Ecommerce Store: Display Variant Images with Dropdown Options

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to enhance this user experience of an ecommerce store is by displaying variant images with dropdown options. For Shopify stores, this can significantly improve the visual appeal and functionality of your product pages. 

In fact, according to a 2025 report by Emerald Publishing, 83% of online shoppers consider product images to be an essential part of their purchasing decisions. But why exactly are variant images so important, and how can you make the most out of them?

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of displaying variant images with a dropdown, how to decide between swatches and dropdowns, and the best practices to make it work for your Shopify store. 

Key Takeaways

• Variant images give customers a visual confirmation of the product option they are selecting.
• Swatches are best for visually distinct options, while dropdowns are ideal for multiple attributes or non-visual variants.
• Combining swatches and dropdowns enhances clarity and keeps the product page organized.
• Proper use of variant images reduces returns, complaints, and cart abandonment.
• Mobile-friendly variant selection improves the shopping experience for customers on smartphones and tablets.

What Are Variant Images?

Variant images are visual representations of different product options, such as color, size, or style. For example, when selling a T-shirt, the variant images show how it looks in different colors or sizes. These images are essential for giving customers a clear idea of what they’re choosing, boosting confidence in their purchase.

Shopify simplifies this by offering built-in tools to manage variant images, especially with dropdown options. The choice between using swatches or dropdowns depends on your product’s variations, but both methods ensure a smooth shopping experience and accurate product representation.

Real-Life Examples of Displaying Variant Images with Dropdown Options

Here are two successful e-commerce stores using variant images with dropdown options to enhance customer experience and streamline shopping:

1. Nike

‍

Nike’s online store allows customers to customize shoes with dropdown options for color, size, and style. As selections are made, the image updates instantly, providing a clear view of the chosen design. This feature ensures customers see exactly what they are selecting, reducing confusion and improving the shopping experience.

2. Apple

‍

Apple’s website lets customers choose different MacBook configurations, including screen size, memory, and color. As customers select options from dropdowns, the image updates in real-time to reflect the chosen variant. This smooth display offers clarity and visual confirmation, enhancing the buying process and reducing decision-making stress.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of displaying variant images with dropdowns.

5 Benefits of Displaying Variant Images with Dropdowns

Displaying variant images with dropdown options offers several advantages that go beyond just visual appeal. Here are some of the key benefits you’ll experience when integrating this feature into your e-commerce store.

1. Clearer Product Choices

Displaying variant images with dropdowns on Shopify eliminates confusion by letting customers see exactly what they’re selecting. Whether it’s color or size, the image update provides instant visual confirmation, boosting buyer confidence and improving conversion rates. 

2. Enhanced User Experience (UX)

Integrating variant images with dropdown options simplifies the decision-making process. Shopify makes it easy for customers to select options from a dropdown, with the image updating automatically. This experience reduces clicks and confusion, ensuring customers enjoy a more streamlined and efficient shopping journey.

3. Reduced Returns and Complaints

When customers can see exactly what they’re buying, the chances of receiving a product that doesn’t meet their expectations decrease. By displaying variant images with dropdowns, you can reduce the number of returns or complaints related to mismatched expectations. 

4. Mobile-Friendly Design

More customers are shopping on mobile, making it essential to have a mobile-optimized design. Shopify’s dropdown menus are compact and efficient on mobile screens, keeping your store clean and easy to browse. 

With variant images displayed next to the dropdown, you create a smooth shopping experience across all devices, from smartphones to tablets.

5. Better Visual Appeal

Variant images enhance the visual appeal of your product pages, giving customers high-quality visuals of their selected options. Shopify themes allow you to customize how these images appear, helping you create a visually stunning store that elevates your brand and attracts more potential customers.

But the real challenge comes in deciding whether to use swatches or dropdowns for your product variants. Let’s explore how to make that choice.

How to Decide Whether to Use Swatches or a Dropdown in an Ecommerce Store?

When adding variant options to your ecommerce store, you’ll face the decision of whether to use swatches or a dropdown. Both options have their benefits, but the choice depends on your store’s needs and your customers’ preferences.

1. Swatches
   

‍

Swatches are small visual representations of product options. For example, a color swatch would show a small square of each color variant. They work best for items with visual properties, like clothing, accessories, and cosmetics.

When to Use Swatches?

