How to organize product categories on WooCommerce

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Organize WooCommerce product categories by accessing Products > Categories in your WordPress admin, creating hierarchical category structures, and setting parent-child relationships. Use clear naming conventions and assign products to appropriate categories for better navigation and customer experience.

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Prerequisites

WordPress admin access
WooCommerce plugin installed
Basic understanding of product categorization
Some products already added to your store

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access the Product Categories Section

Log into your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Products > Categories. This will open the category management interface where you can view all existing categories and create new ones.

Bookmark this page if you plan to frequently manage categories

Create Main Parent Categories

In the Add New Category section on the left, enter your main category name in the Name field. Add a user-friendly Slug (URL-friendly version) and write a brief Description. Leave Parent set to None for top-level categories. Click Add New Category.

Use broad, descriptive names for parent categories like 'Electronics' or 'Clothing'

Set Up Subcategories

To create subcategories, fill in the category details as before, but select an existing category from the Parent dropdown menu. For example, under 'Electronics', you might add 'Smartphones', 'Laptops', and 'Accessories'. This creates a hierarchical structure.

Limit subcategory depth to 2-3 levels to avoid confusing customers

Add Category Images and Customize Display

Click Upload/Add image to add a category thumbnail. Set the Display type to show Products, Subcategories, or Both. Configure how many products to show per page in the category view.

Use consistent image sizes (e.g., 300x300px) for a professional appearance

Organize Existing Categories

In the categories list on the right, use the Quick Edit link to modify category details. To change hierarchy, edit a category and select a different parent from the dropdown. Use the drag-and-drop feature to reorder categories if your theme supports it.

Review and reorganize categories periodically as your product catalog grows

Assign Products to Categories

Go to Products > All Products and edit individual products. In the Product Categories meta box, check the appropriate categories for each product. You can assign products to multiple categories if needed.

Use bulk edit to assign multiple products to categories simultaneously

Configure Category Display Settings

Navigate to Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce > Product Catalog. Set your Shop page display and Default category display options. Choose whether to show categories, products, or both on your main shop page.

Test different display options to see what works best for your customer flow

Set Up Category Menus

Go to Appearance > Menus and add your product categories to your navigation menu. Expand the Product Categories section, select relevant categories, and click Add to Menu. Arrange them in a logical order and create dropdown menus for subcategories.

Include only your most important categories in the main navigation to avoid clutter

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Categories not displaying in correct order

Check if your theme supports category ordering. Install a plugin like Custom Taxonomy Order or use the menu_order field in category settings to control display sequence.

Products not showing in assigned categories

Verify the product is Published and not in Draft status. Check if the category is properly assigned in the product edit screen under Product Categories. Clear any caching plugins.

Category images not displaying properly

Ensure images meet your theme's recommended dimensions. Go to Settings > Media and regenerate thumbnails using a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails. Check theme documentation for required image sizes.

Empty categories showing on frontend

Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display and enable Hide empty categories. Alternatively, manually hide empty categories by setting them to private or removing them from menus.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official WooCommerce website before purchasing.

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