When running an online store with WooCommerce, the presentation of your products plays a crucial role in shaping your customers’ shopping experience. One of the essential aspects of product layout is how many products are displayed in each row. By adjusting the number of products per row, you can create a more visually appealing and user-friendly layout that aligns with your store’s goals and design aesthetic.
In this blog, we will discuss how adjusting the products per row in WooCommerce can improve user experience, optimize conversions, and enhance overall site design. We will explore how you can modify the default product grid layout, how it impacts mobile and desktop views, and how to optimize the number of products shown per row for different product categories or user needs.
Why Adjusting the Products Per Row Matters?
By default, WooCommerce displays products in a grid layout, typically with three or four products per row. However, this number is not always ideal for every store. Depending on the type of products you sell, the target audience, and the design of your website, you may need to adjust the number of products displayed in each row.
Here are some reasons why adjusting the products per row can be beneficial:
1. Improved User Experience
The number of products per row can impact how easy it is for customers to navigate your store. If there are too many products per row, it might feel cramped and overwhelming. On the other hand, having too few products may lead to excessive scrolling or a poor visual balance.
By adjusting the number of products per row, you ensure that your product grid looks organized, visually appealing, and easy to browse. For instance, you might prefer displaying fewer products per row for a more spacious, premium feel, or a higher number for a dense, discount-focused layout.
2. Better Mobile Responsiveness
In today’s mobile-first world, a store’s mobile design is just as important as the desktop version. Many customers shop from their smartphones, so it’s crucial to create a layout that works seamlessly on all devices. Adjusting the number of products per row ensures that your website maintains a clean and easy-to-read design, regardless of the screen size.
For example, what works well on a desktop (e.g., four products per row) might not be optimal on mobile devices, where fewer products per row (two or three) could improve the viewing experience.
3. Customizing Layout Based on Product Categories
Different product categories may require different layouts. For example, fashion and apparel stores might benefit from large product images and fewer items per row to showcase each product’s details, while a store selling small accessories might use more products per row to create a compact, organized look.
By adjusting the products per row, you can customize the layout of each category, ensuring it is optimized for the type of products being sold. You can also create different layouts for promotional or seasonal pages to draw more attention to specific items.
4. Enhanced Aesthetics and Branding
The number of products per row can influence the overall aesthetics of your site. For some brands, a minimalist, spacious design with fewer products per row may be more in line with their branding, while others may prefer a more compact, grid-like structure.
Your store’s layout helps set the tone for your brand, and customizing the product grid is an excellent way to enhance your brand identity and appeal to your target audience.
How to Adjust the WooCommerce Products Per Row
There are several ways to adjust the number of products displayed per row in WooCommerce, depending on whether you prefer using built-in settings, custom code, or third-party plugins.
Option 1: Modify the WooCommerce Theme Settings
Most WooCommerce themes come with built-in customization options that allow you to adjust the number of products per row without the need for coding. You can modify the product grid layout through your theme’s settings or the WordPress Customizer.
1.1 Using the WordPress Customizer
- Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to WooCommerce > Product Catalog.
- Look for the Products per row option (this option may vary depending on your theme).
- Adjust the number of products to your preference (typically between 3-6).
- Save and publish your changes.
1.2 Theme-Specific Settings
If your theme provides additional customization options for product display, you may be able to find further settings within the theme’s options panel. Themes like Flatsome, Astra, and Shopkeeper often offer extra features for customizing the product layout. You can check the theme documentation to see if your theme supports grid layout customization.
Option 2: Use Custom Code for More Control
If your theme doesn’t provide enough flexibility to adjust the number of products per row, you can add custom CSS or PHP code to modify the layout. However, adding custom code requires a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and PHP.
2.1 Adding Custom CSS
For example, to change the number of products per row, you can add custom CSS like this:
cssCopy code.woocommerce ul.products li.product {
width: 25%; /* 4 products per row */
}
If you want to display three products per row, change the value to 33.33%. For two products per row, use 50%.
2.2 Modifying PHP Code
You can also modify the functions.php file of your theme to set the number of products per row. Add the following code to your theme’s functions.php:
phpCopy codefunction custom_loop_columns() {
return 4; // Change this number to set the number of products per row
}
add_filter('loop_shop_columns', 'custom_loop_columns');
This code will ensure that your WooCommerce product grid displays four products per row.
Option 3: Using a Plugin
If you’re looking for an easier way to manage the products per row without manually writing code, you can use a plugin designed to handle this. Several WooCommerce plugins allow you to customize the layout with minimal effort.
3.1 WooCommerce Product Archive Customizer
The WooCommerce Product Archive Customizer plugin provides an intuitive interface to change the number of products per row on your shop pages. After installing the plugin, simply go to the plugin settings and select the desired number of products per row.
3.2 WooCommerce Customizer
The WooCommerce Customizer plugin adds additional customization options, including the ability to modify the number of products per row. Once installed, you can use the plugin’s settings to adjust the layout without touching any code.
Best Practices for Setting Products Per Row
When deciding how many products to display per row, consider these best practices:
1. Keep Mobile Experience in Mind
Ensure that your products per row look great on both desktop and mobile. For mobile devices, fewer products per row (1 or 2) can help improve user experience by making the page more readable and less cluttered.
2. Match Layout to Product Type
Products with detailed images (such as clothing or art) may benefit from fewer products per row, while smaller items (like accessories or books) can be displayed in a more compact layout.
3. A/B Test Different Layouts
Experiment with different layouts to see which one converts best for your store. Testing various grid sizes can provide insights into how customers interact with your store, which can help you find the optimal design.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adjusting the products per row in WooCommerce is a simple yet powerful way to customize your store’s appearance and improve the overall shopping experience. By carefully selecting the number of products displayed per row, you can enhance both the usability and visual appeal of your store, making it easier for customers to browse and find the products they want.
Whether you’re using built-in theme settings, adding custom code, or installing a plugin, WooCommerce provides plenty of options to achieve the perfect product grid layout. By considering the type of products you sell, your target audience, and the devices they use, you can create a store that’s both functional and visually engaging.