Shopify’s product variant system allows merchants to offer multiple options for a single product, such as size and color. However, the platform imposes a 100-Shopify variant limit per product and allows a maximum of three product options, which can be restrictive for businesses with extensive product variations.
For example, a T-shirt with 12 colors and 6 sizes results in 72 variants. If a third option, such as fabric type or style, is added, the total number of variants can easily exceed Shopify’s limit. This restriction can make it difficult for merchants to showcase their full product range.
This article explores Shopify’s variant limitations and provides workarounds and apps to help merchants bypass these restrictions and effectively manage extensive product catalogs.
What is the Shopify Variant Limit?
Shopify imposes a 100-variant limit per product and allows a maximum of three product options (e.g., size, color, material). This means that if a product has multiple variations, merchants may quickly reach the limit.
For example, a T-shirt available in 12 colors and 6 sizes results in 72 variants. If a third option, such as style or fabric type, is introduced, the total number of variants can exceed 100, preventing merchants from listing all possible combinations under a single product.
Additionally, Shopify enforces a daily upload limit of 1,000 new variants for stores that already have over 50,000 variants. However, Shopify Plus users are exempt from this restriction, allowing them to scale their product catalogs without variant upload limits.
In April 2024, Shopify introduced GraphQL product APIs, which expanded the variant limit to 2,000 per product. However, this feature is only accessible via API and not through the Shopify admin panel. This means that merchants who rely solely on Shopify’s standard product management interface won’t be able to utilize this extended variant limit without custom development or third-party integrations.
3 Workarounds for the Shopify 100-Variant Limit
Split into Separate Products with Internal Links
One of the most effective ways to bypass Shopify’s variant limit is by breaking a product into multiple listings. Instead of housing all variations under one product, you can create separate product pages based on key attributes like color, material, or style and internally link them.
For example, if you sell a T-shirt in 12 colors and 6 sizes, you might divide them into separate product listings based on color groups or fabric types while keeping size options within each listing. Customers can then easily navigate between these options using internal links or a dropdown menu.
Benefits:
- Enhances user experience by presenting product variations in a more structured way.
- Improves navigation by allowing customers to quickly find their preferred option.
- SEO-friendly when implemented with canonical tags, preventing duplicate content issues.
Considerations:
- Requires manual internal linking between product pages to maintain a seamless shopping experience.
- Inventory management may become more complex since variations are spread across multiple products.
- Proper URL structuring and meta descriptions are needed to avoid search engine confusion and duplicate content penalties.
Despite these challenges, splitting products into separate listings can be a powerful solution for merchants looking to expand their variant offerings while maintaining an organized storefront.
Use Product Options Apps
Another effective way to bypass Shopify’s 100-variant limit is by using third-party product options apps. These apps allow merchants to add unlimited product options beyond Shopify’s built-in variant system, making them ideal for businesses that require extensive customization.
With these tools, you can create dropdowns, checkboxes, text fields, and file upload options, enabling customers to personalize their orders without increasing the variant count. This is especially useful for stores selling custom-made products, print-on-demand items, or configurable products with multiple attributes.
Popular Shopify Variant Limit Product Options Apps:
- Infinite Options – Offers unlimited custom options like text fields, checkboxes, and dropdowns.
- SC Product Options – Provides advanced conditional logic to show or hide options based on customer selections.
- Hulk Product Options – Allows for complex product customization, including file uploads and pricing adjustments.
- PC – Product Options – Supports flexible option sets and detailed customization settings.
- BSS Product Options, Variants – Features bulk options, swatches, and variant-dependent displays.
Benefits:
- Eliminates Shopify’s variant limit by using product options instead of variants.
- Improves customer experience by offering more customization options.
- Streamlines inventory management since extra options don’t count as separate variants.
Considerations:
- Some apps may not integrate perfectly with all Shopify themes.
- Custom options do not sync with Shopify’s native inventory tracking, so manual stock management may be needed.
- Monthly subscription costs vary depending on the app’s features.
For merchants who need advanced product customization without exceeding Shopify’s variant limits, these apps offer a powerful and flexible solution.
Use Code to Merge Multiple Products
Instead of being constrained by Shopify’s 100-variant limit per product, merchants can bypass this restriction by creating multiple products and merging them using custom code. This approach allows customers to interact with a single product page while technically managing multiple separate products in the backend.
Step-by-Step Approach
- Create a Product with Up to 100 Variants:
- Set up a product with different variations (e.g., size, color, material).
- Ensure that all variant data is correctly structured for seamless integration later.
- Add another product containing the next set of 100 variants.
- Maintain the same option names and order to ensure consistency across products
- Create Another Product with Additional Variants:
- Add another product containing the next set of 100 variants.
- Maintain the same option names and order to ensure consistency across products
- Use Custom Code to Merge Products on the Frontend:
- Utilize Liquid code in Shopify’s theme to dynamically combine these separate products into one.
- Implement JavaScript to fetch variants from multiple products and display them as a single selection on the product page.
