How To Make Sizes Available Woocommerce Store

How to Add and Manage Sizes on Your WooCommerce Store (A Beginner’s Guide)

Selling clothes, shoes, or any product that comes in different sizes? Then you absolutely need to know how to manage sizes properly in your WooCommerce store. Giving your customers a clear and easy way to select their preferred size is crucial for a smooth shopping experience, fewer returns, and ultimately, more sales!

This guide will walk you through the essential steps for adding and managing sizes in WooCommerce, even if you’re a complete beginner. We’ll cover everything from using attributes to plugins, ensuring your customers find the perfect fit every time.

Why Properly Managed Sizes are Critical

Imagine walking into a clothing store where all the items are just piled up without any size labels. Frustrating, right? The same applies to your online store.

Here’s why clearly displaying and managing sizes is vital:

Improved User Experience: Customers can easily find the size they need, leading to a smoother and more satisfying shopping experience.
Reduced Cart Abandonment: If a customer can’t find their size or is confused about available options, they’re likely to leave without buying.
Fewer Returns: Incorrectly chosen sizes are a major reason for returns. By clearly presenting size options, you can minimize this issue.
Increased Sales: A hassle-free shopping experience translates to happier customers who are more likely to buy again and recommend your store.

Using WooCommerce Attributes to Add Sizes

The most common and built-in way to add sizes is by using WooCommerce attributes. Think of attributes as characteristics that define your product, such as color, material, and of course, size.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Create a “Size” Attribute:

Go to Products > Attributes in your WordPress dashboard.
In the “Name” field, enter “Size”.
(Optional) Add a “Slug” (a URL-friendly version of the name, usually all lowercase and with hyphens instead of spaces). For example, “product-size”.
Click Add attribute.
Important: Click on the newly created “Size” attribute to Configure terms.

2. Add Size Values (Terms):

On the “Configure terms” page for your “Size” attribute, add the actual size values.
Enter each size (e.g., “Small”, “Medium”, “Large”, “XL”, “US 8”, “EU 40”) in the “Name” field.
Click Add new Size. Repeat for all your sizes.

Real-life Example: Let’s say you’re selling T-shirts. Your size terms might be: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL.

3. Apply the Size Attribute to a Product:

Go to Products > All Products and edit the product you want to add sizes to.
Scroll down to the “Product data” meta box.
Select “Variable product” from the “Product type” dropdown. This is crucial!
Click on the “Attributes” tab.
Select “Size” from the “Custom product attribute” dropdown and click “Add”.
In the “Value(s)” field, select the sizes that are available for this specific product. You can select multiple sizes. Make sure to check “Used for variations”. This is very important, it makes the sizes selectable.
Click “Save attributes”.

4. Create Variations:

Click on the “Variations” tab.
Select “Create variations from all attributes” from the “Add variation” dropdown.
Click “Go”. WooCommerce will automatically create variations for each size combination.
For each variation, click the arrow to expand it.
Crucially, you’ll need to set a price and, ideally, manage stock levels for each size. You can also add specific images for each variation if, for example, the color changes slightly based on the size.

Example: You have a blue T-shirt available in Small, Medium, and Large. When you create variations, WooCommerce will create three variations:

Blue T-shirt – Small
Blue T-shirt – Medium
Blue T-shirt – Large

You’ll need to set the price and stock for *each* of these variations.

Displaying Sizes in a User-Friendly Way

By default, WooCommerce will display sizes in a dropdown menu. While functional, you might want to consider enhancing this display for a better user experience.

Here are a few options:

Swatches: Plugins like “Variation Swatches for WooCommerce” (free and premium versions available) allow you to display sizes as buttons or color swatches, making it visually appealing and easier to select. This is particularly helpful for clothing.

Clear Size Charts: Include a clear and comprehensive size chart on your product page or in a dedicated section of your website. This helps customers accurately determine their size. Consider adding measurements in both inches and centimeters.

Visual Size Guides: If possible, use visual aids like infographics or diagrams to illustrate how to measure yourself and find the correct size.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sizes Not Appearing: Make sure you’ve selected “Used for variations” on the Attributes tab and that you’ve created variations from the attributes on the Variations tab. Double check each of these, it’s a very common mistake!
Sizes Out of Stock: Ensure you’ve set the stock level to “0” or removed the variation if a specific size is out of stock. Consider using a “Back in Stock” notification plugin to alert customers when the size is available again.
Inconsistent Sizes: If you sell products from different brands, sizes might vary. Be very clear in your product description if a particular item runs small or large, and include relevant size charts.

Advanced Options: Using Plugins for Customization

While WooCommerce attributes are powerful, you might need more advanced features for specific scenarios. Several plugins offer enhanced size management capabilities:

Measurement Price Calculator (WooCommerce Extension): Useful if you sell products based on dimensions (e.g., fabric, flooring). It allows customers to enter their desired dimensions and automatically calculate the price.

WooCommerce Product Add-ons: Enables you to add extra options to your product pages, including custom size input fields. This is helpful for accepting bespoke sizes.

Code Example: Adding a custom size validation

Sometimes you might need to add a specific validation to the custom sizes that customers are typing. For example, you might want to validate that the size is numeric and within a specific range. You can achieve this with a custom function added to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin.

/**
Validate custom size input field.
* @param mixed $posted
@param array $file
@param string $product_id

*/ function validate_custom_size_field( $passed, $product_id, $quantity ) { if ( isset( $_POST['custom_size'] ) ) { $custom_size = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['custom_size'] );

if ( ! is_numeric( $custom_size ) ) {

wc_add_notice( __( ‘Custom Size must be a number.’, ‘your-text-domain’ ), ‘error’ );

$passed = false;

}

if ( $custom_size 100 ) {

wc_add_notice( __( ‘Custom Size must be between 10 and 100.’, ‘your-text-domain’ ), ‘error’ );

$passed = false;

}

return $passed;

}

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_add_to_cart_validation’, ‘validate_custom_size_field’, 10, 3 );

Explanation

* This code adds a custom validation function to the WooCommerce add-to-cart process.

* It first checks if a custom size is provided in the POST request.

* Then it validates that the custom size is numeric and within the range of 10 to 100.

* If the validation fails, it adds an error notice to the cart and sets the `$passed` variable to `false`, preventing the product from being added to the cart.

* Remember to replace `’your-text-domain’` with your theme’s text domain.

Conclusion

Managing sizes effectively in your WooCommerce store is not just about adding a dropdown menu. It’s about creating a seamless and user-friendly experience that minimizes frustration, reduces returns, and ultimately boosts your sales. By following the steps outlined in this guide and exploring the various options for customization, you can ensure that your customers find the perfect fit, every time. Remember to always prioritize clarity and accuracy in your size information. Happy selling!