How to Set Default Order Quantity to 2 in WooCommerce (Easy Guide for Beginners)
So, you’re running a WooCommerce store and want to make sure your customers are encouraged to buy at least two of your products. Perhaps you sell items that are often purchased in pairs, like socks, or maybe you have a promotional deal where buying two unlocks a discount. Setting the default order quantity to 2 in WooCommerce can be a simple yet effective way to achieve this. This guide will walk you through the process in a way that’s easy to understand, even if you’re new to WordPress and WooCommerce.
Why Set a Default Order Quantity?
Imagine you’re selling custom-designed coffee mugs. Most people will want a matching set of two, one for themselves and one for a significant other, or perhaps one for home and one for the office. By setting the default quantity to 2, you’re:
- Increasing your average order value: Customers are inherently buying more items per order.
- Streamlining the purchase process: They don’t need to manually adjust the quantity in the cart.
- Boosting Sales: A subtle nudge can influence purchasing behavior.
- Facilitating product bundling: It makes it easier for customers to buy in multiples that you may also offer discounts on.
- Option 1: Using the Theme File Editor (WordPress Dashboard – Appearance -> Theme File Editor): This is the most direct method. Select your active theme from the dropdown (usually at the top right). On the right-hand side, locate and click on `functions.php`.
- Option 2: Using FTP (File Transfer Protocol): If you’re comfortable with FTP, connect to your server using an FTP client like FileZilla. Navigate to `/wp-content/themes/your-theme-name/` and find `functions.php`. Download a copy to your computer as a backup!
Now, let’s dive into how to make this happen!
Method 1: Using a Code Snippet (Recommended)
This method involves adding a small piece of PHP code to your website. It’s generally the preferred approach because it’s lightweight and keeps your core WooCommerce files untouched.
Step 1: Accessing Your `functions.php` File (Caution!)
This file is *crucial* to your WordPress theme. Before making any changes, back up your entire website! If something goes wrong, you can restore it.
There are a couple of ways to access `functions.php`:
Important Safety Tip: Avoid directly editing `functions.php` within the Theme File Editor on a live site. If you make a syntax error, your entire site can crash. Use a staging environment or a plugin like Code Snippets (described later) to avoid this risk.
Step 2: Adding the Code Snippet
Scroll to the bottom of your `functions.php` file and before the closing `?>` tag (if it exists), add the following code:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_quantity_input_args', 'woo_set_default_quantity', 20, 2 ); function woo_set_default_quantity( $args, $product ) { $args['input_value'] = 2; // Starting quantity $args['max_value'] = -1; // Maximum quantity (-1 = unlimited) return $args; }
Explanation:
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_quantity_input_args’, ‘woo_set_default_quantity’, 20, 2 );`: This line hooks into the WooCommerce quantity input field, allowing us to modify its attributes.
- `function woo_set_default_quantity( $args, $product ) { … }`: This defines a function that modifies the quantity arguments.
- `$args[‘input_value’] = 2;`: This sets the *default* quantity to 2. Change this number if you want a different default.
- `$args[‘max_value’] = -1;`: This sets the maximum quantity to unlimited (-1). You can change this to a specific number if you have limitations.
- `return $args;`: This returns the modified arguments back to WooCommerce.
Step 3: Saving the Changes and Testing
- If you used the Theme File Editor, click the “Update File” button.
- If you used FTP, upload the modified `functions.php` file back to your server, overwriting the old one.
- Clear your WooCommerce cache and browser cache.
- Visit a product page on your website. You should now see that the default quantity in the quantity field is set to 2.
Important Considerations:
- Child Themes: The *best practice* is to use a child theme. A child theme inherits all the functionality of the parent theme but allows you to make customizations without modifying the parent theme’s files directly. This is crucial because when your parent theme updates, any changes you made to its `functions.php` file will be lost!
- Error Handling: If your website breaks after adding the code, you likely have a syntax error. Carefully check your code, particularly for missing semicolons or mismatched parentheses. If you can’t fix it, restore your backup.
Method 2: Using the “Code Snippets” Plugin (Safest and Easiest)
This method is highly recommended, especially if you’re not comfortable directly editing your theme files. The “Code Snippets” plugin allows you to add and manage PHP code snippets without touching `functions.php`.
Step 1: Install and Activate the “Code Snippets” Plugin
1. Go to your WordPress dashboard: Plugins -> Add New.
2. Search for “Code Snippets”.
3. Install and activate the plugin by Code Snippets Pro.
Step 2: Add a New Snippet
1. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Snippets -> Add New.
2. Give your snippet a descriptive name (e.g., “Set Default WooCommerce Quantity to 2”).
3. Paste the code snippet from above (Method 1, Step 2) into the code area.
4. Make sure the snippet is set to “Run snippet everywhere”.
5. Click “Save Changes and Activate”.
Step 3: Test Your Changes
- Clear your WooCommerce cache and browser cache.
- Visit a product page on your website. The default quantity should be 2.
Using the Code Snippets plugin provides an easier way to manage your custom code and it’s much less risky compared to editing the `functions.php` file directly.
Method 3: Using a Plugin Designed for Product Customization
While the above methods are efficient for simply setting a default quantity, if you need more granular control and additional product customization options, consider using a WooCommerce plugin dedicated to product customization. These plugins often offer features beyond just the default quantity, such as:
- Conditional Logic: Setting different default quantities based on product category or other attributes.
- Custom Product Options: Adding dropdowns, text fields, and other input types to the product page.
- Dynamic Pricing: Adjusting the price based on selected options.
Some popular WooCommerce product customization plugins include:
- WooCommerce Product Add-ons (Official WooCommerce Extension)
- Extra Product Options (Product Addons) for WooCommerce
- YITH WooCommerce Product Add-ons & Extra Options
These plugins are generally easier to use for complex scenarios but might come with a cost (premium versions).
Troubleshooting
- Clear your caches! WooCommerce has its own cache, and your browser also caches pages. Always clear both after making changes.
- Check for plugin conflicts: Deactivate other plugins one by one to see if they’re interfering.
- Enable WordPress debugging: Add `define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );` to your `wp-config.php` file (located in your WordPress root directory) to display any PHP errors. Remember to remove it after debugging!
- Check WooCommerce error logs: Go to WooCommerce -> Status -> Logs to see if there are any relevant error messages.
- Revert to a Default Theme: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Three) to see if the issue is related to your theme.
Conclusion
Setting a default order quantity in WooCommerce is a simple way to encourage customers to buy more and increase your average order value. The Code Snippets plugin offers the safest and easiest solution for beginners. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes, and clear your caches to see the results. Good luck boosting your sales!