To run a successful WooCommerce store, however, takes more than just product addition—it's about providing a smooth, easy-to-use shopping experience. Part of this is stock visibility management. Shoppers won't like seeing items that are out of stock, something that tends to frustrate and drive them away. This is where the WooCommerce hide out of stock products feature comes in handy.

Using this feature (or a hide out of stock products WooCommerce plugin), you can have out-of-stock products automatically hidden from your storefront so that customers see only what's available to buy.

Here, in this article, we will discuss why and when you should hide out of stock WooCommerce products, how to turn on this feature, and why you should use a specialized plugin for more control.

Why Hide Out of Stock Products in WooCommerce?

If your store shows out of stock items, customers can:

Waste time searching for products they cannot purchase.

Feel let down when they arrive at the checkout.

Lose confidence in your store's reliability.

With WooCommerce hide out of stock products, you provide a professional shopping experience where in-stock products are alone visible. This increases customer satisfaction and enhances sales conversion.

How to Hide Out of Stock Products WooCommerce (Default Settings)

WooCommerce has a default option to do this. Here's how you can easily turn it on:

Navigate to WordPress Dashboard → WooCommerce → Settings.

Click on the Products tab.

Click Inventory.

Make sure to check the box beside Hide out of stock items from the catalog.

Save changes.

That's it! All out-of-stock items are automatically hidden from the store.

Limitations of Default WooCommerce Hide Out of Stock Products

Although the default option works, it is not flexible. For instance:

You can't hide out-of-stock products just from particular categories.

It does not enable you to substitute products with "Back in Stock Soon" notifications.

There is no feature to show substitute products where products are out of stock.

This is the reason why most store owners like to utilize a hide out of stock products WooCommerce plugin for greater control.

Benefits of Using a Hide Out of Stock Products WooCommerce Plugin

A plugin adds to the capabilities of the standard settings. With it, you can:

Category-Specific Hiding
Hide products exclusively in specific categories without making them hidden in others.

Custom Stock Messages
Rather than simply deleting out-of-stock items, you can display a message such as "Coming Soon" or "Restocking Next Week."

Search & Filter Control
Block out-of-stock items from appearing in search results or layered navigation.

Alternative Product Suggestions
Replace hidden items with alternative products to keep shoppers interested.

Improved User Experience
Enhance professionalism in stores and limit frustration.

How to Hide Out of Stock WooCommerce Products with a Plugin

Install Plugin
Look for a dependable hide out of stock products WooCommerce plugin from the WordPress repository or premium vendors.

Activate & Configure
Proceed to settings and select whether to hide products globally or category-wise.

Customize Options

Include custom messages.

Determine visibility on search results.

Select replacement products.

Save & Test
Inspect your store as a buyer would to make sure hidden items are functioning properly.

Use Cases for Hiding Out of Stock Products WooCommerce

Fashion & Apparel Stores
Don't let customers view sold-out sizes.

Electronics & Gadgets
Hide out-of-stock models while showing only the newest stock.

Grocery & Essentials
Keep product lists fresh by hiding quickly depleted items.

Seasonal Stores
Hide merchandise after the season finishes rather than removing them.

Wholesale Stores
Hide bulk items automatically when out of stock.

SEO Implications of Hiding Out of Stock Products

Although WooCommerce hide out of stock products is excellent for user experience, you should take SEO considerations into account:

Hidden pages can cut down on indexed content.

Employ redirects when permanently stopping a product.

Display "restock soon" messages for temporary lack of availability.

Getting the balance right ensures that you don't lose coveted search traffic.

Last Words

The WooCommerce hide out of stock products functionality is crucial in ensuring you have a professional, friendly online shop. Although the native WooCommerce functionality will suffice for simple purposes, with a hide out of stock products WooCommerce plugin, you have complete control, flexibility, and customization possibilities.

By concealing out-of-stock products, you enhance the shopping experience, minimize frustration among customers, and maximize conversions. To drive your store to the next level, it should be a priority to enable hide out of stock WooCommerce functionality.