WooCommerce: How to Add Shirt Sizes (The Easy Way!)
So you’re selling shirts in your WooCommerce store? Awesome! But customers need to know what size to order. Don’t leave them guessing – guessing leads to returns, and returns are no fun for anyone. This guide will walk you through adding shirt sizes to your WooCommerce products, making the buying process smooth and frustration-free. We’ll cover two common methods: attributes and variations.
Think of it this way: would you buy a shirt online without knowing the size options? Probably not! Let’s make sure your customers have all the information they need.
Why Shirt Sizes Matter
Before we dive in, let’s quickly cover *why* properly adding shirt sizes is crucial:
* Increased Sales: Clear size options lead to more purchases. Customers are confident they’ll receive the right fit.
* Reduced Returns: Accurate sizing reduces the likelihood of returns due to incorrect sizes. Returns cost you money in shipping and restocking.
* Improved Customer Experience: A smooth and informative buying process makes customers happy and likely to return.
* Better SEO: Including size information (especially in product descriptions or attributes) can improve your search engine ranking for related terms like “Men’s slim fit shirt size medium.”
Method 1: Using Product Attributes (Simple, but Limited)
This method is best for when you offer shirts in a *limited* number of sizes. It allows you to display size information but doesn’t link sizes to inventory.
1. Edit Your Product: Navigate to the product you want to add sizes to in your WooCommerce store.
2. Go to the “Attributes” Tab: Find Read more about How To Make Woocommerce WordPress the “Product data” meta box, usually located below the main product description. Click on the “Attributes” tab.
3. Add a Explore this article on How To Add A Discount Code Text Box To Woocommerce New Attribute:
* Click the “Add” button.
* In the “Name” field, type “Size” or “Shirt Size” (be consistent).
* Crucially, check the “Visible on the product page” box. This makes the attribute visible to your customers.
* Optionally, check the “Used for variations” box. (We will get to this later when talking about variations)
4. Enter Your Size Values:
* In the “Value(s)” field, enter your sizes, separated by a pipe symbol (`|`). For example: `S | M | L | XL`
* Make sure your sizes are consistent in format (e.g., don’t use “Small” sometimes and “S” others).
Example:
* Name: Size
* Value(s): S | M | L | XL
* Visible on the product page: (Checked)
5. Save Your Product: Click “Save attributes” and then “Update” your product.
Now, your product page will display a “Size” attribute with the sizes you entered. However, this is just information; WooCommerce doesn’t track inventory or allow customers to *select* a specific size yet. This method is suitable if you only have a handful of size option and you don’t want to enable variations.
Method 2: Using Product Variations (The Recommended Approach for Size Selection)
This method is more powerful and the *recommended* way to handle shirt sizes in WooCommerce because it allows customers to select their desired size, and you can manage inventory for each size separately.
1. Change Product Type to “Variable product”: In the “Product data” meta box, change the “Product type” dropdown from “Simple product” to “Variable product.”
2. Create a Size Attribute: Follow steps 2 & 3 from Method 1 to create a “Size” attribute. This time, make sure the “Used for variations” checkbox is definitely checked!
Example:
* Name: Size
* Value(s): S | M | L | XL
* Visible on the product page: (Checked)
* Used for variations: (Checked)
3. Go to the “Variations” Tab: Click on the “Variations” tab in the “Product data” meta box.
4. Create Variations: Click on the “Add Variation” dropdown menu.
* Select “Create variations from all attributes” and click “Go”. WooCommerce will automatically create a variation for each combination of your attributes (in this case, just the different sizes). You might get a message saying “50 variations added” (or a similar number). Click ‘Okay’.
5. Edit Each Variation: Now you need to edit each variation individually. For each size (S, M, L, XL):
* Explore this article on How To Add To Cart In Woocommerce Click on the little arrow next to the variation (e.g., “Small”) to expand it.
* Set a Price: *This is critical!* Enter the price for that specific size.
* Manage Inventory (Optional but Recommended):
* You can enter the “Stock quantity” for each size.
* You can also set the “Stock status” (e.g., “In stock” or “Out of stock”).
* Set a Weight and Dimensions (Optional): If weight and dimensions vary based on size (e.g., larger sizes are slightly heavier), you can set these here.
* Add a Featured Image (Optional): If, for some reason, a specific size comes in a slightly different color or style, you can upload a unique image for that variation.
Example (Editing the “Small” Variation):
* Image: (Upload a photo of the shirt if you have one specific to the size)
* Price: $25.00
* Manage stock?: (Checked)
* Stock quantity: 20
* Stock status: In stock
6. Save Your Product: Click “Save changes” at the bottom of the “Variations” tab, and then “Update” your product.
Now, your product page will have a “Size” dropdown menu that allows customers to select their desired size. When they choose a size, the price (and potentially the image) will update accordingly. WooCommerce will also track inventory for each size, preventing customers from ordering sizes that are out of stock.
Troubleshooting and Tips
* Sizes Not Showing Up? Make sure the “Visible on the product page” checkbox is checked in the Attributes tab. For variations to work, “Used for variations” checkbox *must* be checked. Also, be sure to set Explore this article on How To Get Woocommerce Default Page On Any Page a price for each variation.
* Variations Not Saving? Double-check that you’ve clicked “Save changes” at the bottom of the Variations tab *and* “Update” on the product page. Also, make sure all required fields (like price) are filled in for each variation.
* Using Different Sizing Charts? If you have different sizing charts for different shirts (e.g., one chart for men’s shirts and another for women’s shirts), you can create custom attributes for each chart and apply them to the appropriate products. You could even use a plugin to display sizing charts based on the selected attribute.
* Consistency is Key: Use consistent naming conventions for your sizes (e.g., always use “S,” “M,” “L,” “XL,” not a mix of “Small” and “S”). This makes it easier for customers to understand and reduces confusion.
* Consider Using a Size Chart Plugin: WooCommerce offers plugin to help provide size charts on product page.
Conclusion
Adding shirt sizes to your WooCommerce store might seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s essential for providing a great customer experience and boosting sales. By using product attributes and variations, you can ensure that customers can easily find the perfect fit, leading to fewer returns and more happy shoppers. Choose the method that best suits your needs, and remember to double-check everything before publishing your product! Good luck!
