WooCommerce Category Page: How to Make it Full Width for a Stunning User Experience
Introduction:
Do you want to create a more visually appealing and engaging online store? One simple yet effective way to achieve this is by making your WooCommerce category pages Check out this post: How To Display Woocommerce Products On A Page full width. By removing the default sidebar and expanding the content area, you can showcase your products in a more immersive and impactful way. This often leads to a better user experience, increased engagement, and potentially, higher conversion rates. This article will guide you through several methods to achieve a full-width layout for your WooCommerce category pages, catering to different skill levels and theme configurations. Whether you’re a coding enthusiast or prefer a no-code approach, we’ve got you covered! Let’s dive in and explore how to transform your category pages from cluttered to clean and captivating.
Main Part: Achieving the Full-Width WooCommerce Category Page
There are several methods to make your WooCommerce category pages full width. We’ll cover the most common and effective approaches:
Method 1: Using Your Theme Options (Simplest Approach)
The easiest method is to check if your theme already offers a built-in option for full-width layouts, particularly for category pages.
- Check Theme Customizer: Most modern WordPress themes include a customizer. Navigate to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard. Look for sections related to:
- Layout Options: Common names include “Layout,” “General Options,” or “WooCommerce.”
- Page Layout: Sometimes, you’ll find a “Page Layout” option specifically for WooCommerce pages.
- Sidebar Settings: Look for options to disable the sidebar on specific page types.
- Identify and Select “Full Width”: Within these sections, you should be able to find an option to select “Full Width” or a similar term.
- Save and Preview: Save your changes and then visit a WooCommerce category page to see the result. This is often the simplest and safest method, as it avoids directly modifying your theme’s code.
- Recommended Plugin: WooCommerce Layout Injector is a great free plugin. There are also several others available if you search the WordPress plugin repository for ‘woocommerce full width’.
- Install and Activate the Plugin: Install the plugin from your WordPress dashboard (Plugins > Add New). After installation, activate it.
- Plugin Settings: Most plugins will add a new section in your WordPress admin area, or integrate into the theme customizer.
- Configure Full Width: The plugin will typically offer an option to select full width for specific page types, including category pages. Select the appropriate option and save your changes.
- Preview the Changes: Visit your WooCommerce category page to confirm that the layout has been updated.
- Identify the CSS Selectors: Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the page and select “Inspect”) to identify the CSS selectors for the sidebar container and the main content area on your category pages. Common examples might be:
- `#secondary` or `.sidebar` for the sidebar.
- `#primary` or `.content-area` for the content area.
- `.woocommerce` for the main woocommerce container.
- Add Custom CSS: There are several ways to add custom CSS:
- Theme Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS and add your CSS rules.
- Child Theme Stylesheet: If you’re using a child theme (recommended), add the CSS to your child theme’s `style.css` file.
- CSS Code Example: Here’s an example of the CSS you might use (adjust the selectors to match your theme):
- Clear Cache: After adding the CSS, clear your browser and WordPress cache to ensure that the changes are displayed correctly.
- Create a Child Theme: If you don’t have a child theme, create one to avoid losing your changes when the parent theme is updated.
- Identify the Category Page Template: Locate the template file responsible for displaying your category pages. This file might be named `archive-product.php`, `taxonomy-product_cat.php`, or similar. It’s usually found in the `woocommerce` directory within your theme’s folder.
- Copy the Template to the Child Theme: Copy the identified template file to the corresponding directory within your child theme. For example, if the original file is located in `wp-content/themes/your-theme/woocommerce/archive-product.php`, copy it to `wp-content/themes/your-child-theme/woocommerce/archive-product.php`.
- Edit the Template File: Open the copied template file in your child theme. Locate the code that outputs the sidebar. This often involves calls to functions like `get_sidebar()`. Remove or comment out this code. Also, adjust the HTML structure Read more about How To Change Order To Pending Woocommerce to ensure the main content area occupies the full width.
- Example (Illustrative): This is a simplified example and may need adjustments based on your theme’s specific structure:
Method 2: Using a Plugin (No-Code Solution)
If your theme doesn’t provide a built-in option, consider using a plugin. Several plugins are available that allow you to customize WooCommerce layouts without writing any code.
Method 3: Using Custom CSS (Requires Basic CSS Knowledge)
If you’re comfortable with CSS, you can use custom CSS to hide the Explore this article on How To Edit Woocommerce Cart Page Elementor sidebar and expand the content area.
.woocommerce .site-main {
width: 100%;
}
.woocommerce-archive .site-main {
width: 100%;
max-width: 100%; /* Remove max-width if present */
}
#secondary {
display: none;
}
/* Adjust for themes with wrappers */
.woocommerce .container {
max-width: 100%;
padding: 0;
}
Method 4: Modifying Theme Template Files (Advanced – Requires Coding Knowledge)
This is the most advanced method and requires directly editing your theme’s template files. It’s highly recommended to use a child theme when modifying template files.
<?php /**
defined( ‘ABSPATH’ ) || exit;
get_header( ‘shop’ );
/
* Hook: woocommerce_before_main_content.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_output_content_wrapper – 10 (outputs opening tags for the content)
* @hooked woocommerce_breadcrumb – 20
* @hooked WC_Structured_Data::generate_product_archive_data() – 30
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_main_content’ );
?>
<?php
if ( woocommerce_product_loop() ) {
/
* Hook: woocommerce_before_shop_loop.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_output_all_notices – 10
* @hooked woocommerce_result_count – 20
* @hooked woocommerce_catalog_ordering – 30
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_shop_loop’ );
woocommerce_product_loop_start();
if ( wc_get_loop_prop( ‘total’ ) ) {
while ( have_posts() ) {
the_post();
/
* Hook: woocommerce_shop_loop.
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_shop_loop’ );
wc_get_template_part( ‘content’, ‘product’ );
}
}
woocommerce_product_loop_end();
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_shop_loop.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_pagination – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop’ );
} else {
/
* Hook: woocommerce_no_products_found.
*
* @hooked wc_no_products_found – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_no_products_found’ );
}
?>
<?php
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_main_content.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_output_content_wrapper_end – 10 (outputs closing tags for the content)
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_main_content’ );
// Remove or comment out the sidebar call
// get_sidebar( ‘shop’ );
get_footer( ‘shop’ );
- Adjust Container Width: You may also need to adjust the width of any containing elements (like `
` in the example) to `100%` using CSS or by modifying the template itself.
- Test Thoroughly: After modifying template files, test your website thoroughly to ensure that everything is working correctly. Pay close attention to responsiveness on different devices.
Conclusion:
Making your WooCommerce category pages full width is a powerful way to enhance the visual appeal of your online store and improve the user experience. We’ve explored multiple methods, catering to different skill levels, from using theme options and plugins to customizing CSS and editing template files. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes, especially when modifying theme files. Choose the method that best suits your comfort level and technical expertise. By implementing these techniques, you can create a more engaging and immersive shopping experience for your customers, potentially leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction. Good luck!
