admin/variants/” and the next slash.
For example, if the URL of a variant page is “https://your-store.myshopify.com/admin/variants/1234567890“, then the variant ID is 1234567890.
Note: The variant ID is a unique identifier for the variant and is used to identify the variant when working with APIs, scripts, or other custom solutions for your Shopify store.
The Best Apps To Customize Your Shopify Product Variants
There are many Shopify apps that can help you customize your product variants and make the selection process easier for your customers. Here are some of the best apps to consider:
- Product Options by Bold – This app allows you to create custom options and add extra fields to your product pages, making it easier for customers to select the right variant.
- Variants Option Swatch by BoostCommerce – This app lets you create custom variant swatches, which display color or pattern options as images rather than text, making it easier for customers to choose the right variant.
- Swatchify – Product Variants & Options by Hextom – This app allows you to add variant swatches, images, and descriptions to your product pages, making it easier for customers to select the right variant.
- Product Options & Customizer by Yotpo – This app provides a flexible product customization solution that lets you create custom options, as well as a live product preview feature, making it easier for customers to select the right variant.
- Variants Image & Color by HulkCode – This app allows you to add images to your product variants, making it easier for customers to select the right variant based on their preferred color or pattern.
Note: Before installing any app, make sure to read the reviews and check the features carefully to ensure that it fits your needs and is compatible with your store.
Conclusion
Creating and organizing variants in Shopify is a simple but effective way to improve the user experience on your online store and boost your sales. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to create variants that are clear, organized.
There online business (like clothing, tools, electronics) where I can’t imagine working out without having product variants.
We touched SEO parts in this article. If you want to learn more about SEO setup for Shopify, check out our other article.