If your WooCommerce store sells variable products, you know how important it is to present those variations clearly and efficiently. The default dropdown menus for selecting variations often fall short, especially for products with multiple options. That’s where a WooCommerce variations table comes in—a structured way to display product variations in a clear, organized, and interactive format.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how a WooCommerce variations table improves the shopping experience, boosts conversions, and supports bulk purchases—particularly for B2B, wholesale, and configurable product sellers.

What Is a WooCommerce Variations Table?

A WooCommerce variations table replaces the standard dropdowns used to select product variations with a dynamic table that lists all available options in rows. Each row represents a unique combination of variation attributes—like size, color, or material—along with stock status, price, quantity selector, and an add-to-cart button.

Instead of clicking multiple dropdowns to find the right variation, customers can quickly scan the table and take action immediately. This is especially helpful for stores selling:

  • Apparel in multiple sizes/colors

  • Electronics with different configurations

  • Wholesale items with bulk order capabilities

  • Food and beverage with pack sizes or flavors

Benefits of Using a Variations Table

1. Better User Experience

The table layout is cleaner and easier to navigate than dropdowns. Customers can view all available options at a glance and make quicker purchase decisions.

2. Faster Bulk Ordering

Buyers can add multiple variations to their cart at once, which is a huge benefit for wholesale stores or B2B buyers.

3. Improved Product Visibility

A variation table shows price, SKU, stock, and availability for each variant—making the purchasing process more transparent and reliable.

4. Mobile-Optimized Layout

Good variation table plugins offer responsive designs that adapt to mobile screens while retaining full functionality.

5. Reduced Cart Abandonment

Frustration with complex dropdowns or hidden variation details often leads to abandoned carts. A variation table simplifies the process and reduces friction.

Key Features to Look for in a Variations Table Plugin

When choosing a plugin or method to display WooCommerce variations in a table, look for the following features:

  • Display all variations as rows

  • Add-to-cart buttons for each variation

  • Quantity selectors for individual variations

  • Bulk add-to-cart option

  • Show variation data like SKU, price, stock status, description

  • Support for variable products and product attributes

  • Responsive and mobile-friendly layout

  • Shortcode or Gutenberg block support

Best Plugins to Create WooCommerce Variations Table

1. Variation Table for WooCommerce by WooCommerce.com

An official extension that replaces default dropdowns with a fully customizable variation table.

Features:

  • Display variation rows with quantity and cart button

  • Ajax add to cart for seamless experience

  • Choose columns to show (SKU, stock, price, etc.)

  • Lightweight and easy to use

2. WooCommerce Product Table by Barn2

Though it’s more of a general product table plugin, it also supports variation tables.

Features:

  • Show variations as separate rows or inside parent product

  • Enable filter/search for variation attributes

  • Responsive tables with sorting

  • Integrates with other plugins like Quick View and Wishlist

3. Variation Swatches for WooCommerce + Woo Variations Table

A combination approach that lets you show both visual swatches and a detailed table of variations.

How to Set Up a WooCommerce Variations Table (Step-by-Step)

Here’s a quick setup guide using the “Variation Table for WooCommerce” plugin:

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, upload the plugin file, and activate it.

Step 2: Configure Table Settings

Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Variations Table and choose which columns you want to show (SKU, stock, etc.). Configure layout options and styling.

Step 3: Enable for Variable Products

Edit a variable product and check the option to “Enable variation table.” You can also choose table placement (above/below description or after summary).

Step 4: Customize Columns and Appearance

Decide which attributes, columns, and UI elements (e.g., Add to Cart, Quantity Input) to display per variation.

Step 5: Save and Preview

Visit the product page on the front end. You’ll now see a user-friendly table listing all variations with actionable buttons.

Real-World Use Cases

1. Apparel and Fashion Stores

Show size and color combinations in a neat table so customers can order multiple T-shirt variations in one go.

2. Electronics or PC Part Sellers

List storage or RAM variations for a laptop in a table so users can compare specs and price differences.

3. Wholesale Food Suppliers

Display flavors, pack sizes, and quantities in a bulk order table to simplify high-volume purchases.

4. B2B Equipment Retailers

Let buyers add different configurations of tools, parts, or machinery with variable specs in just a few clicks.

UX and Design Tips

  • Highlight stock levels: Use color-coded badges like “In Stock” or “Low Stock” to guide urgency.

  • Make add-to-cart easy: Offer bulk add-to-cart to speed up the ordering process.

  • Use filters or sorting: Especially for products with more than 10 variations, enable sorting by size, price, or SKU.

  • Add sticky headers on desktop: Helps users scroll through long variation tables without losing track of column labels.

  • Mobile optimization: Use accordion tables or stacked layouts for mobile users.

Variation Table vs. Default WooCommerce Dropdowns

Feature Default Dropdown Variation Table
UX Basic and manual User-friendly and quick
Bulk Orders No Yes
Visible Info Hidden Clear (price, SKU, stock)
Add to Cart Single variation Multiple variations
Mobile Friendly Limited Fully responsive

Bonus Enhancements

Here are some additional features you can integrate with variation tables:

  • Quick View popups for each variation

  • Wishlist & compare functionality

  • Attribute swatches (color/image) within the table

  • Min/max purchase limits per variation

  • Pricing tiers or discounts based on quantity

Final Thoughts

Adding a WooCommerce variations table is one of the best ways to streamline the shopping experience for variable products. It eliminates the frustration of dropdowns, supports faster decisions, and caters to high-volume buyers.

Whether you sell fashion, food, electronics, or industrial equipment, a variation table simplifies the purchase flow, highlights key product details, and helps increase conversions.

Effective-Upselling-and-Cross-selling-Techniques-in-WooCommerce.png