# How to Change the Order of WooCommerce Products: A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’ve got a thriving WooCommerce store, but your products aren’t displaying in the order you’d like? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many store owners struggle with organizing their product listings. This guide will walk you through several methods to change the order of your WooCommerce products, from the simplest drag-and-drop techniques to using code for more advanced customization.
Why Product Order Matters
Before we dive into the *how*, let’s understand *why* product order is crucial. Think of a physical store: Would you place your most popular items in the back? Probably not! Similarly, online, strategic product placement can significantly impact sales.
- Highlighting bestsellers: Placing your top-selling or newest products first draws immediate attention.
- Improving navigation: Logical ordering makes it easier for customers to find what they need.
- Boosting conversions: Presenting products in a compelling sequence can encourage customers to purchase more.
- WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display: Look for options to change the default ordering (e.g., by popularity, newest, price, etc.).
- Manually set order: Assign numerical order values to each product.
- Order by custom fields: Sort products based on criteria not offered by default WooCommerce.
- Bulk ordering: Change the order of multiple products simultaneously.
Imagine you sell handcrafted jewelry. Placing your statement necklaces upfront, followed by earrings and bracelets, creates a natural flow, potentially leading to a higher average order value.
Method 1: Rearranging Products Directly in WordPress (Easiest Method)
This is the simplest method, perfect for small catalogs.
1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Products > All Products. This shows a list of all your products.
3. Use the drag-and-drop interface. WordPress allows you to simply drag and drop products to reposition them within the list. Save changes.
This method modifies the product order within a specific view (usually the default shop page). It doesn’t affect other product listings like category pages, unless those pages also use the default ordering settings.
Method 2: Using Product Ordering in WooCommerce Settings (For Specific Pages)
WooCommerce provides options to control product ordering on specific pages, like the shop page or category pages. You can typically find these settings under:
Method 3: Customizing Product Order with Product Categories (Advanced Organization)
Organizing products into categories is vital for larger stores. WooCommerce automatically orders products within categories alphabetically by default. However, you can change the order *within* each category using the drag-and-drop method described in Method 1, but this time within the specific category view.
Method 4: Using a WooCommerce Plugin (For More Control)
For more advanced control, several plugins offer powerful product ordering functionalities. Search the WordPress plugin directory for “WooCommerce product ordering” to find suitable options. These plugins often allow you to:
Note: Always research and select reputable plugins from trusted developers.
Method 5: Customizing Order with Code (Advanced Users Only)
This method requires coding skills and should only be attempted if you’re comfortable editing your theme’s files. Modifying core WooCommerce files directly is highly discouraged as it can break your site if not done correctly. Always create a backup first!
You can hook into WooCommerce’s `woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args` filter to adjust the ordering parameters. Here’s an example to order products by a custom field named `order_priority`:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args', 'custom_product_ordering' );
function custom_product_ordering( $args ) {
$args['meta_key'] = 'order_priority';
$args['orderby'] = 'meta_value_num';
return $args;
}
This code adds a filter that changes the `orderby` to `meta_value_num` and specifies the custom field `order_priority`. You will need to create the `order_priority` custom field using a plugin or by manually editing your database (be extremely cautious!). Remember to place this code in your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin.
Conclusion
Choosing the right method depends on your technical skills and the complexity of your product catalog. Start with the easiest methods and only proceed to more advanced techniques if necessary. Remember to regularly back up your website before making any significant changes. Happy selling!
