Introduction

Managing product quantities efficiently is crucial for improving the shopping experience in WooCommerce. By default, WooCommerce provides a WooCommerce Quantity Input as a simple number field, but many store owners prefer a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown to allow customers to select predefined quantities quickly.

However, not all products require a quantity dropdown. Some categories, such as wholesale items, bulk purchases, or limited-stock products, benefit more from this feature. In this guide, we will show you how to display a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown for specific product categories only.

With the right WooCommerce Quantity Input settings or plugins like those offered by Extendons, you can enhance product selection and improve sales.

Why Use a Quantity Dropdown for Specific Categories?

Faster & Easier Shopping Experience

A WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown lets customers select a quantity without manually typing numbers, reducing errors and improving efficiency.

Ideal for Bulk Purchases

Wholesale and bulk-buy categories often require specific quantity selections, such as packs of 5, 10, or 20.

Prevent Overordering

For limited-stock or exclusive products, a quantity dropdown restricts excessive purchases.

Better Mobile Experience

On mobile devices, a dropdown is easier to use than manually entering numbers.

Enhances Store Control

Restricting quantity dropdowns to certain categories helps maintain consistency in sales and stock management.

How to Add a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown for Specific Categories

There are two main ways to display a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown for specific product categories:

  1. Using a WooCommerce Plugin – The easiest and most flexible way.
  2. Manually Editing Product Settings – A basic approach with limited customization.

Let’s explore both methods.

Method 1: Use a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin

The most effective way to enable a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown for specific categories is by using a dedicated plugin. Some popular plugins include:

  • Extendons WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin – Allows category-based quantity rules.
  • WooCommerce Advanced Product Quantities – Customizes quantity steps for different categories.
  • WooCommerce Min/Max Quantities – Sets minimum and maximum purchase rules.

Steps to Set Up the Quantity Dropdown:

  1. Install a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin

    • Go to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add New
    • Search for Extendons WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin
    • Install and activate the plugin

  2. Configure Category-Based Quantity Rules

    • Navigate to WooCommerce > Quantity Settings
    • Select Enable Quantity Dropdown
    • Choose the specific categories where you want the dropdown to appear
    • Set predefined quantity options (e.g., 1, 3, 5, 10)

  3. Save Changes and Test

    • Go to your store and check if the dropdown appears only for selected categories

Using a WooCommerce Quantity Input plugin ensures that only relevant products display the dropdown while others retain the default number input.

Method 2: Manually Set Quantity Rules for Each Product

For a small number of products, you can manually configure the WooCommerce Quantity Input settings per product.

Steps to Configure Quantity Dropdown Per Product:

  1. Edit the Product in WooCommerce

    • Go to WooCommerce > Products
    • Select the product you want to edit

  2. Set the Quantity Options

    • Scroll to the Product Data section
    • Set the Minimum Order Quantity and Step Quantity
    • Choose predefined values (e.g., 1, 3, 5, 10)

  3. Assign the Product to a Category

    • Ensure the product is in the correct category that requires a quantity dropdown

  4. Save Changes and test the product page

While this method works, it is not scalable if you need to apply the dropdown to multiple products at once.

Best Practices for Using a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown

Select the Right Categories

Only enable the quantity dropdown for bulk purchase categories or specific product types where customers benefit from predefined selections.

Offer Logical Quantity Options

For example:

  • Wholesale Items – 5, 10, 20, 50
  • Limited-Stock Items – 1, 2, 3
  • Subscription Products – 1, 3, 6 (for monthly plans)

Ensure Mobile Compatibility

Test the dropdown on different devices to ensure a smooth user experience.

Display Quantity Information Clearly

Show a tooltip or message explaining why certain quantities are available.

Use Extendons WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin

This plugin provides the most flexibility, allowing category-based quantity dropdowns, step increments, and restrictions.

Benefits of Using Extendons WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin

Using the Extendons WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin offers:

✔ Easy Setup – No coding required
✔ Category-Based Rules – Apply dropdowns to specific product categories
✔ Custom Quantity Steps – Set different increments for different products
✔ Mobile-Friendly Design – Ensures smooth performance on all devices
✔ Better User Experience – Simplifies quantity selection for customers

FAQs

1. How do I enable a quantity dropdown in WooCommerce?

You can enable a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown using a WooCommerce Quantity Input plugin like Extendons WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin.

2. Can I apply a quantity dropdown to specific categories only?

Yes, with the right plugin, you can restrict the quantity dropdown to specific product categories in WooCommerce.

3. What are the benefits of using a quantity dropdown?

A quantity dropdown makes shopping easier, prevents errors, improves bulk purchasing, and enhances the mobile shopping experience.

4. Can I manually set quantity dropdowns for each product?

Yes, you can manually configure quantity settings per product in WooCommerce Product Data settings, but it is less efficient for large stores.

5. Which plugin is best for WooCommerce quantity dropdowns?

Extendons WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin is a top choice for adding custom quantity rules, category-based dropdowns, and predefined quantity steps.

Conclusion

Adding a WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown for specific product categories is an excellent way to improve the shopping experience. Whether you use a WooCommerce Quantity Input plugin like Extendons WooCommerce Quantity Dropdown Plugin or configure settings manually, this feature helps customers quickly select the right quantity, prevents errors, and optimizes store performance.

By applying category-based quantity dropdowns, you can ensure a more user-friendly, efficient, and well-organized WooCommerce store.