How to sell products with variants, like size and color

To sell one product in several sizes or colors, create a single product, add options such as Size and Color, and let each combination become a variant. Each variant can have its own stock level, so you can keep track of what you can actually ship. You manage all of it from one product page.

What is the difference between a product, an option and a variant?

These three words cause most of the confusion, so it helps to fix them early.

• Product: the thing you sell, such as “Canvas tote bag”. It has one title, one description and one page on your store.
• Option: a choice the shopper makes, such as Size or Color.
• Variant: one specific combination of options, such as “Large, Navy”. A variant is what the shopper actually buys.

If a tote bag comes in two sizes and three colors, you have one product, two options and six variants. The shopper sees one page and picks from menus.

When should I use variants, and when a separate product?

Use variants when the item is the same thing in different forms. Use separate products when the item is really different.

Situation	Better choice
Same t-shirt in S, M and L	Variants
Same mug in white and black	Variants
A mug and a matching coaster	Two products, or a bundle product
A hoodie and a different jacket	Separate products
A kit made of several items	A multi-part or bundle product

A good test: would you write a different description? If yes, make a new product. If the description is the same and only a choice changes, use variants.

morebasket also supports multi-part products and bundle products, which suit items sold as a set. See Products for what each type does.

How do I add options and variants to a product?

1. Open your admin and go to the product, or create a new one.
2. Add an option, for example Size, and list its values: Small, Medium, Large.
3. Add a second option if you need one, for example Color, with its values.
4. Review the variants that result. Remove any combination you do not make.
5. Save the product.

Start with the options shoppers truly choose between. Every extra option multiplies the number of variants, so three options with five values each gives 125 combinations to keep stocked and priced. Two options cover most small shops.

If you have a spreadsheet already, you can import products and variants by CSV instead of typing them in. The AI store builder can also start from a spreadsheet of your products, as well as from a description of your shop, and CSV import in Products works on its own whenever you need it. Check the imported products before you send shoppers to them.

How should I name options and values?

Clear names help shoppers and help search engines understand the page.

• Use the word shoppers use: “Size”, not “Dimension code”.
• Keep values short and consistent: “Small, Medium, Large” or “S, M, L”, not a mix.
• Write colors the way a customer would say them: “Navy” or “Dark blue”, not an internal code.
• Put the same option names on similar products so your store feels consistent.
• Keep order sensible. Sizes read best from small to large.

Avoid putting the option into the product title. “Canvas tote bag” with a Color option is better than three products called “Canvas tote bag, red”, “Canvas tote bag, blue” and so on, unless the products really are different.

How does stock work for each variant?

Each variant can be tracked on its own. That matters because you might have plenty of Medium and none left in Small.

In morebasket, stock lives in Inventory as inventory items. A variant points to an inventory item, and the inventory item has a quantity at each stock location. When an order comes in, stock is reserved for that order, which keeps the available number honest. Under many simultaneous orders a reservation can occasionally over-count, so keep an eye on your last few units.

A few habits keep this reliable:

• Enter a real starting quantity for every variant before you publish.
• Check the numbers after a delivery from your supplier.
• Count your shelves now and then and correct any difference.

If you keep stock in more than one place, see how to manage stock across more than one location.

On the AI workforce, the Inventory agent can watch and manage stock for you. You decide what runs automatically and what needs your approval. The plan list on the pricing page puts the AI workforce on the Business plan.

How should I handle photos for variants?

Shoppers want to see the color they choose. A few practical rules:

• Take one clear photo of every color. Size rarely needs its own photo.
• Keep the same angle and background across colors, so the page looks tidy.
• Put the best overall photo first, since it is what shows in lists and search results.
• Add a size chart or a detail shot after the main photos if fit is a common question.

You do not need a studio. A phone, a window and a plain surface are enough, and our guide to product photos with a phone walks through it.

How do I keep my catalog organized as it grows?

Variants handle the choices on a single product. Other tools handle the groups of products:

• Collections gather products for a season or a theme.
• Categories place products in a tree, such as Clothing then T-shirts.
• Product types and tags help you filter and find things inside your admin.

Use variants for choices, and use collections and categories for browsing. Mixing the two jobs is where catalogs get messy.

What mistakes should I avoid?

• Too many options. If a shopper must choose four things, some will leave. Cut the options that rarely change the sale.
• Variants you cannot supply. Delete combinations you do not make, so no one tries to order them.
• Inconsistent names. “XL” on one product and “Extra Large” on another looks careless and makes filtering harder.
• No stock number. A variant with no quantity can behave in ways you did not expect. Set a number.
• One photo for everything. If color matters, show each color.

Can I sell digital items or print on demand with variants?

Yes for the idea, but those products work differently from shelf stock. Digital products with delivery are part of the creator tools on the Pro plan, and print on demand products come from a Gelato or Printrove catalog you brand as your own. Read creator tools and print on demand for what each covers.

Next step

Pick one product that comes in more than one size or color and rebuild it as a single product with options. Set a stock number for each variant, add a photo per color, and open the product page as a shopper would. When it reads clearly, repeat for the rest of your catalog, and see Products for the full list of what you can manage.