How to Print Order Invoices in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction:

Running an online store with WooCommerce is fantastic for its flexibility and powerful features. However, one essential aspect of order fulfillment that often gets overlooked is creating and providing order invoices. Invoices serve as official records of transactions, beneficial for both you and your customers. They’re crucial for accounting, tax purposes, and providing customers with a clear breakdown of their purchases. This article will guide you through the various methods of printing order invoices in WooCommerce, from simple manual options to more automated solutions. We’ll cover everything you need to know to streamline your invoice creation and printing process.

Main Part:

Understanding the Need for Order Invoices

Before diving into the “how-to,” let’s quickly recap why invoices are so important:

• Legal Requirement: In many jurisdictions, providing invoices for sales transactions is a legal obligation.
• Accounting & Tax: Invoices are essential documents for tracking revenue, calculating taxes, and reconciling accounts.
• Customer Satisfaction: A well-formatted invoice provides customers with a clear record of their purchase, building trust and transparency.
• Dispute Resolution: Invoices serve as proof of purchase in case of any disputes or discrepancies.

Methods for Printing Order Invoices in WooCommerce

Here are several methods you can use to print order invoices in WooCommerce:

#### 1. The Manual Method (From the Order Page)

This is the simplest, but also the most time-consuming, approach.

1. Navigate to WooCommerce > Orders: In your WordPress dashboard, go to the WooCommerce section and click on “Orders.”

2. Select the Order: Find the order you want to create an invoice for and click on it to open the order details page.

3. Print from Browser: While WooCommerce doesn’t have a built-in “print invoice” button by default, you can utilize your browser’s print function. Right-click anywhere on the order page and select “Print” (or use Ctrl+P/Cmd+P).

4. Adjust Print Settings: In the print dialog box, adjust the settings as needed. You might want to enable “Print background graphics” for a cleaner look. Choose your printer or the “Save as PDF” option if you want a digital copy.

Pros:

• No plugin installation needed.
• Quick and easy for occasional use.

Cons:

• Manual process, time-consuming for a large number of orders.
• Limited customization options.
• Doesn’t automatically send invoices to customers.

#### 2. Using WooCommerce Order Actions (Adding a Custom Print Button)

You can add a custom “Print Invoice” button directly to the order actions dropdown using custom code. This makes it easier to access the print function.

 /** 
Add a custom "Print Invoice" action to WooCommerce order actions
 */ add_filter( 'woocommerce_admin_order_actions', 'add_print_invoice_order_action', 10, 2 ); 

function add_print_invoice_order_action( $actions, $order ) {

$actions[‘print_invoice’] = array(

‘url’ => wp_nonce_url( admin_url( ‘admin-ajax.php?action=print_invoice&order_id=’ . $order->get_id() ), ‘print_invoice’ ),

‘name’ => __( ‘Print Invoice’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘icon’ => ‘dashicons dashicons-printer’,

‘class’ => ‘print-invoice’,

);

return $actions;

}

/

* Handle the print invoice action.

*/

add_action( ‘wp_ajax_print_invoice’, ‘handle_print_invoice’ );

function handle_print_invoice() {

check_ajax_referer( ‘print_invoice’ );

if ( ! isset( $_GET[‘order_id’] ) ) {

wp_die( ‘Order ID not found.’ );

}

$order_id = intval( $_GET[‘order_id’] );

$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );

if ( ! $order ) {

wp_die( ‘Order not found.’ );

}

// Output the invoice content (you’ll need to format this appropriately)

echo ‘‘;

echo ‘

Invoice for Order #’ . $order->get_order_number() . ‘

‘;

// Add more invoice details here, like address, items, totals, etc.

echo ‘Print‘; // Simple print button

echo ”;

wp_die();

}

Important: This code snippet requires you to add it to your theme’s `functions.php` file or use a code snippets plugin. Always back up your website before modifying the `functions.php` file. You’ll also need to significantly expand the `handle_print_invoice` function to properly format the invoice output. This is a basic example and needs adaptation for real-world use.

Pros:

• Direct print action button within the order.

Cons:

• Requires code customization.
• Basic invoice format.

#### 3. Using WooCommerce Invoice Plugins

The most efficient and user-friendly way to print order invoices is by using a dedicated WooCommerce invoice plugin. There are many excellent plugins available, both free and premium. Some popular options include:

• WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips: (One of the most popular. Generates and attaches PDF invoices to order confirmation emails, and provides a downloadable invoice link in the customer’s account.)
• Print Invoice & Delivery Notes for WooCommerce: (Allows printing of invoices, delivery notes, Read more about How To Change Product Page In Woocommerce and packing slips with customizable templates.)

Learn more about How To Align Woocommerce Products Of Various Sizes

• PDF Invoices for WooCommerce: (Simple and straightforward PDF invoice generation.)

How to Use a Plugin (Example using WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips):

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Search for “WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips” in the WordPress plugin directory, install, and activate it.

2. Configure the Plugin: Go to WooCommerce > PDF Invoices > Settings to configure the plugin. You can customize the invoice template, set numbering schemes, add your company logo, and choose when invoices are automatically generated and attached to emails.

3. Print from the Order Page: Once configured, you’ll see a “PDF Invoice” button on the order details page. Clicking this will generate and download the invoice.

4. Automatic Email Attachment: The plugin can automatically attach the invoice to order confirmation emails.

Pros:

• Automated invoice generation and delivery.
• Customizable invoice templates.
• Professional-looking invoices.
• Save time and effort.
• Often integrates with accounting software.

Cons:

• May require purchasing a premium plugin for advanced features.
• Plugin updates are required to ensure compatibility and security.