Create Product Option Values in Shopify

Customers expect control over what they buy, different sizes, colors, materials, or configurations. Product options make this possible, and in Shopify, they’re a core feature for delivering a customizable shopping experience. But this flexibility comes with limits. 

Each product supports up to three options and, by default, allows a maximum of 100 variant combinations. While Shopify is now rolling out support for up to 2048 variants through its newer product model, this is currently limited to select stores using the GraphQL Admin API.

Managing these options correctly is essential. It controls how variants are created in the backend and how they appear to customers on the storefront. A misstep can result in broken images, unavailable combinations, or incorrect orders.

This guide explains how to create product options and values in Shopify, how variants are generated, where Shopify’s limits apply, and what to do when your product setup gets more complex than the platform allows.

Understanding Product Options and Variants in Shopify

In Shopify, a product option refers to a category of choice, like size or color. In contrast, option values are the specific choices within that category, such as small, medium, or large. Each unique combination of option values constitutes a variant.

For instance, a backpack that is available in two sizes (Standard and Large) and five colors would have ten different variants.

Limits to Product Options and Variants in Shopify

Each Shopify product supports up to three options: size, color, or material, and a maximum of 100 variants. These limits are based on the total number of unique combinations.

Take the example below. With 13 color swatches and six size options, this product already creates 78 variant combinations, without adding fabric types or custom fits.

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Now, take a more complex product like a customizable bedding set:

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Here, 20 solid colors, 8 patterns, and 8 sizes could combine into 224 unique variants, far exceeding Shopify’s 100-variant limit.

For simpler catalogs, Shopify’s native limits are fine. But suppose you sell configurable items like apparel with multiple fits, or home goods with size, material, and design choices. In that case, you’ll likely need workarounds, such as splitting listings or using third-party apps to bypass the cap.

Shopify’s Expanded Variant Limit (2048): What’s Changing

While Shopify traditionally limits each product to 3 options and 100 total variants, that’s changing. Shopify is rolling out support for up to 2048 variants per product as part of its new GraphQL product model.

This upgrade is currently available to Shopify Plus stores using the GraphQL Admin API, and general access is expected to roll out gradually through 2025. However, the 3-option limit remains, and you still can't add more than three option types per product (e.g., size, color, material).

If you’re using Shopify’s standard admin or REST API, the 100-variant cap still applies. Migrating to the new model requires developer implementation via GraphQL.

So, while the 100-variant limit is still relevant for most stores, the expanded limit offers flexibility for advanced product setups, especially if you sell items with extensive configuration combinations.

Even with expanded variant support, the fundamentals of setting up options in Shopify haven’t changed. Whether you’re working within the standard 100-variant model or planning for more, it all starts with assigning product options correctly in the admin. Here’s how to do that in Shopify.

Step-by-Step: Adding Product Options and Values in Shopify Admin

Here’s how to add option names and values in Shopify step by step.

• Go to your Shopify admin dashboard.
• Navigate to Products and select or add a product.
• Scroll to the Variants section and check “This product has options, like size or color.”
• Enter your Option name (e.g., Size) and Option values (e.g., Small, Medium, Large).
• Click Add another option for categories like Color or Material.
• Shopify auto-generates all variant combinations from the options entered.
• Set details like price, SKU, inventory, shipping, and image for each variant.
• Click Save to publish your product with the configured options.

Editing or Removing Option Values

Sometimes, you must change or clean up product options, like renaming a size or removing an outdated color. Shopify lets you edit or delete option values directly from the product settings. Here’s how to do it without disrupting your store.

To edit option values:

• Navigate to the product in your Shopify admin.
• In the Variants section, click Edit next to the option you wish to modify.
• Make the necessary changes and click Save.

To remove an option value:

• In the Variants section, click Edit next to the option.
• Click the trash can icon beside the value you want to remove.
• Confirm the deletion and click Save.

Note: Removing an option value will delete all associated variants. Ensure this action aligns with your inventory and sales strategies.

How to Create Product Variants in Shopify

Once you’ve defined your product options and values (like size or color), Shopify automatically generates every possible combination as a variant. But you can also manage variants manually, adjusting details, deleting unused combinations, or creating new ones.

To view or manage variants:

1. Go to Products in your Shopify admin.
2. Select the product you want to edit.
3. Scroll down to the Variants section. You’ll see all the generated combinations listed.

To create a new variant manually:

1. Click Add variant.
2. Choose values for each option (e.g., Size: Large, Color: Black).
3. Enter details for the variant:
   
   • Price
   • SKU
   • Barcode
   • Inventory
   • Shipping weight
   • Image
4. Click Save.

If the combination you’re trying to add exceeds Shopify’s 100-variant limit, the Add variant button will be disabled, and a warning message will appear.

Creating variants manually is useful when:

• You want to add only specific combinations instead of all possible ones.
• You need to adjust or replace variants without changing the product’s main options.
• You’re migrating data and need to replicate a specific variant structure.
  
  

Managing variants gives you control over inventory, pricing, and visibility, especially when each configuration requires its own setup.

