Introduction

A configurable product looks like a single product with drop-down lists of options for each variation. Each option is actually a separate simple product with a unique SKU, which makes it possible to track inventory for each product variation. You could achieve a similar effect by using a simple product with custom options, but without the ability to track inventory for each variation.

Things to remember

• A configurable product allows the shopper to choose options from drop-down, multiple select, visual swatch and text swatch input types. Each option is a separate, simple product.

• The attributes that are used for product variations must have a global scope and the customer must be required to choose a value. The product variation attributes must be included in the attribute set that is used as a template for the configurable product.

• The attribute set that is used as a template for a configurable product must include the attribute(s) that contain the values that are needed for each product variation.

• The thumbnail image in the shopping cart can be set to display the image from the configurable product record or from the product variation.

Configurable Product

Part 1: Creating a configurable product

Step 1: Choose the product type

1. On the Admin sidebar, go to Catalog > Products.

2. On the Add Product (  ) menu at the upper-right corner, choose Configurable Product.

   Add Configurable Product

Step 2: Choose the attribute set

 The attribute set determines the selection of fields that are used in the product. The attribute set that is used in the following example has attributes for color and size. The name of the attribute set is indicated at the top of the page and is initially set to Default.

 To choose the attribute set for the product, click the field at the top of the page and do one of the following:

• For Search, enter the name of the attribute set.
• In the list, choose the attribute set that you want to use.

Choose Template

Step 3: Complete the required settings

1. Enter the product Product Name.

2. Accept the default SKU that is based on the product name or enter another.

3. Enter the product Price.

4. Set Enable Product to Yes to publish the product.

5. Click Save and continue.

Step 4: Complete the basic settings

1. Set Tax Class to one of the following:

   • None
   • Taxable Goods

2. The Quantity is determined by the product variations, so you can leave it blank.

3. Leave the Stock Status as set.

   The Stock Status of a configurable product is determined by each associated configuration. Because the product was saved without entering a quantity, the Stock Status is set to Out of Stock.

4. Enter the product Weight. If this field is left blank, the product will be turned into a Virtual product.

5. Accept the default Visibility setting of Catalog, Search.

6. To feature the product in the list of new products, select the Set Product as New checkbox.

7. To assign Categories to the product, click the Select… box and do either of the following:

   • Start typing in the box to find a match.

   • Select the checkbox of the category that is to be assigned.

8. Choose the Country of Manufacture.

   Product Details

Part 2: Adding configurations

The following example shows how to add configurations for three colors and three sizes. In all, nine simple products will be created with unique SKUs to cover every possible combination of variations. By default, the product name and SKU for each variation is based on the attribute value and either the parent product name or SKU.

Step 1: Choose the attributes

 Continuing from above, scroll down to the Configurations section and click Create Configurations.

Configurations

 The progress bar at the top of the page shows where you are in the process and guides you through each step.

Progress Bar

1. Select the checkbox of each attribute that you want to include as a configuration.

   For this example, we choose color and size.

2. The list includes all attributes from the attribute set that can be used in a configurable product.

Select Attributes

3. In the upper-right corner, click Next.

Step 2: Enter the attribute values

1. For each attribute, select the checkbox of the values that apply to the product.

2. To rearrange the attributes, grab the Change Order (  ) icon and move the section to a new position.

3. The order determines the position of the drop-down lists on the product page.

4. In the progress bar, click Next.

Step 3: Configure the images, price, and quantity

This step determines the images, pricing, and quantity of each configuration. The available options are the same for each, and you can choose only one. You can apply the same setting to all SKUs, apply a unique setting to each SKU, or skip the settings for now.

Choose the configuration options that apply.

 Configure the images

Method 1: Apply a single set of images to all SKUs

1. Select Apply single set of images to all SKUs.

2. Browse to each image that you want to include in the product gallery, or drag them to the box.

Use Same Images for All SKUs

Method 2: Apply unique images for each SKU

Because we already uploaded an image for the parent product, we’ll use this option to upload an image of each color. This is the image that will appear in the shopping cart when someone buys the shirt in a specific color.

1. Select Apply unique images by attribute to each SKU.

2. Select the attribute that the images illustrate, such as color.

3. For each attribute value, either browse to the images that you want to use for that configuration or drag them to the box.

4. If you drag the image to a value box, it also appears in the sections for the other values. If you want to delete an image, click the trashcan () icon.

Unique Images per SKU

 Configure the prices

Method 1: Apply the same price to all SKUs

1. If the price is the same for all variations, select Apply single price to all SKUs.

2. Enter the Price.

Same Price per SKU

Method 2: Apply a different price for each SKU

1. If the price differs for each or for some variations of the product, select Apply unique prices by attribute to each SKU.

2. Select the attribute that is the basis of the price difference.

3. Enter the price for each attribute value. In this example, the XL size costs more.

Unique Price per SKU

 Configure the quantity

Method 1: Apply the same quantity to all SKUs

1. If the quantity is the same for all SKUs, select Apply single quantity to each SKU.

2. Enter the Quantity.

Same Quantity for All SKUs

3. If needed, apply the Same Quantity to All SKUs (Inventory Management).

4. For Multi Source merchants using Inventory Management, assign sources and add quantities for all generated product variants:

• Select the Apply single quantity to each SKUs option.

• To add a source, click Assign Sources.

• Browse or search for a source you want to add. Select the checkbox next to the source(s) you want to add for the product.

• Enter an on-hand inventory amount per source.

Same Quantity for All SKUs

Method 2: Apply Different Quantity by Attribute

1. If the quantity is the different for each SKU, select Apply unique quantity by attribute to each SKU.

2. Enter the Quantity for each.

   Different Quantities per Attribute

When configuration for images, price, and quantity are complete, click Next in the upper-right corner.

Step 4: Generate the product configurations

1. Wait a moment for the list of products to appear and do one of the following:

   • If you are satisfied with the configurations, click Next.

   • To make corrections, click Back.

   Summary

The current product variations appear at the bottom of the Configuration section.

Current Configurations

Step 5: Add a product image

1. Scroll down and expand  the Images and Videos section.

2. Click the Camera tile and browse to the main image that you want to use for the configurable product.

Step 6: Complete the product information

Scroll down and complete the information in the following sections as needed:

• Content

• Related Products, Up-Sells, and Cross-Sells

• Search Engine Optimization

• Customizable Options

• Products in Websites

• Design

• Gift Options

Step 7: Publish the product

Method 1: Save and preview

• In the upper-right corner, click Save.

• To view the product in your store, choose Customer View on the Admin (  ) menu.

  The store opens in a new browser tab.

Customer View

Method 2: Save and close

On the Save () menu, choose Save & Close.

Save & Close

Step 8: Configure the cart thumbnails

If you have a different image for each variation you can set the configuration to use the correct image for the shopping cart thumbnail.

1. On the Admin sidebar, go to Stores > Settings > Configuration.

2. In the left panel, expand Sales and choose Checkout underneath.

3. Expand  the Shopping Cart section.

4. Set Configurable Product Image to Product Thumbnail Itself.

5. When complete, click Save Config.

   Shopping Cart - Configurable Product Image