The other day, a prospect came to me with a problem I’ve heard more than once.
Seems, they’d set up a WooCommerce product with two attributes: Colour and Size — standard fare. However, when they used WooCommerce’s “create variations from all attributes” option, it generated over 700 variations for that single product.
Their question to me was: “How can I update just two price points without reviewing all 700+ variations one by one?”
If you’ve ever tried to manage products in WooCommerce, you’ve probably run into this same headache. And if you’ve ever Googled “WooCommerce too many variations” or “how to manage WooCommerce variations”, you’ll know this is a common pain point. Let me break down why it happens and explore some more innovative ways to set things up.
Why WooCommerce Creates So Many Variations
WooCommerce generates a variation for every possible combination of attributes you assign to a product.
In my prospect’s case, they had:
- 20 colours
- 35 sizes
That’s 20 × 35 = 700 unique variations.
Each variation is treated like its own mini product. It can have its own SKU, price, and stock. Powerful, yes — but also messy:
- The admin area slows down.
- Updating prices takes forever.
- Customers get lost in long dropdowns.
So, what’s the alternative?
Smarter Ways to Handle Colour + Size in WooCommerce
1. Use Attributes Only (No Variations)
One approach is to keep it simple. Add Colour and Size as attributes, and let customers choose them from dropdowns.
✅ Best for: Products where all variations share the same price and stock levels.
Why I like this:
- It’s clean, fast, and easy to manage.
- You don’t end up with a bloated backend.
The trade-off: You can’t set unique prices or track stock per Colour/Size combo.
2. Use Product Add-Ons Instead of Variations
Another trick I recommend is the WooCommerce Product Add-Ons plugin. Instead of generating every possible combination, you can simply add Colour and Size as selectable options. You can even include price adjustments, such as a $5 surcharge for XXL sizes.
✅ Best for: Products that don’t need stock tracked per combo but may need minor pricing tweaks.
Why I like this:
- It’s much easier for both store owners and customers.
- It avoids the nightmare of hundreds of variations.
The trade-off: Not suitable for products where every single Colour/Size needs unique stock or SKUs.
3. Keep Variations, but Manage Them in Bulk
Sometimes, variations are unavoidable. Clothing stores, for example, need to manage stock and SKUs by colour and size. In that case, I don’t tell clients to ditch variations, I tell them to manage smarter.
Here are the tools I recommend:
- WP All Import/Export with WooCommerce Add-On: Edit variations in a spreadsheet and bulk update.
- WooCommerce Bulk Variations: Gives you a grid/matrix view for faster management.
- Variation Swatches: Enhances the front-end UX by replacing dropdowns with swatches.
✅ Best for: Businesses that truly need unique stock and pricing for each variation.
Why I like this:
- You still get control over stock and SKUs.
- The right plugins make both the admin and customer experience smoother.
The trade-off: Without bulk tools, it’s still clunky.
| Method | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attributes Only | Same price & stock across all | Simple, fast, no bloat | No per-size/colour stock or price |
| Product Add-Ons | Minor price adjustments | Flexible, easy to set up | No stock tracking per combo |
| Variations + Bulk Tools | Clothing/complex SKUs | Full control over stock & pricing | Can still feel heavy without bulk tools |
The Takeaway
Whenever I see a WooCommerce store with hundreds of product variations, I ask two questions:
- Do you really need stock tracked for each attribute combination?
- Do all variations actually need different prices?
If the answer is no, there’s usually a more straightforward solution that keeps your store faster, easier to manage, and friendlier for customers.
And if the answer is yes, then the right tools can save you from the “700+ nightmare.”
Need Help Simplifying Your Store?
At Zero Point Development, I help small businesses streamline their WooCommerce setups so they don’t waste hours battling the backend. If you’ve hit the wall with too many variations, I can help you figure out the cleanest way forward.
👉 Get in touch today and let’s make your WooCommerce store easier to run and better for your customers.