• Use swatches for visually distinct options like color or pattern, ideal for products such as clothing and accessories.
• Swatches allow quick, interactive comparisons, making the decision process faster and more engaging.
• Perfect for products where color or material is the key deciding factor, like cosmetics or apparel.
• Swatches increase user engagement by providing an instant preview of the product's appearance.

2. Dropdowns

‍

Dropdown menus are more space-efficient and work well when you have multiple variants. If your product has several options, such as a T-shirt in multiple colors, sizes, and styles, dropdown menus allow you to group these variations under one category.

When to Use Dropdowns?

• Dropdowns are best when there are many options, like sizes or styles, where images aren’t needed.
• Great for grouping similar options and keeping your product page clean and organized.
• Ideal for size charts, materials, or variants that don’t require a visual representation.
• Perfect for products with multiple attributes, like shoes or furniture, where displaying all options could clutter the page.
• Dropdowns are space-efficient and help manage a clean layout, especially for stores with many variant options.

Combining Swatches and Dropdowns

• Combine both options for products with multiple variants for a smoother shopping experience.
• Use swatches for colors and dropdowns for sizes or materials to keep things organized.
• This blend of visuals and functionality makes selecting variants easier for customers.
• On Shopify, combine dropdowns for size and swatches for colors to balance clarity and space.

Once you’ve made your decision, the next step is to implement the variant images in your store effectively.

4 Steps to Display Variant Images with Dropdown Options

‍

Setting up variant images with dropdown options on Shopify is a straightforward process, but it requires attention to detail. Here are the steps you need to follow to implement this feature on your ecommerce store.

Step 1: Add Variants to Your Product

First, go to your Shopify admin and proceed to the product page you want to update. Under the “Variants” section, you can add all the different product options, such as size, color, and style.

Ensure each variant has an associated image. Shopify allows you to upload different images for each variant, which is essential for displaying variant images properly.

Step 2: Install a Dropdown App or Use Shopify’s Built-In Features

Shopify makes it easy to display variant images with a dropdown next to it. You can either use Shopify’s built-in features or install a third-party app that offers enhanced functionality.

Apps like “Variant Image Wizard” or “Product Options and Customizer” give you more control over how your dropdowns and images are displayed. These apps make it simple to set up variant images with dropdown options without needing custom coding.

For an even smoother experience, StarApps Studio's Variant Image Automator automates the assignment of multiple variant images, ensuring your product page remains clean and organized. 

Step 3: Customize Your Product Page

Once you’ve added your variants and set up the dropdown, it’s time to customize how it appears on the product page. Shopify themes usually offer customization options for layout, colors, and fonts.

Make sure the dropdown is placed in an easily visible area and that the variant images are clear and high-quality. If you’re using a custom theme, you might need to adjust your theme’s CSS or HTML to ensure everything looks smooth.

Step 4: Test Your Product Page

Before you go live, test your product page to make sure everything works as expected. Select different variants from the dropdown and ensure the images update correctly.

You can also test the page on mobile devices to confirm it’s mobile-friendly. Double-check that the images load quickly and that the dropdown is easy to use.

Now that we’ve covered the technical aspects, let’s look at the best practices to ensure your variant images are presented flawlessly.

5 Best Practices to Display Variant Images with Dropdown Options 

To ensure the best user experience, certain practices can make your variant images and dropdown options stand out. Below are five best practices, along with implementation tips, that will help you optimize your product pages.

1. Use High-Quality Images

Customers want to see clear, high-resolution images of the products they’re considering. Low-quality images can turn potential buyers away. Ensure that each variant has a high-quality image that accurately represents the product.

2. Ensure Fast Load Times

Slow-loading pages can lead to abandoned carts. Optimize your images to load quickly without sacrificing quality. Shopify automatically compresses images, but you can further reduce image sizes using apps like “TinyPNG” to improve page speed.

3. Make Variants Easy to Find

Keep your dropdown menu simple and easy to access. Avoid overwhelming customers with too many choices at once. Group similar variants together, and if necessary, provide a search or filter option to help customers find what they’re looking for faster.

4. Add Descriptive Labels

Clearly label each variant to avoid confusion. Use labels like “Size,” “color,” and “Material” to help customers understand the options available to them.

5. Offer Product Recommendations

Once customers select a variant, consider offering product recommendations based on their choice. This can increase average order value (AOV) and improve overall customer satisfaction.

