Product variants (size, color, options)
How to add variants to a Shopify product so customers can choose from different sizes, colors, or other options before buying.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Many products come in more than one version — different sizes, colors, materials, or styles. In Shopify, these are called variants. Instead of creating a separate product for each size or color, you add variants to a single product listing.
Quick summary
When you create or edit a product, scroll to the Variants section and click Add options like size or color. Add your option name (e.g. Size) and its values (e.g. Small, Medium, Large). Shopify creates a separate variant for each combination. You can then set different prices, stock levels, and an image for each variant.
What are variants?
A variant is a specific version of a product. For example:
- A t-shirt that comes in Small, Medium, and Large — each size is a variant.
- A candle in three scents — each scent is a variant.
- A chair available in Oak or Walnut finish — each finish is a variant.
Shopify supports up to 3 options per product (e.g. Size, Color, and Material), and up to 2,048 variants total per product.
How to add variants to a product
Open the product you want to edit. Go to Products in the left menu and click the product name.
Scroll down to the Variants section on the product form.
Click + Add options like size or color. Fields appear for the option name and its values.
Enter your first option name in the Option name field — for example, Size. Customers see this name.
Enter the option values. In Option values, enter each value (e.g. Small, Medium, Large).
Add a second option if needed by clicking + Add another option. For example, you might add Color with values Black and White. You can have up to 3 options.
Click Done, then Save. Shopify generates the variant combinations. If you have sizes Small/Medium/Large and colors Black/White, Shopify creates 6 variants: Small/Black, Small/White, Medium/Black, and so on.
Set each variant's details. Once a product has variants, price and stock are set for each variant rather than for the product. Click a variant in the Variants list to open its details page, where you can set:
- Price
- Quantity in stock
- SKU
- Barcode
You can also type a new price straight into the Variants list.
Click Save when you are done.
Adding a different image per variant
If you want a photo of the red version to appear when a customer selects "Red," you can assign an image to that variant. Each variant can have one image, chosen from the product's media.
On the product page, go to the Media section and upload the variant-specific image.
In the Variants section, click the image icon next to the variant (e.g. "Red").
Pick the image, then click Done.
Click Save to save the product.
Now when a customer selects "Red," the assigned photo is shown.
Editing or removing variants later
You can always come back and change variants. To edit a variant's price or stock:
- Go to Products, open the product, scroll to the Variants section, and click the variant you want to change. Make your changes, then click Save.
To remove a variant entirely:
- In the Variants section, click the variant, then click Delete variant and confirm by clicking Delete variant again.
Deleting a variant is permanent
If you delete a variant, it's removed from your Shopify admin along with its price and stock settings. If you just want to stop selling it for now, Shopify suggests unpublishing the variant instead: it's hidden from the sales channels you choose, but stays in your admin for your records and can be published again later.
Common questions
I have more than 100 combinations — what do I do?
That's fine: Shopify allows up to 2,048 variants per product. Some third-party themes and apps don't support more than 100 variants, though, so check with us before you go past 100. If you need more than 2,048 variants or more than 3 options, Shopify suggests an app from the Shopify App Store or custom theme code. You could also consider whether some options could become separate products, or talk to us about a custom solution.
Can I set a different price for just one size?
Yes. Each variant has its own price. In the Variants section, click that specific variant, update its price, and click Save. You can also type the new price straight into the Variants list.
Why are some variants showing as unavailable?
If you track inventory for a variant and its quantity is 0, customers can't buy it unless you allow overselling. Go to that variant and either add stock, or click Sell when out of stock and choose Continue selling when out of stock. A variant that has been unpublished from a sales channel is also hidden there.
Can I reorder the variant options on the product page?
Yes. In the Variants section, drag the handle next to an option to move it. To reorder the values within an option, click Edit next to the option and drag the values. Click Save. This sets the order customers see on the product page.
Related guides
- How to add a product
- Product images & galleries
- Managing stock & inventory
- Setting prices & sales
- Troubleshooting Shopify problems
Need a hand?
Learn more
Last updated
How to add a product
Step-by-step instructions for adding a new product to your Shopify store, including title, description, images, price, and inventory.
Product images & galleries
How to add, arrange, and manage product images and galleries in Shopify, including image size tips and how to assign images to variants.