Discounts are one of the best ways to attract buyers, clear out inventory, and increase your sales. With WooCommerce, offering targeted discounts becomes even easier. A WooCommerce category discount lets you apply a discount to all products within a specific category, saving you time and effort while encouraging bulk purchases.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up WooCommerce category discounts step-by-step and explore the benefits they bring to your online store.
What Is a WooCommerce Category Discount?
A WooCommerce category discount is a discount applied to all products within a specific category. For example:
- Offer 20% off on all “Winter Clothing” products.
- Set a $10 discount on all items in the “Electronics Accessories” category.
This approach is ideal for seasonal promotions, category-specific sales, or encouraging customers to explore less popular product ranges.
Benefits of WooCommerce Category Discounts
- Simplifies Pricing Strategies
Category discounts allow you to streamline your pricing by applying consistent discounts to similar products. - Encourages Bulk Purchases
Customers are more likely to buy multiple items from the same category if they see a category-wide discount. - Boosts Sales During Seasonal Campaigns
Apply discounts to seasonal categories like “Summer Collection” or “Holiday Gifts” to maximize sales during peak times. - Saves Time
Instead of setting discounts for each product manually, category discounts allow you to update prices in bulk with just a few clicks.
How to Create a WooCommerce Category Discount
Here are three popular methods to create a WooCommerce category discount:
1. Use a WooCommerce Discount Plugin
The easiest way to create category discounts is by using a plugin like WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing & Discounts or Discount Rules for WooCommerce.
Steps to Set Up Category Discounts with a Plugin:
- Install and Activate the Plugin
- Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New, and search for your preferred discount plugin.
- Install and activate the plugin.
- Create a New Discount Rule
- Navigate to the plugin’s settings page and select Add New Rule.
- Choose the “Category Discount” option.
- Configure Discount Details
- Select the category you want to apply the discount to.
- Specify the discount type (percentage, fixed amount, or buy X get Y).
- Define conditions, such as minimum purchase amount or cart quantity.
- Save and Test
- Save your discount rule, then test it on your website to ensure it’s working correctly.
2. Create Category Discounts Using WooCommerce Coupons
WooCommerce’s built-in coupon feature also supports category-specific discounts.
Steps to Apply a Coupon for a Category Discount:
- Create a Coupon
- Go to your WooCommerce dashboard and navigate to Marketing > Coupons > Add New.
- Set Coupon Details
- Enter a coupon code (e.g., WINTER20) and description.
- Set the discount type (e.g., percentage or fixed amount) and specify the discount value.
- Restrict the Coupon to a Category
- In the Usage Restrictions tab, select the product category you want to include in the discount.
- Publish the Coupon
- Save the coupon, then promote it to your customers via email or social media.
3. Apply Discounts Manually in Product Settings
If you prefer not to use plugins, you can manually update the prices of products in a category.
Steps:
- Navigate to Products > Categories in your WooCommerce dashboard.
- Filter products by category.
- Edit each product’s price to reflect the discount manually.
While this method works for smaller stores, it can be time-consuming for stores with a large inventory.
Best Practices for WooCommerce Category Discounts
- Set Clear Timeframes
Add a start and end date to your discounts to create urgency and encourage quick purchases. - Promote Your Discounts
Use banners, pop-ups, and email campaigns to inform customers about your category discounts. - Combine with Other Offers
Pair category discounts with free shipping or volume discounts for maximum impact. - Monitor Performance
Use analytics tools to track the success of your category discounts and optimize future campaigns accordingly.
Conclusion
Creating a WooCommerce category discount is a straightforward way to boost sales, simplify pricing, and enhance the shopping experience for your customers. Whether you use plugins, coupons, or manual methods, the flexibility of WooCommerce ensures you can customize your discounts to meet your business goals.