To make the most of these practices, you can use tools like StarApps Studio to enhance your Shopify store’s image management.

Transform Your Shopify Store with StarApps Studio’s Variant Image Solutions

If you're looking to elevate your Shopify store and provide a better shopping experience for your customers, managing variant images efficiently is key. StarApps Studio offers a suite of powerful tools that make managing variant images simple and effective. 

Here are some of the standout features StarApps Studio offers to help you display variant images with dropdown options:

1. Color Swatch King: Variants

‍

The Color Swatch King app allows you to display variant images in a visually engaging way, making it easier for customers to compare and select options like color, size, and style directly from the product page.

• Quick product comparison with color swatches or images.
• Seamless browsing of variants on the collection page.
• Customizable variant selectors like swatches, buttons, and dropdowns to match your store’s theme.
• Automated swatch generation to save time.

2. SA Variant Image Automator

‍

With the SA Variant Image Automator, managing multiple variant images becomes a breeze. The app automatically assigns the correct images to product variants, keeping your gallery organized and user-friendly.

• Automatically assigns multiple images for each variant.
• Clean and organized variant image gallery.
• Supports color swatches, 3D views, videos, and more for a dynamic shopping experience.
• Integrates with your theme, preserving your store’s design.

3. SA Variants: Combined Listings

‍

SA Variants: Combined Listings helps you efficiently display product variants, improving both SEO and the customer browsing experience. With this app, customers can view all variants directly on the collection page.

• Displays all variants on the collection page for easy browsing.
• Improves SEO with unique URLs and descriptions for each variant.
• Enhances product discovery and reduces navigation time.
• Supports color swatches and variant image swatches for a more interactive shopping experience.

4. Variant Alt Text King: SEO

‍

Optimize your product images for both SEO and accessibility with Variant Alt Text King: SEO. This app automates the process of adding alt text to your variant images, helping your store rank higher in search results and improving user experience.

• Optimizes alt text for all variant images, enhancing SEO.
• Automatic daily sync to keep your image alt texts up-to-date.
• Customizable ALT text using product variant names and other key details.
• Ensures your store is accessible, meeting ADA and WCAG standards.

5. Variant Title King: Color, SKU

‍

Variant Title King: Color, SKU helps create dynamic product titles that change based on the variant selected. This makes it easier for customers to identify the specific variant they're choosing and improves clarity.

• Dynamically updates product titles based on variant selection.
• Customizable title templates for a personalized shopping experience.
• Works with other apps like Swatch King and Variant Image Automator.
• Integrates with your theme to maintain a consistent design.

6. Variant Descriptions King

‍

Provide detailed, variant-specific descriptions with Variant Descriptions King, ensuring that customers have all the information they need to make informed purchase decisions.

• Displays unique descriptions for each variant (e.g., size charts, care instructions).
• Organizes descriptions using tabs or collapsible accordions.
• Mobile-friendly design for easy browsing on all devices.
• Reduces returns by giving customers the details they need.

StarApps Studio’s solutions can help you display variant images with dropdown options, enhancing your store’s functionality and visual appeal.

Conclusion

Incorporating variant images with dropdown options is a simple yet effective way to elevate your ecommerce store's user experience. By making it easy for customers to see exactly what they’re buying, you can boost conversions, reduce returns, and create a more engaging shopping environment.

Take your store’s variant images and dropdown options to the next level with StarApps Studio’s solutions like SA Variant Image Automator and Combined Listings. These apps will help you streamline product management, enhance user experience, and drive conversions. 

Contact StarApps Studio and let us help you implement the perfect variant image solution for your e-commerce business!

FAQs

1. What are variant images in Shopify?

Variant images are product visuals that correspond to specific options like color, size, or style, helping customers see exactly what they’re selecting.

2. Should I use swatches or dropdowns for my products?

Use swatches for visually distinct options like colors or patterns, and dropdowns for attributes like size, material, or products with multiple variations.

3. Can I combine swatches and dropdowns in Shopify?

Yes, you can use swatches for colors and dropdowns for sizes or materials to create an organized shopping experience.

4. How do variant images impact conversions?

Displaying variant images with dropdowns reduces confusion, improves UX, and builds customer confidence, often leading to higher conversion rates and fewer returns.

5. Are dropdowns mobile-friendly for variant selection?

Absolutely. Dropdowns save space and, when paired with variant images, provide a clean, easy-to-navigate shopping experience across all devices.