--- title: "Product Sample category, product and variation settings" url: "https://kestrelwp.com/docs/product-sample-category-product-and-variation-settings/" description: "Turn samples on or off and set their price, shipping class and tax per category, product or variation." published: "2026-10-06T20:26:55+00:00" modified: "2026-10-06T20:26:55+00:00" --- Product Sample’s store-wide settings apply to every sample until you override them. You can turn samples on or off and set a different price, shipping class or tax for a category, a product or a single variation, and give a product’s samples their own stock and download files. For the store-wide settings, see [Get started with Product Sample](/docs/get-started-with-product-sample/#product-sample-settings). ## When you’d use this - Offer samples in a few categories only, or switch them off for one category. - Make samples free in one category and charge for them everywhere else. - Charge a different price for samples of a premium product or variation. - Give samples their own stock, separate from the full product. - Give a downloadable product a shorter sample file. ## How Product Sample picks which settings apply For each setting, Product Sample uses the most specific value it finds: the variation, then its parent product, then the product’s category, then the store-wide setting. An empty field passes the choice up to the next level, so you only fill in what’s different. - **Categories:** a sub-category’s settings come before its parent category’s. If a product is in more than one category with its own sample settings, Product Sample uses the first one it finds, so give those categories the same settings. - **Whether samples are on:** a variation or product set to use the global or category settings follows its category, and a category set to **Use global settings** follows **Enable samples for all products**. A level set to disable samples turns them off for everything below it that doesn’t set its own choice. - **A price of 0:** below the store-wide level, a sample price of 0 counts as empty, so the sample takes the price from the level above. To make samples free for a category, product or variation while the store-wide price isn’t, enter `0.00` instead. ## Category settings Go to **Products » Categories** and add or edit a category. The sample fields sit below the standard category fields. ![Product Sample: Category settings (the Product sample rows (Product sample, Sample price, Shipping class, Tax status, Tax class))](https://kestrelwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/product-sample-ps-04.png)### Product sample - **Use global settings** (**Inherit parent settings** on a sub-category): follows the store-wide settings, or the parent category’s. - **Configure the settings for this category individually**: offers samples for every product in the category and its sub-categories, whatever the store-wide setting, and shows the fields below. - **Disable samples**: turns samples off for the category and its sub-categories. When you edit a category and choose to configure it individually, the empty fields are filled in with the store-wide values. Saving stores those values on the category, so later changes to the store-wide settings don’t reach it. ### Sample price The price for samples in this category. Below the store-wide level, enter `0.00` rather than 0 for free samples. ### Shipping class The shipping class for samples in this category. ### Tax status **Taxable**, **Shipping only** or **None** for samples in this category. ### Tax class The tax class for samples in this category. On the **Add new category** form, this list shows the tax statuses instead of your tax classes, so add the category first, then edit it to choose the tax class. ### Product samples column The categories list has a **Product samples** column showing **Enabled** or **Disabled** for each category, and where the choice comes from: "(inherited from global setting)", "(inherited from parent category)", or nothing when the category sets it. ## Product settings Open the product and use the **Product data** box. The sample fields are spread over the **General**, **Inventory** and **Shipping** tabs, next to the matching product fields. ![Product Sample: Product settings (product data box, General tab, from Regular price down to Sample tax class)](https://kestrelwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/product-sample-ps-05.png)### Product samples On the **General** tab of simple and variable products: - **Use global/category settings**: follows the category or store-wide settings. - **Configure the settings for this product individually**: offers samples of this product whatever its category or the store-wide setting says, and shows the product’s own price and tax fields. - **Disable samples for this product**: no sample button for this product. On a variable product, this also covers every variation set to follow the parent product. ### Sample price On simple products configured individually. Leave it empty to use the category or store-wide price, or enter `0.00` for a free sample. Variable products set the price on each variation. ### Sample tax status On products configured individually, when taxes are enabled. **Taxable**, **Shipping only** or **None**. ### Sample tax class On products configured individually, when taxes are enabled. The tax class for this product’s samples. ### Sample stock On the **Inventory** tab, unless samples are disabled for the product. Ticked by default: "Full product and samples share the same stock". Untick it to give samples their own stock (see [how sample stock works](#how-sample-stock-works)). ![Product Sample: Sample stock (product data box, Inventory tab, sample fields)](https://kestrelwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/product-sample-ps-06.png)### Manage sample stock Appears when **Sample stock** is unticked and stock management is on under **WooCommerce » Settings » Products » Inventory**. Tick it to count sample stock, which shows the next three fields. ### Sample stock quantity How many samples you have. On variable products, set sample stock on each variation rather than on the product. ### Allow sample backorders Whether customers can order samples once the sample stock reaches 0, using WooCommerce’s usual choices (**Do not allow**, **Allow, but notify customer**, **Allow**). ### Low sample stock threshold The sample stock level that triggers a low stock notification. Leave it empty to use your store-wide threshold. ### Sample stock status Appears when **Sample stock** is unticked and **Manage sample stock** isn’t on, on simple products. **In stock**, **Out of stock** or **On backorder** for the sample, regardless of the full product’s stock. ### Sample weight On the **Shipping** tab, when **Sample stock** is unticked. Product Sample saves the value, but shipping rates are worked out with the full product’s weight. To charge less to ship a sample, use a shipping class for samples instead. ### Sample dimensions On the **Shipping** tab, when **Sample stock** is unticked. Like **Sample weight**, these