Making ecommerce work for you can be tough, especially when you're trying to offer a large range of products.
Shopify has been a go-to solution for many businesses. Easy to use, scalable, and feature-rich, it's the perfect platform for SMEs that need a reliable platform to manage sales efficiently.
But for most UK users it currently comes with a limitation: a cap of 100 variants per product.
A single product can have up to 100 variations (think size, colour, material etc). For example, a T-shirt available in five sizes and four colours would have 20 variants (5 sizes x 4 colours = 20 variants).
While 100 variants may seem like enough for many businesses, it can be limiting for those with extensive product lines. If you sell shoes in 10 sizes, 10 colours and 10 styles, you'd need 1,000 variants - a number far beyond Shopify's current limit.
While Shopify is great for basic product customisation, what if you need more?
Change is coming … but when?
Thankfully, the current 100-variant limit might not last much longer.
Earlier in 2024 Shopify finally announced that they are increasing the product variant limit to 2,000 variants.
This is great news for both developers and merchants, as it shifts variant management inside Shopify’s infrastructure, so merchants no longer need to find custom applications to get around the 100 variant limit.
However, the new 2,000 variant limit still isn’t live for most stores yet. It is currently available in developer preview on test stores, but there is no official word on when it will be rolled out to every UK customer (it’s likely to be in 2025).
So in the meantime…
Before diving into solutions, it's probably a good idea to understand why Shopify is a popular choice for online stores.
Shopify’s advantages
User-friendly interface: Shopify is designed with ease-of-use in mind, making it accessible for beginners and experienced sellers alike.
Customisable templates: With a wide range of themes, you can tailor your store's appearance to match your brand.
Extensive app ecosystem: One of Shopify's strongest assets is its app marketplace. With thousands of apps available, you can extend your store's functionality in virtually any way imaginable - from adding new product features to improving customer service and streamlining operations.
Robust support and community: Shopify offers reliable customer support and a huge global community, providing resources and solutions for common issues.
Built-in SEO features: Shopify provides built-in SEO tools that help your products rank higher in search engine results. Features like customisable title tags, meta descriptions and URL structures make it easier for customers to find your products online.
Scalability: It’s built to grow with your business. Whether you're just starting out or running a multi-million dollar enterprise, Shopify offers the tools and infrastructure you need to scale.
The downsides of Shopify
Limited customisation at lower tiers: While higher plans offer more customisation, lower-tier subscriptions can be restrictive.
Transaction fees: Unless using Shopify Payments, transaction fees can add up.
Product variant limit: The focus of our discussion here, this current cap can be a hurdle for businesses with diverse product lines.
Expanding your product options: Workarounds to the 100-variant limit
Let's explore the best workarounds to allow you to showcase more of your products in Shopify.
These solutions will help you offer more product options and create a better shopping experience for your customers.
1. Use multiple products
One of the simplest ways to get around Shopify's variant limit is to create multiple products instead of a single product with numerous variants.
For example, if you sell a T-shirt in 200 different combinations of size and colour, you could create two separate products: one for the first 100 variants and another for the remaining 100.
This can improve SEO by targeting different keywords and make each product page more focused and navigable.
Pros:
Simple and straightforward
No additional costs
Cons:
Can create a cluttered product catalogue
May confuse customers
2. Product bundling and grouping
Consider bundling products as a way to offer more variety without exceeding the variant limit. This strategy not only helps in managing inventory but also encourages customers to purchase more items.
Product grouping lets you categorise similar products under one umbrella. Customers can browse by colour, size, etc, without getting overwhelmed by a sea of individual listings.
3. Use Shopify's line item properties
Another option is to use Shopify's line item properties to collect additional information from customers at checkout.
While this method doesn't increase the number of variants, it allows customers to specify additional options, such as custom engravings, monograms, or other personalised details.
Pros:
Easy to implement
Great for adding personalised options
Cons:
Doesn't actually increase the number of variants
Limited to collecting additional information rather than offering additional product options
4. Use third-party apps
Shopify's app ecosystem includes several third-party apps specifically designed to expand your product options beyond the current 100 variant limit.
These apps allow you to add more product options, create custom fields and offer a seemingly unlimited array of options.
Conditional logic app hides or displays product options based on customer selections. For example, if a customer chooses a red shirt, only red-coloured size options appear.
Here are some popular options:
Advanced Product Options by Mageworx
Key features: Create custom fields, options and requirements. Perfect for products with complex configurations.
Ideal for: Businesses selling customisable products like furniture, electronics or apparel with multiple options.
Product Options Pro
Key features: Flexible options, conditional logic and bulk editing. Streamline product management and offer a seamless customer experience.
Ideal for: Businesses with a large number of product variants and complex customisation needs.
Variant Options
Key features: Create custom options, set dependencies and limit selections. Ideal for products with multiple options that affect pricing or availability.
Ideal for: Businesses selling products with interconnected options, such as computers with different processors, RAM and storage.
Bold Product Options
Key features: This app lets you create an unlimited number of product options and add custom fields, such as text boxes, radio buttons, and checkboxes. Offers a clean and intuitive interface for both store owners and customers.
Ideal for: Businesses looking for a robust and visually appealing solution for product customisation.
Custom Product Options
Key features: Create custom fields, options and requirements. Offers a flexible and customisable solution for product customisation.
Ideal for: Businesses with unique customisation needs that require a tailored solution.
While these apps offer powerful features, it's important to use them wisely to avoid overwhelming your customers with too many options. Strike a balance between customisation and simplicity to provide a positive shopping experience.
5. Custom development
For businesses with specific needs, custom development can provide a tailored solution to overcome Shopify's variant limit.
A developer can create custom scripts or apps that allow you to offer more variants without cluttering your product catalogue.
Ascensor have recently implemented a number of bespoke solutions, including a product matrix plugin that displays a huge selection of sizes and colours for a clothing item, with each variant being a hidden product that’s inaccessible to user search.
FAQs
What counts as a product variant in Shopify?
A variant refers to different versions of the same product, such as size, colour or material.
How do external apps affect my site’s performance?
While apps can add functionality, it's important to choose reputable ones to ensure they don't slow down your site.
Are there costs associated with using external apps?
Most apps come with a subscription fee, but they can be a worthwhile investment for expanding your product range.
Optimising your store for success
Remember, overcoming Shopify's variant limit is just one step towards ecommerce success. With the right tools and expert guidance from Ascensor, you can create a seamless shopping experience that keeps your customers coming back.
We specialise in creating bespoke Shopify solutions and can help you implement what’s best for your business, whether it's using a third-party app, custom development or a combination of both.
Get in touch and we’ll help you turn your vision into a thriving online store.