Understand variants and SKUs
A variant product is one catalog entry with several options, where each combination is its own SKU with its own price and stock.
A variant product is one catalog entry, say a planter, that comes in several options such as Color and Size. Each combination is its own SKU with its own price, barcode and stock.
How do variants and SKUs fit together?
- Variants are built from attributes (like Color) and their values (like Sage, Terracotta).
- Each combination becomes one SKU, the unit that actually holds stock and price.
- A simple product turns into a variant product automatically once you generate or add a second SKU.
- You manage them all from the Variants & Inventory tab in a spreadsheet-style grid.
Tip. Keep attribute names consistent across products (always “Color”, never “Colour” on one and “Shade” on another) so reporting and channel mapping stay clean.
Common questions
What's the difference between a product and a SKU?
The product is the container: name, descriptions, images. The SKU is the sellable unit that carries the price, barcode and stock. A simple product has one SKU; a variant product has several.
How does a simple product become a variant product?
Automatically, the moment it has a second SKU. Generate variants or add a single variant on the Variants & Inventory tab and the type switches to variant.