Creating product variants in Shopify is straightforward, but only to a point. As your customization options grow, you’ll start to approach Shopify’s built-in limits. That’s when things get tricky.

What Happens When You Hit Shopify’s Variant Limit

Shopify enforces a hard cap of 100 variants per product. Once you hit that limit, you won’t be able to add any new combinations of options, even if they’re needed for in-stock items.

When this happens:

• The ‘Add Variant’ button becomes disabled in the product editor.
• Shopify will display a message stating that you’ve reached the variant limit.
• Any new option values that generate more combinations (e.g., adding a new color) will be blocked from saving.
• You cannot import additional variants via CSV or use the API to bypass the cap; Shopify blocks it at the platform level.

If your product requires more than 100 variants, your options are:

• Split the product into separate listings (e.g., by fabric type or base style).
• Remove unused combinations to free up space.
• Use third-party apps that let you create custom product options without generating native Shopify variants. 

This limitation affects stores in apparel, accessories, furniture, and any category where products combine multiple custom attributes. Planning ahead helps avoid hitting the wall mid-launch.

Once you understand how Shopify’s variant cap works, the next challenge is working around it, especially if your products require more than three options. Fortunately, there are a few practical methods to expand beyond Shopify’s default setup.

How to Add More than 3 Options to Products

When your product requires more than Shopify’s allowed three options or 100 variant combinations, you have a few reliable workarounds, each with different trade-offs depending on catalog size, store complexity, and technical comfort.

1. Split Into Separate Product Listings

Instead of stacking every size, color, and material into a single listing, break the product into multiple products, often by the most visual or high-priority option, such as color.

Take a backpack that comes in four base designs, each available in six colors and five strap styles. Creating a single product with all combinations would exceed Shopify’s 100-variant cap. Instead, you can list each base design as a separate product. Then, within each product, keep the color and strap options as variants. Use internal links or product recommendation blocks to connect the related versions, so customers can still browse the full range without confusion.

2. Use a Product Options App

To bypass Shopify’s native limit entirely, use a third-party product options app. These tools allow you to add unlimited option types—text fields, checkboxes, and dropdowns without creating new variants in Shopify’s backend.

Most apps are no-code, theme-compatible, and built for merchants who need flexibility without technical overhead.

3. Split Variants Visually with SA Variants: Combined Listings

Instead of manually splitting products, use an app like SA Variants: Combined Listings to display each variant as a standalone item on the collection page, while keeping them grouped on the product page. Each variant can have its own image, URL, and title, improving search visibility and making product discovery easier for customers. This avoids the need for full catalog duplication while still highlighting every version of the product.

4. Merge Products Using Custom Code

For stores with development support, it’s possible to merge two separate Shopify products into a single experience through theme customization. 

This requires matching option names and values across both products and writing custom code to display them as one unified product on the storefront.

Pro Tip: Always back up your store and consider hiring a Shopify developer if you’re not confident managing code changes.

In categories like apparel, accessories, or home goods, clarity often matters more than complexity. Before adding new options, consider whether the existing variants just need to be presented better.

If expanding the number of options still feels restrictive or creates cluttered product pages, consider a different approach, one that doesn’t rely on stacking more variants into a single listing.

An Alternative to Creating More Options

Before adding more options, consider whether the issue is in presentation, not structure. Shoppers often hesitate not because variants are missing, but because they’re hard to distinguish.

• Replace dropdowns with visual swatches to make size, color, or style easier to scan
• Display the correct variant images so selections match what’s shown.
• Update product titles dynamically to reflect the exact version selected.

Improving how variants behave on the storefront can resolve confusion without introducing complexity. This approach keeps your catalog lean while helping customers find what they want faster.

Clear product options reduce confusion and prevent mistakes during selection. Before adding more features or variants, make sure the basics are set up correctly.

Best Practices for Managing Product Options

Product options define how customers select what they want. Clear labels, consistent values, and accurate variant mapping reduce confusion and support faster purchasing decisions. The following practices help maintain a clean setup and improve storefront clarity.

• Keep Option Names Clear and Concise: Use straightforward labels like "Size" or "Color" to avoid customer confusion.
• Use Consistent Option Values: Maintain uniformity in option values across products (e.g., always use "Small," "Medium," "Large").
• Limit the Number of Options: Too many choices can overwhelm customers. Only include necessary options to streamline the decision-making process.
• Assign Accurate Images to Variants: Ensure each variant has a corresponding image to provide visual confirmation of the selection.
• Test the Customer Experience: Regularly review your product pages to ensure options and variants function correctly and provide a seamless shopping experience.

Conclusion

Creating product options in Shopify starts simply, but managing them at scale requires planning. Once you hit the platform’s limits, the next step isn’t always adding more fields. It’s about how well the existing variants are structured, displayed, and selected.

From native setup to storefront-level optimization, every improvement you make helps customers choose faster and with fewer errors. That’s where the right tools matter.

StarApps helps streamline how your variants look, behave, and connect without changing how Shopify builds them. Explore all the tools for smarter variant control, from swatches to image automation.