Customers see a single, unified product page displaying more than 100 variants, even though Shopify imposes a backend limit. By leveraging code-based solutions, merchants can maintain an optimal shopping experience without requiring external apps or workarounds that may impact performance or SEO.
Use Shopify Variant Limit Product Option Apps
Another effective way to bypass Shopify’s 100-variant limit is by using third-party product options apps. These apps allow merchants to add unlimited product options beyond Shopify’s built-in variant system, making them ideal for businesses that require extensive customization.
With these tools, you can create dropdowns, checkboxes, text fields, and file upload options, enabling customers to personalize their orders without increasing the variant count. This is especially useful for stores selling custom-made products, print-on-demand items, or configurable products with multiple attributes.
#1 Infinite Options
Infinite Options by ShopPad Inc. is a powerful Shopify app designed to bypass Shopify’s 100-variant limit by allowing unlimited product customization. Merchants can add custom input fields such as text boxes, dropdown menus, checkboxes, and date pickers to enhance product offerings. A standout feature is its conditional logic, which dynamically displays or hides options based on customer selections, improving the user experience. Additionally, the app supports product bundling, enabling merchants to attach add-on products (e.g., gift wrapping, warranties) to increase revenue.
Rating: 4.8/5
Pricing Plan: $12.99/month
Pros:
- Offers unlimited product options beyond Shopify’s built-in variant restrictions, allowing greater flexibility in product customization.
- Supports conditional logic, which improves usability by displaying only relevant options based on customer choices.
Cons:
- Does not sync with Shopify’s inventory system, requiring manual tracking of custom options.
- Some customization options require knowledge of CSS for advanced styling.
#2 SC Product Options
SC Product Options is a comprehensive solution for merchants who need advanced product customization. It allows for unlimited product options using various input types, such as dropdowns, radio buttons, and text fields. One of its key strengths is its powerful conditional logic, which ensures a smoother shopping experience by displaying relevant options dynamically. The app also integrates seamlessly with Shopify’s native inventory system, which is a major advantage for merchants looking to maintain stock accuracy.
Rating: 4.7/5
Price: Basic: $14.99/month; Premium: $34.99/month
Pros:
- Features a highly intuitive interface with advanced conditional logic, making complex product customization seamless.
- Supports file uploads, allowing customers to add personalized elements such as logos or text.
Cons:
- The learning curve can be steep due to the extensive feature set.
- Some advanced features require upgrading to the Pro plan.
#3 Hulk Product Options
Hulk Product Options is a popular app for Shopify merchants looking to expand their product customization capabilities. It provides a simple yet powerful way to create unlimited product options, including file uploads, radio buttons, and dropdown menus. The app also features bulk import/export functionality, making it an excellent choice for stores with large catalogs. Additionally, its conditional logic ensures customers only see relevant choices, improving the buying experience.
Rating: 4.7/5
Pricing Plan: Basic: $10/month; Advanced: $20/month; Enterprise: $49.90/month
Pros:
- Allows unlimited product options and bulk import/export, making it ideal for stores with a high number of SKUs.
- Includes file upload functionality, which is useful for personalized product orders.
Cons:
- The free plan has limited features, making the Pro version necessary for more advanced needs.
- Custom styling may require additional CSS adjustments.
#4 PC – Product Options
PC – Product Options is a flexible app that helps merchants create extensive product customization options beyond Shopify’s built-in variant limit. It supports multiple option types, including dropdowns, checkboxes, and file uploads. The app also features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to configure custom options without technical expertise. Conditional logic is included to streamline the customer experience, ensuring only relevant options appear based on selections.
Rating: 4.8/5
Pricing Plan: $14.90/month; Premium: $29.90/month; Premium Plus: $49.90/month
Pros:
- Provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making customization simple and efficient.
- Supports conditional logic and price adjustments based on customer selections.
Cons:
- Limited integration with some third-party apps, requiring additional adjustments.
- Advanced styling options may require some CSS knowledge.
#5 BSS Product Options, Variants
BSS Product Options, Variants is a robust tool designed for Shopify merchants needing complex product configurations. It supports bulk option creation, swatches, and variant-dependent displays, making it ideal for stores offering multiple product variations. The app also includes tiered pricing and conditional logic, allowing merchants to customize pricing based on selections. Its swatch feature enhances the visual shopping experience, making it easier for customers to choose the right product.
Rating: 5.0/5
Pricing Plan: Custom Plan
Pros:
- Offers swatch displays and bulk option management, making product selection more interactive.
- Includes tiered pricing and conditional logic, helping merchants create flexible pricing structures.
Cons:
- Initial setup can be time-consuming, especially for complex product configurations.
- Some advanced features require the higher-tier plan.
Conclusion
Managing Shopify’s 100-variant limit can be challenging for merchants with extensive product catalogs. However, several effective solutions exist to work around this restriction. Splitting products into multiple listings, leveraging third-party apps, and using custom code can help businesses present their full range of options without compromising the shopping experience.
While Shopify’s introduction of the 2,000-variant limit via GraphQL API is a step forward, its implementation is still limited. Until a broader rollout becomes available, merchants should explore these alternative methods to optimize their stores and ensure seamless product customization for customers.
