# Add variants and use the variant matrix

**Category:** [Product Catalog](https://help.totalctrl.app/hc/totalctrl/totalctrl-help-center/en-US/categories/pim)
**Updated:** 2026-08-19

## What variants are

Variants are the individual sellable SKUs under a product — for example a t-shirt product with Small/Medium/Large in Red/Blue. Each variant has its own SKU, optional barcode, position and active flag.
## Add variants one at a time

On the product detail page, add a variant by entering its SKU and optional barcode, position and active status. Variants count against your plan's SKU limit, so you'll be warned if adding one would exceed it.
## Generate variants with the matrix

If your product's family defines **variant axes** (for example `size` and `color`), open the **Variant Matrix** from the product. The matrix reads each axis attribute and its available options, then lets you pick the values to combine.

- Select the values you want on each axis.
- Click **Generate** to preview every SKU combination. Each generated SKU is built from the product SKU plus the axis values, and the preview flags any that already exist.
- Click **Save** to bulk-create the new variants. The selected axis values are stored as attribute values on each variant.

## Good to know

- Generating the preview does not write anything — only Save creates records.
- Existing SKUs and blank rows are skipped automatically, so you can re-run the matrix safely.
- If saving would push you past the SKU limit, the operation stops and reports how many were created before the cap.

You can later edit or delete any variant individually from the product page.

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## Related Articles

- [Managing Products](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/managing-products)
- [Build product feeds for shopping channels](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/build-product-feeds)
- [Organize with families, attributes and categories](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/organize-with-families-attributes-categories)
- [Import products in bulk](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/import-products-in-bulk)
- [Create and publish a product](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/create-and-publish-a-product)

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