BugWP logo BugWP
Back to Community
Home / Community / Plugin → Variation swatches for woocommerce

Why Your Variation Swatch Price Doesn't Update Correctly (And How to Fix It)

22 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Variation swatches for woocommerce

Content

If you're using the Variation Swatches for WooCommerce plugin and notice that your product prices aren't updating correctly when customers select different options, you're not alone. This is a common issue that can frustrate store owners and customers alike. Let's explore why this happens and the most effective troubleshooting steps to resolve it.

Understanding the Problem

The core function of the Variation Swatches for WooCommerce plugin is to replace the default WooCommerce dropdown menus with visually appealing color, image, or button swatches. It does not control the underlying price calculation logic, which remains a function of WooCommerce itself.

When a price flashes briefly or reverts to a previous amount after selecting a swatch, it typically indicates a conflict. This conflict is often between the plugin's JavaScript (which handles the swatch interface) and your theme's or another plugin's JavaScript (which might be trying to handle the price display).

Common Causes and Solutions

1. Theme or Plugin Conflict

This is the most frequent cause of price display issues. Another script on your site could be interfering with the standard WooCommerce variation price update process.

How to troubleshoot:

  • Deactivate Variation Swatches Temporarily: Go to your WordPress admin dashboard and temporarily deactivate the Variation Swatches for WooCommerce plugin.
  • Test Default Behavior: Visit your product page. You should now see the standard WooCommerce dropdowns instead of swatches. Select different variations. If the price updates correctly without the plugin active, it confirms that the core WooCommerce functionality is working. The issue is likely a conflict that only occurs when the swatches are enabled.
  • Identify the Culprit: Reactivate the Variation Swatches plugin. Then, temporarily switch your theme to a default WordPress theme like Storefront or Twenty Twenty-Four. If the problem is resolved, the conflict is with your original theme. If not, begin deactivating other plugins one by one (especially any related to product pages, pricing, or AJAX), testing after each deactivation, until you find which one is causing the issue.

2. Caching Issues

Aggressive caching can sometimes serve an old version of the page that doesn't reflect the new price after a variation is selected.

How to fix it:

  • Clear all caching on your site, including any server-level cache (like Varnish), your WordPress caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache), and your CDN (e.g., Cloudflare).
  • If you are using a caching plugin, check its settings to see if you can exclude the product pages or specific scripts from being cached.

3. JavaScript Errors

A JavaScript error from any source can halt scripts on the page, preventing the price update script from running completely.

How to check:

  • Open your browser's developer tools (usually by pressing F12).
  • Go to the "Console" tab.
  • Refresh your product page and select a variation swatch.
  • Look for any red error messages in the console. These errors can point to the source of the problem, whether it's a theme, plugin, or custom code snippet.

What This Plugin Does (and Doesn't Do)

It's important to have the right expectations for the Variation Swatches for WooCommerce plugin. Based on community discussions, the plugin's primary role is visual. It does not inherently add these advanced pricing features:

  • Displaying prices on the swatches themselves or in tooltips.
  • Adding a fixed amount (e.g., +$5.00) to a base price for a specific attribute.
  • Creating complex, conditional pricing based on multiple attribute selections.
  • Bulk editing variation prices.

For these advanced pricing structures, you would typically need additional WooCommerce extensions or custom development.

Conclusion

Price display issues with variation swatches are almost always due to a conflict. The most reliable way to diagnose the problem is through a process of elimination: temporarily deactivating the swatches plugin, testing with a default theme, and checking for other plugin conflicts. By systematically following these steps, you can identify the root cause and restore correct price functionality to your product pages.

Related Support Threads Support