WooCommerce: How to Hide Quantity Field (and Why You Might Want To)
Introduction
WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, offers incredible flexibility. However, sometimes you need to tweak its default behavior to perfectly fit your business model. One common customization is hiding the quantity field on product pages. Whether you’re selling unique, limited-edition items, subscription boxes, or services that don’t require quantity selection, hiding the quantity field can streamline the user experience and prevent potential confusion. This article will guide you through several methods to achieve this, explaining the pros and cons of each. Let’s dive in and learn how to tailor your WooCommerce store to your specific needs!
Why Hide the Quantity Field in WooCommerce?
Before we delve into the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” There are several valid reasons for wanting to hide the quantity field:
- Selling Single, Unique Items: If you primarily sell one-of-a-kind items like antiques, artwork, or custom designs, the quantity field is irrelevant. Hiding it eliminates unnecessary clutter.
- Subscription Boxes: Subscription boxes often have a fixed quantity of 1 per order. The quantity field simply adds an extra, redundant step for the customer.
- Services: When selling services like consultations, lessons, or installations, quantity doesn’t always apply. Removing the field clarifies the offering.
- Simplified Checkout Process: A streamlined checkout process can lead to increased conversions. Removing unnecessary fields contributes to a smoother experience.
- Preventing Accidental Over-Ordering: In rare cases, you might want to limit orders to a specific amount (implicitly one) to prevent mistakes and manage inventory effectively.
- How to Implement:
- Pros:
- Easy and quick to implement.
- Doesn’t require coding knowledge.
- Cons:
- Only hides the field visually; the quantity is still submitted as ‘1’.
- Less reliable as themes updates may override this.
- How to Implement:
Methods to Hide the Quantity Field in WooCommerce
There are several ways to hide the quantity field, each with its own level of complexity and impact. Let’s explore the most common and effective methods:
1. Using CSS (Quick and Easy, but Less Reliable)
The simplest method is to hide the quantity field using CSS. This approach is quick but has a potential drawback: it only *hides* the element visually, it doesn’t prevent the form from still submitting a quantity of ‘1’ behind the scenes.
1. Go to WordPress Dashboard > Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
2. Add the following CSS code:
.quantity {
display: none !important;
}
3. Click Publish.
2. Using Code Snippets (Recommended for Basic Customization)
A more robust method is to use code snippets. This approach directly modifies the WooCommerce functionality and is less likely to be affected by theme updates.
1. You can use the Code Snippets plugin (recommended for ease of use and safety). Install and activate it from the WordPress plugin directory.
2. Add a new snippet with the following code:
<?php /**
/
* Remove quantity box from cart page
*/
function disable_quantity_woocommerce_cart( $return, $product_id ) {
if( is_cart() ) {
return true;
}
return $return;
}
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_is_sold_individually’, ‘disable_quantity_woocommerce_cart’, 10, 2 );
// Force quantity to 1 on mini-cart
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_add_to_cart_quantity’, function( $qty, $product_id ) {
if ( is_cart() || is_checkout() ) {
return $qty; // Don’t force quantity on cart or checkout page
} else {
return 1;
}
}, 10, 2 );
?>
3. Save and activate the snippet.
- Pros:
- More reliable than CSS.
- Directly modifies WooCommerce functionality.
- Prevents users from adding more than one item.
- Cons:
- Requires basic PHP knowledge.
- Potentially more complex than CSS for beginners.
- Needs testing to ensure compatibility.
3. Using a Child Theme and Overriding Templates (Advanced Customization)
For more advanced customization and control, you can create a child theme and override the relevant WooCommerce template files. This allows you to completely remove the quantity field from the HTML structure. This is the most reliable, but also the most technical, approach.
- How to Implement:
1. Create a Child Theme: If you don’t already have one, create a child theme for your current theme.
2. Copy the Template File: Copy the `templates/global/quantity-input.php` file from the WooCommerce plugin directory to the same directory structure in your child theme (e.g., `your-child-theme/woocommerce/global/quantity-input.php`). If this directory structure does not exist, create it.
3. Edit the Template File: Open the `quantity-input.php` file in your child theme and completely remove the code related to the quantity field. You can either Learn more about How To Add Footer With Divi In Woocommerce Shop Pages delete the entire contents of the file, or comment it out.
4. Important: If you choose to delete the contents, ensure that it does not cause any errors by surrounding it with comments.
<?php /**
- Pros:
- Complete control over the HTML structure.
- Most reliable and future-proof method.
- Can implement more complex customizations.
- Requires in-depth knowledge of WooCommerce templates and PHP.
- More time-consuming than other methods.
- Potentially complex for beginners.
4. Using a WooCommerce Plugin (Easiest for Non-Coders)
Several WooCommerce plugins are available that allow you to hide or customize the quantity field with ease. These plugins often provide a user-friendly interface to manage this and other product options. While we won’t recommend a specific plugin (as they can change), search the WordPress plugin directory for “WooCommerce quantity” or “WooCommerce product options” to find a suitable solution. This is often the easiest and safest approach for users who are not comfortable with code.
- Pros:
- Easiest option for non-coders.
- Often provides a user-friendly interface.
- Can offer additional customization options.
- Cons:
- May require purchasing a premium plugin.
- Adds another plugin to your site.
- Plugin compatibility can sometimes be an issue.
Conclusion
Hiding the quantity field in WooCommerce can be a valuable customization for certain types of online stores. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and business needs. While CSS is the simplest, code snippets or child themes offer more reliable and robust solutions. Plugin solutions are an excellent option for users seeking a code-free approach. By carefully considering the pros and cons of each method, you can effectively customize your WooCommerce store and create a more user-friendly shopping experience for your customers, leading to increased satisfaction and potentially higher conversions. Remember to always back up your site before making any code changes!
