# How to Display Currency in WordPress WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for selling online, but sometimes the little things, like properly displaying currency, can trip you up. This guide will walk you through displaying currency correctly in your WooCommerce store, even if you’re a complete beginner. We’ll cover everything from basic setup to more advanced customization.
Why Proper Currency Display Matters
Imagine you’re selling handmade jewelry internationally. A customer from Canada sees prices listed in US dollars. They have to manually convert the price to Canadian dollars, which is inconvenient and could lead them to abandon their purchase. Correct currency display builds trust and makes the shopping experience smoother. It significantly improves your chances of converting browsers into buyers!
The Basics: Setting Your Store’s Default Currency
WooCommerce makes setting your default currency relatively straightforward.
1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > General.
3. Under the “Currency options” section, select your desired currency from the dropdown menu. This sets the default currency for your entire store. For example, if you’re based in the US, you’d select USD. If you sell in multiple countries, choose the most prevalent one for your initial setup.
Displaying Multiple Currencies (Going Global!)
If you’re selling to customers in multiple countries, offering multiple currencies is a must. Here’s how to achieve this:
1. Using WooCommerce Multilingual Plugins
Plugins like WPML or Polylang offer robust multi-currency support. They allow you to create different language and currency versions of your store, ensuring each customer sees prices in their local currency. This is the most comprehensive solution for handling multiple currencies and languages.
2. Using Currency Switcher Plugins
Plugins such as WooCommerce Currency Switcher allow you to add a currency switcher to your website, enabling visitors to select their preferred currency. This option is simpler to set up than a full multilingual plugin, but it might not be as sophisticated.
3. Manually Setting Currency via Code (Advanced Users Only!)
This is a more complex approach and requires coding knowledge. You would need to use functions to detect the user’s location and then dynamically display the appropriate currency based on that information. This often involves using geolocation services and conditional logic within your theme’s files or custom plugin. It’s not recommended for beginners.
Example (Conceptual – requires adaptation to your specific setup):
// This is a simplified example and may not work without further customization.
function my_custom_currency_switcher( $currency ) {
// Logic to determine user's currency based on IP or other means
if ( /* condition to determine Canadian user */ ) {
$currency = 'CAD';
}
return $currency;
}
add_filter( 'woocommerce_currency', 'my_custom_currency_switcher' );
Customizing Currency Symbol and Formatting
Even with the right currency selected, you might want to customize how it’s displayed.
- Currency symbol position: Do you prefer the symbol before the price (`$10`) or after (`10$`)? WooCommerce allows you to change this in the WooCommerce > Settings > General page under Currency options.
- Thousands separators and decimal points: These formatting options are also adjustable in the same settings page. You can choose between different formats, like using commas or periods as separators.
- Currency not showing: Double-check your WooCommerce settings and ensure the correct currency is selected.
- Incorrect currency symbol: Ensure your currency is correctly chosen and that any conflicting plugins aren’t interfering.
- Formatting problems: Review the currency formatting options in your WooCommerce settings.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Conclusion
Displaying currency correctly is crucial for a positive customer experience and ultimately boosting your sales. Whether you’re using a single currency or catering to a global audience, WooCommerce offers several ways to achieve this. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and business needs. Remember to always test your changes thoroughly to ensure everything works as expected!
