Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a Stock Manager for WooCommerce

Managing product inventory is one of the most crucial aspects of running a successful online store. Not every online store succeeds in WooCommerce stock management. 

This success is defined by the prevention of lost sales due to out-of-stock items. Keeping the stock levels up is only possible when you have a stock manager for your WooCommerce store.  

For your WooCommerce store, the WooCommerce Stock Manager plugin makes it incredibly easy to manage inventory from a single, user-friendly dashboard.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up and use the Stock Manager for WooCommerce to take full control of your store’s inventory.

What is the WooCommerce Stock Manager Plugin?

The WooCommerce Stock Manager plugin is a powerful inventory management tool that allows store owners to view and manage stock levels for all products and product variations from a single screen. Instead of manually updating each product individually, this plugin gives you an Excel-style interface to:

• Update stock quantities
• Manage product SKUs
• Adjust stock status (in stock, out of stock, back-ordered)
• Set product pricing
• Export and import inventory data via CSV

This is one of the best tools to choose for your store when you are looking for efficient ways to change the out-of-stock text. 

Steps Necessary For WooCommerce Stock Management

Follow the steps below to manage your WooCommerce stock effortlessly:

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

To get started, you’ll first need to install the WooCommerce stock management plugin.

How to install:

• Go to your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
• In the search bar, type “Stock Manager for WooCommerce”.
• Locate the plugin and click Install Now.
• Once installed, click Activate.

Step 2: Access the Stock Manager

Once activated, you can find the Stock Manager by navigating to:

WooCommerce > Stock Manager

This will open a spreadsheet-style interface displaying your entire product catalog. You’ll see essential product information such as:

• Product name and thumbnail
• SKU
• Stock status
• Stock quantity
• Regular and sale prices
• Product variations (if applicable)

Step 3: Configure Columns and Layout

Before diving into editing, you can customize the layout of the stock table. Options include:

• Selecting which columns to show or hide (e.g., SKU, price, stock quantity)
• Filtering products by category or stock status
• Searching by product name or SKU

This flexibility allows you to focus only on the WooCommerce stock data that matters most to you.

Step 4: Update Stock Information

Now you’re ready to make changes directly within the stock manager table. Editable fields include:

• SKU – Update or assign unique product SKUs.
• Stock Quantity – Enter or adjust the available stock count.
• Stock Status—Choose between “In stock,” “Out of stock,” or “Backorder.”
• Price—Update regular and sale prices easily.
• Weight and Dimensions—If you manage shipping by weight or size, these fields can also be updated from the table.

Each field behaves like a spreadsheet cell; simply click on a cell, make your changes, and press Enter.

Must Read: 10 Reasons to Use a WooCommerce Stock Management Plugin for Your Online Store

Step 5: Save Your Changes

To apply changes, click the Save button at the top or bottom of the table. There’s also a bulk save option to save multiple updates simultaneously.

Note: Make sure to save your changes before switching pages or filters to avoid losing any edits.

Step 6: Manage Product Variations

If you sell products with variations (e.g., sizes or colors), the WooCommerce Stock Manager plugin makes it simple to manage each one individually.

To view product variations:

• Click the + icon next to a variable product.
• The table will expand to show all variations.
• Edit stock quantity, price, SKU, or status for each variation.

This is a huge time-saver compared to editing variations from the product edit screen one by one. Choosing a WooCommerce stock management plugin is a plus as it allows you to manage product attributes and stock effortlessly. 

Step 7: Use CSV Import and Export

If you prefer working with spreadsheets or need to make mass changes, you can export your product data, edit it externally, and re-import it.

To Export:

• Click the Export CSV button to download a CSV of your current stock.

To Import:

• After making your changes in Excel or Google Sheets, return to the Stock Manager page and click Import CSV.
• Select your file and click Upload.

The plugin will update your product inventory based on the changes you’ve made in the file.

Tip: Always keep a backup of your original CSV before importing any changes.

Step 8: Filter and Sort Your Products

Need to quickly find low-stock or out-of-stock items? Use the built-in filtering tools.

You can filter by:

• Product category
• Stock status (In stock, Out of stock, Backorder)
• SKU
• Product type (Simple, Variable, Grouped)

Sorting columns by stock quantity, name, or price also helps you identify slow movers or bestsellers at a glance.

Step 9: Customize User Access

If you run a team, you may want to control who has access to stock management.

Some store owners use role management plugins to restrict access to the Stock Manager only to admins or store managers. This ensures that staff or content creators won’t accidentally edit product inventory.

Step 10: Keep Inventory Up to Date

Once you’re set up, make it a habit to check your stock regularly. The WooCommerce Stock Manager plugin allows you to stay organized, avoid overselling, and ensure that product availability on your site is always accurate.

Many store owners schedule a weekly or biweekly review to keep their stock up-to-date, especially during peak seasons.

The plugin you choose must offer you all the above-mentioned features to get the best stock management experience. Better to look for the features in the stock management plugin before making the final decision. 

Note: Go through the plugin documentation to learn more about how the plugin works. 

Ready To Manage WooCommerce Stock?

If you're serious about running a WooCommerce store efficiently, having a proper stock management system is non-negotiable. The WooCommerce Stock Manager plugin makes it incredibly easy to stay on top of your inventory without having to click through endless product pages.

With bulk editing, variation support, CSV import/export, and a clean, centralized dashboard, it’s one of the best tools available for WooCommerce store owners.

Buy Now