How to create product options

Options (size, color, flavor…) let your customers customize their purchase on a single product. Add an attribute, fill in its values, and the customer chooses before adding to cart. About 3 minutes.

3 minutes Intermediate

Before you start

You have already created a product (if not, see “Create your first product”).
You are logged in to your admin area.

An “option” lets your customer customize their purchase: size, color, flavor, number of servings… before adding to cart.

What you'll learn

Understand the difference between an attribute (e.g. “Size”) and its values (e.g. S, M, L).
Add an attribute to a product and choose its display type.
Fill in the values the customer can choose.
Check the final result on the customer side.

Step by step

Step 1 — Add an attribute

Open your product (Catalog → My products → Edit), then go to the Variant(s) step. Under “Configure product attributes”:

Attribute name (marker ①) — search for an existing one or create a new one. Example: Size.
Selection type (marker ②) — Single choice (one value) or Multiple choice (several).

Also pick a display type (Text, Color, Image…), then click “+ Add” (marker ③).

Why? An attribute is the “question” asked of the customer (“Which size?”). Its values will be the possible answers.

Variants step: attribute name (marker 1), selection type (marker 2), Add button (marker 3) — ①②③ Name the attribute, pick the selection type, then “Add”.

Tip. Use the Color type for color swatches, or Image for thumbnails — far clearer than a text list.

Step 2 — Fill in its values

Your attribute appears under “Product attributes” (marker ④). Click “Manage values” (marker ⑤) and add the possible choices: for example S, M, L.

Why? Without values, the attribute is empty: the customer has nothing to choose. The values are what appears in the dropdown menu.

Product attributes list: an attribute (marker 4) and the Manage values button (marker 5) — ④⑤ Each attribute, with its “Manage values” button.

Tip. A value can adjust the price (e.g. “Large +$2”). Perfect for add-ons and larger sizes.

Heads up. Mark the attribute as required if the customer must choose (e.g. a garment's size).

Step 3 — Repeat if needed

Add as many attributes as you need (Size, Color, Flavor…). Each appears as a separate choice on the product page.

Why? A single product can thus cover many variants, without duplicating the page.

Expected result

On the product page, your customer now sees one or more selection menus (marker ⑥). They choose their options — number of tiers, servings, flavor… — before adding to cart.

Product page, customer side: option selection menus, marker 6 — ⑥ Customer side: options are chosen before adding to cart.

Expert tips

Keep it simple. 1 to 3 options are usually enough. Too many choices slow down the purchase.
Name clearly. “Size” is clearer than “Option 1”. The customer should get it at a glance.
Reuse your attributes. A “global” attribute (e.g. “Color”) can be reused across products.
Use visuals. Color and Image convert better than a text list.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Why it's a problem	The fix
Attribute with no value	The menu is empty, the customer can't choose.	Open “Manage values” and add at least two choices.
Too many options	The customer gets lost and drops off.	Stick to the essentials (1 to 3 attributes).
Forgetting “required”	The customer adds to cart without picking a size.	Turn on “Required” for must-have attributes.
Vague names (“Option A”)	The customer doesn't understand the choice.	Use explicit names: Size, Color, Flavor.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between an attribute and a value?

The attribute is the choice category (“Size”). The value is a concrete option of that attribute (“S”, “M”, “L”). An attribute holds several values.

Can an option change the price?

Yes. Each value can carry a price adjustment (e.g. “Large +$5”). The price updates when the customer selects the option.

Can I show colors instead of a list?

Yes. Choose the Color (swatches) or Image (thumbnails) display type when adding the attribute.

Single choice or multiple choice?

Single choice: the customer selects one value (e.g. a size). Multiple choice: they can tick several (e.g. toppings).

Can I reuse an attribute on other products?

Yes. Search for an existing global attribute when adding: you reuse the same attribute (and its values) across products.

My options don't appear on the page — why?

Check that the attribute has values and that the product is published. Without a value, the option stays hidden.

Go further

Create a product Create a category