How to Create Customizable Products in Shopify with Options?

Overwhelmed when learning how to create customizable products in Shopify? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! This article will help you easily find the best method that balances functionality, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness while meeting customers' growing demand for personalized products. Discover now!

How to Create Customizable Products in Shopify without an App?

There are two popular ways to create customizable products in Shopify without an app: using available features in Shopify and customizing liquid code. Let’s discover them now!

1. Add Custom Product Variant Options in Shopify Admin

Shopify allows custom products with multiple options for sizes, colors, styles, materials, etc. You can quickly create those variant options in your store admin dashboard.

Save the following steps:

Direct to admin.shopify.com > Login with your Shopify account.
On the left menu, navigate to Products > Add a new product or click to choose a product. Then, a page appears to edit that product.
Scroll to Variants. For new products, click Add options like size or color. For existing products, click Add another option to add new options.
Fill in the Option name and Option values. You can add multiple option values for an option name.
Click Add variant on the top right corner of the Variant section to combine options as a variant of your product. You can set up prices, inventory, and shipping information for this variant, too.

create custom product variant options in shopify admin

The Variants section in the Shopify admin dashboard

For example, if you want to offer multiple sizes and colors for a custom t-shirt, here are the necessary actions in the Variants section:

Click Add options like size and color > In the Option name box, fill in “Size” > In the Option values, fill in your sizes, for example, S, M, L, and XL.
Click Add another option > Fill in “Color” in the Option name box > Fill in Option values, for example, Black, White, and Red.
Click Add variant > Choose an option of Size and one of Color to create a variant. For example, a variant with “S” size and “White” color.

Note: Currently (2024), Shopify limits options to three option names (types) and 100 variants for a product.

2. Add Custom Boxes and Fields by Editing Shopify Liquid

By editing Shopify liquid, you can completely customize your product page on Shopify. It means modifying the theme with lines of code. Here is how to do it:

Direct to admin.shopify.com > Login with your Shopify account
On the left menu, navigate to Sales channels > Click Online Store > Click Themes. The Themes page shows up, you will see your Current theme.
Click three dots “…”, on the left of the Customize button > Select Edit code.
Add sections, templates, and codes following the Shopify instructions > Preview on your store > Click Save.

This method can help you design your own product page and

Insert simple product customization such as text fields, checkboxes, drop-down selects, or radio buttons.
Enable file or image uploads.
Show customizations in the cart, checkout page, and confirmation emails.
Collect product customization information (called “line item properties” in Shopify).

how to create customizable products in shopify without an app

Step-by-step guide from Shopify Community Manager

Use Apps to Create Customizable Products in Shopify

Various apps are available helping to sell customizable products on Shopify. At first, you need to identify which options you want to add to your products. Then, you can easily find and install a product customization Shopify app in a few steps:

Direct to Shopify App Store at apps.shopify.com > Log in with your Shopify store.
Browse keywords to find the best-match app. For example, if you want to sell personalized print-on-demand products, you can search for product personalizer.
When you find an app providing features, pricing, and services that meet your requirements, click Install. Then, a new tab opens, click Install again to confirm.
Follow the app guidelines to create your customizable product in Shopify.

Besides, you can hire experts to develop a custom app for your Shopify store or make one yourself.

how to make a product customizable on shopify

Easy to create engaging, customizable designs for products using an app

Which Way is Better to Create Customizable Products in Shopify?

When choosing a method to add customizable products on Shopify, it depends on your needs and budget.

If you want to add simple variant options, using the available Shopify variant features is quick, efficient, and free.
If you have basic coding skills and want to add simple custom boxes and fields, you can add custom code to save money and time.
For more advanced options like live previews and product design personalization, it’s best to use a Shopify product customizer.

This table with the pros and cons of each method will help you make a better decision.

Method	Pros	Cons
Use Shopify variant feature	Quick setup and easy to use Effiecient and free	For variant options only Cannot set conditional logic or add-on charges.
Custom Shopify liquid code	Ability to control the whole site performance. Best for adding custom text box.	Limitations on adding advanced functions, such as custom designs with live previews. If you are not a professional developer, it may take days to complete a simple option. May cause errors and bugs on your store.
Use Shopify apps	Don't require coding skills. Unlimited options to customize product design and product variants. Advanced features to custom product page template. Easy and quick to set up options.	Some apps require monthly subscriptions and transaction fee. It may take time to learn how use app feature

Using an app seems more expensive than editing the store’s theme code. In some circumstances, hiring a skillful developer may be much more expensive than paying for apps monthly or annually. Besides, installing a Shopify product customizer is great as it is time-saving, multi-function, easy-to-use, and high-performance.

Top 4 Apps to Add Custom Product Options on Shopify

Each app provides specific features and pricing plans to serve specific groups of users. So, choosing the best match for your demand is necessary. Here are the best suggestions for distinct needs:

Teeinblue Product Personalizer for sellers who want to sell personalized print-on-demand products, such as t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, etc. It allows you to add customizable product designs such as clipart, text, maps, image uploads, and more with live previews.
Tepo Product Options for stores offering various colors, sizes, and materials. You can add text boxes, checkboxes, dropdowns, radio buttons, and more; set the price for a variant with linked options, conditional logic; etc.
Quickview by Qikify for merchants offering a quick and seamless shopping experience. It helps customers to view product details and purchase without having to navigate away from the product category page.
Checkout Plus by Qikify for Shopify Plus stores. It can help to build a customized checkout experience for customers and increase sales through upselling and cross-selling products.

best apps to add customization options on shopify

The four apps offer excellent support services

Make a Shopify Product Customizable in 20 Minutes with Teeinblue

Would you like to create a Shopify product page where your customer can pick their favorite clipart, locations, stars, etc? Do you want to help them see how their design looks on the product instantly?

In four simple steps, let’s create those personalized items with Teeinblue Product Personalizer!

Step 1: Install Teeinblue on Shopify App Store and try the app free for 14 days.

make a product customizable on shopify with teeinblue

Add the app from Shopify App Store quickly

Step 2: Add a Product

Next, you should have a product that you want to put designs on. You can automatically import from the catalogs of Teeinblue’s partners or manually add yours.

Note: If you want to customize existing products on your Shopify store, you can skip this step.

Automatically import white-label products from Teeinblue’s API-integrated partners

Step 3: Create Customizable Designs

After adding a product, you can design and add personalization options on the Artworks Editor.

how to add a customization option on shopify

Artwork Editor interface is easy-to-use

If you want to add more types of product variant options, bulk apply option set to multiple products, or link options with existing variants to create option charge, consider having Tepo Product Options, too. These two apps are well-compatible to help you enhance your store's average order value.

Step 4: Combine Products with Designs

This is the final step to creating a customizable product on Shopify. Once you combine products with the app's designs in a campaign, Shopify will sync it as a product.

how to set up custom and personalized products on shopify

How a personalized product appears on your Shopify store

Bonus

Not only does Teeinblue Product Personalizer allow you to add customization options, but the app also helps you customize the product page style. Go ahead to Store settings > Product page settings to show/hide, zoom, and display options for mockup display, price, variant options, personalization form, buttons, color, etc.

Hope this article can give you helpful information about how to create customizable products in Shopify. Which method do you prefer to apply for your Shopify store? Feel free to place questions in the Teeinblue POD Personalization Facebook Community or live chat in the app if you have any questions.

RELEVANT ARTICLES

A Proper Approach for Product Customization for NewComers

How to Dropship Personalize Products: Successful Mindset

How to Sell Customized Products on Shopify: Expert Guide for Success