# How to Display Price with Variable Selection in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for selling products online, but displaying prices correctly for variable products (like t-shirts with different sizes and colors) can be tricky. This guide will walk you through the process, explaining everything in simple terms.
Understanding Variable Products in WooCommerce
Before we dive into the code, let’s clarify what we’re dealing with. A variable product in WooCommerce is a product that comes in different variations. Think of a t-shirt: it might come in sizes Small, Medium, Large, and colors Red, Blue, and Green. Each combination (e.g., Small Red, Large Blue) is a variation, and each variation has its own price.
The Problem: Default WooCommerce Price Display
WooCommerce, by default, might show only the price of the *first* variation listed. This is unhelpful for customers who need to see the price *before* selecting their desired options. Imagine buying a phone – you’d want to see prices for different storage sizes before adding it to your cart, right?
The Solution: Dynamically Displaying Prices Based on Selection
The solution is to dynamically update the price displayed based on the customer’s selection of variations. We’ll achieve this using a combination of WooCommerce’s built-in functionalities and a little bit of code (don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds!).
Method 1: Using WooCommerce’s Built-in Functionality (The Easy Way)
WooCommerce offers a relatively straightforward way to handle this, although it might not be perfectly flexible for all themes:
- Ensure your theme is compatible: Many modern WooCommerce-compatible themes already handle this automatically. Check your theme’s documentation first!
- Check your product settings: Make sure you’ve correctly set the price for each variation in your product’s settings. Go to Products > Edit for your variable product and set the price for each variation individually.
Method 2: Customizing with Code (For More Control)
If your theme doesn’t handle this automatically, or you need more control over how the price is displayed, you can use a custom code snippet. This will require some basic knowledge of PHP and WordPress.
Important Note: Always back up your website before adding any custom code. This snippet should be placed in your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_available_variation', 'custom_price_display', 10, 3 );
function custom_price_display( $variation_data, $product, $variation ) {
//This ensures that the price is updated as you choose variations.
$variation_data['price_html'] = wc_price( $variation->get_price() );
return $variation_data;
}
This code snippet replaces the default price display (`$variation_data[‘price_html’]`) with the actual price of the selected variation (`$variation->get_price()`). The `wc_price` function formats the price according to your WooCommerce settings.
Method 3: Using a WooCommerce Extension (The Easiest and Most Feature-Rich Way)
Many WooCommerce extensions specifically handle variable product price display and offer advanced features. These extensions often provide a user-friendly interface without requiring any coding. Research extensions like “Product Variation Swatches” or similar options in the WooCommerce marketplace.
Troubleshooting
- Price not updating: Double-check your theme’s compatibility and the code snippet (if used). Ensure the prices are correctly set for each variation in the product settings.
- Unexpected errors: If you encounter errors, carefully review your code for typos or syntax mistakes. Consider using a child theme to avoid losing customisations when updating your main theme.
Conclusion
Displaying prices correctly for variable products is crucial for a smooth customer experience. By understanding the different methods available – using your theme’s built-in features, customizing with code, or using a WooCommerce extension – you can ensure your WooCommerce store offers a clear and accurate representation of your product pricing. Remember to test thoroughly after implementing any changes!
