---
title: "Variants & Attributes"
description: "Set up and manage sizes, colors, and variants for your products"
category: "admin"
tags: ["variants", "attributes", "sizes", "colors", "sku"]
createdAt: "2026-04-01"
updatedAt: "2026-04-01"
canonical: "https://help.softwear-prints.com/en/articles/admin/product-variants"
---

# Variants & Attributes

Variants allow you to offer a product in different versions - for example, in different sizes and colors. Each combination of color and size is its own variant with its own stock and optionally its own price.

## What are Attributes?

Attributes are the properties that describe a variant:

- **Color** - The available color options (e.g., Black, White, Navy)
- **Size** - The available sizes (e.g., S, M, L, XL, XXL)

### Attribute Groups

Attributes are organized into **Attribute Groups**. A group combines related values:

- Attribute group **Standard Sizes**: S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Attribute group **Children's Sizes**: 104, 116, 128, 140, 152
- Attribute group **Basic Colors**: Black, White, Grey, Navy

### Color Codes

Each color has a **Hex color code** (e.g., `#000000` for Black), which is displayed in the shop as a colored circle or button. This allows customers to visually recognize the color without having to read the name.

## Creating Variants

To create variants for a product:

1. Open the product in the editor
2. Navigate to the **Variants** section
3. Select the desired **Colors** from the available attributes
4. Select the desired **Sizes**
5. The system automatically creates all combinations

::admin-link{path="/product" label="Edit Product"}
::

### Example

For a T-shirt with the colors Black and White in sizes S, M, L, 6 variants are created:

| Color | Size | SKU (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Black | S | TSHIRT-BLK-S |
| Black | M | TSHIRT-BLK-M |
| Black | L | TSHIRT-BLK-L |
| White | S | TSHIRT-WHT-S |
| White | M | TSHIRT-WHT-M |
| White | L | TSHIRT-WHT-L |

## Variant Properties

Each variant can be configured individually:

### SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)

Each variant has its own **Stock Keeping Unit** (SKU) - a unique item number used for internal management and orders.

### Individual Price

By default, all variants inherit the price of the main product. If needed, you can set a different price for individual variants, e.g.:

- Larger sizes (3XL, 4XL) might have an additional charge
- Special colors might be priced differently

### Stock

For stock items, you can maintain the **current stock** per variant. If a variant's stock falls to 0, it will be displayed as "unavailable" in the shop.

## Attribute Templates (Presets)

For recurring attribute combinations, you can use **Templates** (Presets). A template saves a specific selection of colors and sizes, which you can then quickly apply to new products.

Example Templates:

- **Standard Men's**: Sizes S to 3XL in 10 colors
- **Standard Women's**: Sizes XS to XXL in 10 colors
- **Children**: Sizes 104 to 164 in 5 colors
- **One Size**: Only one size, multiple colors

## Variants in the Shop

Customers see the variants on the product detail page:

1. **Color Selection** - Colored circles or clickable buttons
2. **Size Selection** - Dropdown or buttons with available sizes
3. **Availability** - Unavailable combinations are greyed out

When the customer selects a color, the product images are automatically switched to the images of that color variant (provided color-specific images have been uploaded).

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I add variants later?**
Yes, you can add new colors or sizes to an existing product at any time.

**Can I deactivate individual variants?**
Yes, individual variants can be deactivated without changing the entire product.

**What happens to orders if I remove a variant?**
Existing orders remain. Only new orders can no longer select the removed variant.

## Continue to

- [Product Images](/articles/admin/product-images) - Assign images per color variant
- [Create Product](/articles/admin/product-create) - Back to product creation
- [Product Overview](/articles/admin/products) - All products at a glance