are saved but shipping rates use the full product’s dimensions. ### Sample shipping class On the **Shipping** tab, for products configured individually, when **Sample stock** is unticked. A product configured individually uses this field rather than the category or store-wide sample shipping class, even while the field is hidden. Left at **No shipping class**, or hidden, its samples ship with no shipping class. To give them one, untick **Sample stock**, choose the class here and update the product. Unticking **Sample stock** also gives the samples their own stock. ### Sample downloadable files On the **General** tab of downloadable products, unless samples are disabled. Add the files customers get when they order a sample, with **Add File**: a **Name** customers see and the **File URL**. See [downloadable samples](#downloadable-samples). ### Sample download limit How many times a customer can download each sample file. Leave it empty for unlimited downloads. ### Sample download expiry How many days the sample download links last. Leave it empty for links that don’t expire. ## Variation settings Open a variable product, go to **Variations** and expand a variation. Variations without their own settings use the parent product’s, then the category and store-wide settings. ![Product Sample: Variation settings (variable product, Variations tab)](https://kestrelwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/product-sample-ps-07.png)### Variation sample options - **Use global/category/parent product settings**: follows the parent product. - **Configure the settings for this variation individually**: offers samples of this variation and shows its own price, shipping class and tax class. - **Disable samples for this variation**: no sample for this variation, while its other variations keep theirs. ### Samples use product stock Ticked when the variation’s samples come from the variation’s stock. Untick it to give this variation’s samples their own stock. ### Other variation fields A variation’s other sample fields work like the product’s: [Sample price](#sample-price), **Sample shipping class**, [Sample tax class](#sample-tax-class), [Manage sample stock](#manage-sample-stock), [Sample stock quantity](#sample-stock-quantity), [Allow sample backorders](#allow-sample-backorders), **Sample low stock threshold**, [Sample stock status](#sample-stock-status), [Sample weight](#sample-weight), [Sample dimensions](#sample-dimensions) and the sample files. Two differences: - The **Sample price** placeholder shows "0 (inherited)" whatever price the variation inherits. Leave the field empty to inherit, or enter a price. - For **Sample tax class**, **Same as parent** uses the product’s sample tax class. For **Sample shipping class**, **Same as parent** leaves the variation’s samples with no shipping class, so choose the class itself. ## How sample stock works - **Shared stock (the default):** a sample is sold from the full product’s stock. Ordering one reduces the full product’s stock, and samples are available whenever the full product is in stock. - **Own stock, not counted:** with **Sample stock** unticked and **Manage sample stock** off, the **Sample stock status** decides whether samples are available. Sample orders don’t touch the full product’s stock. - **Own stock, counted:** with **Manage sample stock** on, each sample order reduces the sample stock quantity and adds the order note "Sample stock levels reduced". Samples follow your backorder choice once the quantity runs out, and the usual low stock and out of stock notifications are sent. When a simple product is out of stock but its samples have their own stock, its page shows the sample button on its own, so customers can still order a sample. Sample stock that’s counted separately isn’t added back when an order is cancelled or refunded. Adjust **Sample stock quantity** by hand after cancelling a sample order. ## Downloadable samples For a downloadable product, customers who order a sample get the [Sample downloadable files](#sample-downloadable-files) instead of the full product’s files, in their order emails and the **Downloads** tab of My account. The [Sample download limit](#sample-download-limit) applies per sample ordered, and the [Sample download expiry](#sample-download-expiry) counts from the day the order is completed. If a sample has no files of its own, customers who order it get no download. Each order gives access to one sample file: the first file of the first downloadable sample in the order. Put each sample’s content in a single file, such as a zip, and if a customer needs files from several samples, have them order those samples separately. When you save the product, WooCommerce’s file checks apply to sample files too. A file that fails one shows "The downloadable file … cannot be used as it does not exist on the server." or "The downloadable file … cannot be used as it does not have an allowed file type. Allowed types include: …" and isn’t saved. ## Common issues ### A free sample price for a category or product still charges a price A sample price of 0 below the store-wide level counts as empty, so the sample takes the price from the level above. Enter `0.00`. ### Samples of one product ship without the sample shipping class The product is set to **Configure the settings for this product individually**, so it uses its own [Sample shipping class](#sample-shipping-class). Untick **Sample stock**, then set it on the product (this also gives its samples their own stock), or switch the product back to **Use global/category settings** and set its sample price and shipping class on its category. ### A variation’s samples ship without a shipping class The variation’s **Sample shipping class** is **Same as parent**. Choose the class itself. ### Sample weight doesn’t change the shipping cost Shipping rates use the full product’s weight and dimensions. Give samples their own shipping class and set its cost in your shipping zones. ### The category Tax class list shows Taxable, Shipping only and None That’s the **Add new category** form. Add the category, then edit it and choose the tax class there. ### Customers can download only one sample file Each order gives access to the first file of the first downloadable sample. See [downloadable samples](#downloadable-samples). ### Sample stock doesn’t go back up after a cancelled order Sample stock counted separately isn’t restored. Update **Sample stock quantity** on the product or variation. ### The category says Enabled, but a product shows no sample button Something more specific turns samples off or hides them: the product’s **Product samples** setting, the variation’s **Variation sample options**, or stock. Work through [the sample button checklist](/docs/get-started-with-product-sample/#the-sample-button-doesn-t-show-on-a-product). ## Keep learning - [Get started with Product Sample](/docs/get-started-with-product-sample/) (store-wide settings, the follow-up email and what customers see) - [Product Sample developer reference](/docs/product-sample-developer-reference/) (the sample object and its hooks)