How to change the weight unit in WooCommerce (no Code required)!

Sometimes the built-in weight units in WooCommerce may not be enough. Especially, if you’d like to sell a WooCommerce product by weight and change the unit of measure. Read more to learn how to handle weight in WooCommerce!

WooCommerce product weight unit

By default, WooCommerce lets you show the product weight on the product page.

Let’s see how to use the built-in function to change the product weight unit. If you like to set the new units of measure and sell products by weight, see the third solution below.

Table of contents

• Change weight unit in WooCommerce
  • Solution 1: by the built-in option
  • Solution 2: programmatically
  • Solution 3: with a free plugin
• Change the weight unit in WooCommerce - Quick Guide
• Sell a WooCommerce product by a new weight unit

Change weight unit in WooCommerce

Basically, each of the following solutions addresses different issues you want to solve.

First, you may want to simply show the information about the product weight. Here you can set and use standard WooCommerce settings to define the weight unit (solution 1).

Also, you may add a new weight unit for WooCommerce products with a few lines of code (solution 2). Of course, if you need a new weight unit.

Finally, if the informational purposes are not enough, you may use a plugin to change the weight unit, set the new unit of measure, and sell products by weight (solution 3).

So, let’s see each solution closer.

Solution 1: by the built-in option

First, you may simply define the product WooCommerce weight that will be visible on the product page.

1. Go to the product Edit screen -> Product Data section -> Shipping tab and enter the product weight.
   
2. If you want to change the weight unit for all WooCommerce products, go to WooCommerce -> Settings -> Products -> General tab. Here you can change the weight and dimensions unit for the WooCommerce product.
   By default, you can choose kg, g, lbs, or oz for the weight unit (and m, cm, mm, in, or yd for dimensions). Please note that this setting will work for all products!
   
3. The information about the product weight will appear on the product page in the Additional Information section. In the example below, I've changed the weight unit to grams.
   

In that solution, your customer will see more information about the product. But that’s not all, of course.

Because you may want to calculate the shipping cost based on the product weight later on (with a custom code, or a plugin)! That will give you more flexibility with your shipping costs.

Solution 2: programmatically

The first solution may suffice, but how to choose the product weight unit that is not there? It’s quite simple. You can add a new weight unit with this small code (add this to the functions.php file of your WordPress theme or use the code in a separate plugin).

Then, you will be able to change the WooCommerce weight unit for a custom one.

That solution will be obviously useful if you sell products in mg, pallets, or packages.

The new weight unit will then appear on the product page.

Solution 3: with a free plugin

Now, how about selling your products based on the weight unit itself?

In that case, the above solutions will not be enough. On the other hand, you may use a free plugin to set the product’s new unit of measurement (including weight units).

So, in other words, you will be able to sell a product based on a new unit of measure.

Imagine using the plugin and its features in your store!

Change the weight unit in WooCommerce - Quick Guide

Now, let's look at how to easily set the new unit of measurement and start selling products based on the weight with a free WooCommerce extension:

1. First, start by installing the free plugin.
    
   Download the plugin →
    
2. Then, set the new weight unit for the WooCommerce product.
   
3. And that's it! You will now sell the product with the new unit of measure.
   

Sell a WooCommerce product by a new weight unit

Now, if you like to change the product price and shipping class based on the quantity of the new unit of measure, you can also do that! These features are available in the PRO version of the plugin.

Summary

Today, you’ve learned that changing the weight unit of WooCommerce products is quite simple. What’s more, now you know, that if you want to sell products based on several new units of measure you may use a plugin!

Download the free plugin. Also, see all functionalities in the plugin documentation.

Finally, test the PRO version in a free demo! And, if you have any questions, let us know.

And, one last thing! If you want to know more read about:

• WooCommerce price calculator free plugin and dynamic product price calculations based on the new unit of measure
• Using new units of measurement for WooCommerce products
• Adding product dimensions and selling one, two, and three-dimensional products based on the user input
• All features and settings in the plugin documentation