# How to Change Products Per Page in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for selling online, but sometimes its default settings need a little tweaking. One common adjustment is changing the number of products displayed per page. Showing too many products can overwhelm customers, while too few means more clicks for them to browse your entire catalog. Finding the sweet spot is key to a positive user experience and increased sales. This article will show you how to easily adjust this setting in WooCommerce, regardless of your technical expertise.
Why Change Products Per Page?
Before diving into the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” The number of products per page directly impacts your store’s usability and, ultimately, your sales.
- Improved User Experience: A cluttered page with too many products is difficult to navigate. Customers might get frustrated and leave your site before finding what they need. A smaller, more manageable number of products makes browsing easier and more enjoyable. Think of browsing a physical store – would you prefer a crowded aisle or a neatly organized one?
- Faster Loading Times: More products mean a heavier page, leading to slower loading times. Slow loading times are a major cause of cart abandonment. Optimizing the number of products improves your site’s speed and keeps customers engaged.
- Enhanced Visual Appeal: A well-spaced layout with fewer products can highlight individual items, making them more appealing and increasing the chance of a purchase. Imagine a jewelry store – showcasing a few select pieces beautifully is far more effective than cramming dozens together.
- SEO Benefits: While not a direct SEO factor, a better user experience can indirectly improve your SEO rankings. Google rewards sites with good user engagement, and faster loading times are a major ranking factor.
Method 1: Using the WooCommerce Settings (Easiest Method)
This is the simplest method and requires no coding. It works for most themes.
1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings.
3. Click on the Products tab.
4. Under the Display section, you’ll find the “Products per page” option.
5. Enter the desired number of products (e.g., 12, 24, 36).
6. Save changes.
That’s it! Refresh your shop page to see the changes.
Method 2: Using a Child Theme (For Advanced Users & Theme Customization)
This method gives you more control but requires creating a child theme to avoid losing your changes when your main theme updates. It involves editing your theme’s `functions.php` file (within the child theme). Always back up your files before making any changes.
This method allows you to customize the number of products based on different product categories or other variables. For example, you might want fewer products per page for a category with many images to keep page load times fast.
Here’s a basic example of how to change the products per page using a filter:
add_filter( 'loop_shop_per_page', 'new_loop_shop_per_page', 20 );
function new_loop_shop_per_page( $cols ){
return 12; // Set the number of products per page here.
}
Place this code in your child theme’s `functions.php` file. This code uses the `loop_shop_per_page` filter to change the number to 12. You can change `12` to any number you prefer.
Method 3: Using a WooCommerce Plugin (For Specific Functionality)
Some WooCommerce plugins offer advanced control over product display settings. These plugins often provide options to set different products per page for different categories or even individual pages. Research plugins focusing on WooCommerce product display customization to find one that meets your specific needs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right number of products per page is a crucial aspect of optimizing your WooCommerce store. By following the methods outlined above, you can easily adjust this setting to improve your customer’s experience, increase sales, and enhance your site’s overall performance. Remember to always test different numbers to find the optimal balance for your specific store and products.
