Running a successful WooCommerce store requires more than just adding products—it’s about creating a seamless, user-friendly shopping experience. One important aspect of this is managing stock visibility. Shoppers don’t want to see unavailable items, which often leads to frustration and cart abandonment. That’s where the WooCommerce hide out of stock products feature comes in.
By using this option (or a hide out of stock products WooCommerce plugin), you can automatically remove unavailable products from your storefront, ensuring customers only see what’s ready for purchase.
In this guide, we’ll cover why it’s essential to hide out of stock WooCommerce products, how to enable it, and the benefits of using a dedicated plugin for better control.
Why Hide Out of Stock Products in WooCommerce?
If your store displays unavailable products, customers may:
Waste time browsing items they can’t buy.
Feel disappointed when they reach the checkout.
Lose trust in your store’s reliability.
By using WooCommerce hide out of stock products, you create a professional shopping experience where only in-stock items are visible. This improves customer satisfaction and boosts sales conversion.
How to Hide Out of Stock Products WooCommerce (Default Settings)
WooCommerce comes with a built-in option to manage this. Here’s how you can quickly enable it:
Go to WordPress Dashboard → WooCommerce → Settings.
Select the Products tab.
Click Inventory.
Check the box next to Hide out of stock items from the catalog.
Save changes.
That’s it! Now, all unavailable products are hidden from the store automatically.
Limitations of Default WooCommerce Hide Out of Stock Products
While the built-in option works, it lacks flexibility. For example:
You cannot hide out-of-stock items only from specific categories.
It doesn’t allow you to replace products with “Back in Stock Soon” messages.
There’s no option to display alternative products when items are unavailable.
This is why many store owners prefer using a hide out of stock products WooCommerce plugin for advanced control.
Benefits of Using a Hide Out of Stock Products WooCommerce Plugin
A plugin extends the functionality of the default settings. With it, you can:
Category-Specific Hiding
Hide products only in selected categories while keeping them visible in others.
Custom Stock Messages
Instead of simply removing unavailable items, you can show a message like “Coming Soon” or “Restocking Next Week.”
Search & Filter Control
Prevent out-of-stock items from showing up in search results or layered navigation.
Alternative Product Suggestions
Replace hidden items with related products to keep customers engaged.
Better User Experience
Improve store professionalism and reduce frustration.
How to Hide Out of Stock WooCommerce Products with a Plugin
Install Plugin
Search for a reliable hide out of stock products WooCommerce plugin from the WordPress repository or premium providers.
Activate & Configure
Go to settings and choose whether to hide items globally or category-wise.
Customize Options
Add custom messages.
Decide visibility on search results.
Choose replacement products.
Save & Test
Check your store as a customer would to ensure hidden items are working as expected.
Use Cases for Hiding Out of Stock Products WooCommerce
Fashion & Apparel Stores
Prevent customers from seeing sold-out sizes.
Electronics & Gadgets
Hide unavailable models while displaying only the latest stock.
Grocery & Essentials
Keep product listings updated by hiding items that run out quickly.
Seasonal Stores
Hide items after the season ends instead of deleting them.
Wholesale Stores
Automatically hide bulk items when unavailable.
SEO Considerations When Hiding Out of Stock Products
While WooCommerce hide out of stock products is great for user experience, you should consider SEO implications:
Hidden pages may reduce indexed content.
Use redirects if permanently discontinuing a product.
Show “restock soon” messages for temporary unavailability.
A good balance ensures you don’t lose valuable search traffic.
Final Thoughts
The WooCommerce hide out of stock products feature is essential for maintaining a professional, user-friendly online store. While the default WooCommerce option works for basic needs, using a hide out of stock products WooCommerce plugin gives you full control, flexibility, and customization options.
By hiding unavailable items, you improve the shopping experience, reduce customer frustration, and boost conversions. If you want to take your store to the next level, enabling hide out of stock WooCommerce functionality should be a top priority.
