How to Arrange Product Variants in Shopify (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

Shopify variants can be confusing — especially when your product has multiple sizes, colors, or materials. In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to add, edit, and arrange your variants using Shopify’s latest admin update. You’ll also learn how to manage images, set prices for each variant, and make sure your store’s product pages look professional and accurate.

When creating a new product in Shopify, the first thing to understand is the difference between the product page and the variant page. The product page holds your general description, which applies to all variants. The variant page, however, is where you assign individual prices, images, SKUs, barcodes, and inventory per option.

For example, if you’re selling a t-shirt with small, medium, and large sizes, those are your variant options. To add another layer, like color, simply click Add Variant Option and choose “Color.” You can then create color variants like green, blue, and brown — and easily reorder them by dragging. This helps your customers see a logical flow (e.g., small → medium → large) when shopping.

Assigning images to each variant is equally important. Within your product’s media library, upload a photo for every color or style, then click the blue dot next to each variant to assign that image. This ensures that when a customer selects “Blue” or “Large,” the correct photo and price display automatically.

Pricing is handled the same way — individually or in bulk. You can use the Bulk Editor to change prices for multiple variants at once, similar to editing a spreadsheet. This feature saves time during sales or product updates. If you want to learn more about Shopify inventory management and product editing workflows, check out the 30-Day Beginner’s Shopify Program, which walks through every Shopify admin setting step-by-step.

On your storefront, make sure your theme includes a Variant Picker block. In the Dawn theme, you can find it under Product Information. Without this block, your variants won’t show up to customers even if they exist in the admin. You can toggle the style between pills and dropdowns, adjust typography, and change layout settings to match your brand style.

When everything’s configured, test your page: switch between color and size options to verify that images and prices update correctly. If you’re building your store for the first time, it’s okay if it’s not perfect — focus on getting your site launched. You can always refine your product layouts as you go, and Shopify’s variant tools make that process easier over time.

Need help setting up your first store? Visit professorcommerce.com for detailed Shopify tutorials and beginner guides. And if you’d like your own brand featured on the channel for SEO exposure, join our supporters at patreon.com/ProfessorCommerce.