How to Create Product Bundles in Shopify Using Variant Metafields (No Apps Required)

Table of Contents

1. Why use metafields for bundles?
2. Step 1: Add a metafield definition
3. Step 2: Add bundle components to variants
4. Step 3: Liquid logic to check availability
5. Step 4: Show or disable the add-to-cart button
6. Conclusion

Why use metafields for bundles?

Shopify doesn’t support real bundles natively, and apps can be slow, bloated, or expensive. With a bit of Liquid and metafields, you can create virtual bundles that reuse existing SKUs, track real inventory, and update dynamically depending on selected variant.

Step 1: Add a metafield definition

Go to Settings → Metafields and metaobjects in your Shopify Admin. Then:

1. Click Variants
2. Click Add definition
3. Call it something like “Bundle Components”
4. Set Namespace and key to: custom.bundle_components
5. Choose Single line text as the content type
6. Click Save

Step 2: Add bundle components to variants

Now go to any product you want to use as a bundle. For each variant (e.g. Size M, Size L), scroll down to the Metafields section.

Insert a comma-separated list of SKUs that make up this bundle variant. For example:

SKU123, SKU456, SKU789

Each of these must correspond to existing variant SKUs in your store (that are actively stocked).

Step 3: Liquid logic to check availability

Paste this near the top of your product template:

{% raw %}
{% liquid
  assign variant_available = current_variant.available
  assign bundle_skus = current_variant.metafields.custom.bundle_components | split: ','
  assign is_bundle = false
  assign is_bundle_available = true

  if bundle_skus.size > 0 and bundle_skus.first != blank
    assign is_bundle = true

    for sku in bundle_skus
      assign trimmed_sku = sku | strip
      assign found_variant = nil

      for p in collections.all.products
        for v in p.variants
          if v.sku == trimmed_sku
            assign found_variant = v
          endif
        endfor
      endfor

      if found_variant == nil or found_variant.available == false
        assign is_bundle_available = false
      endif
    endfor
  endif
%}
{% endraw %}

This block checks if the variant is a bundle, and whether all its components are in stock.

Step 4: Show or disable the add-to-cart button

Now, update your button text logic (and disable state) like this:

{% raw %}

  {% if variant_available and is_bundle_available %}
    {{ button_text }}
  {% else %}
    sold out
  {% endif %}

{% endraw %}

You can also update Alpine.js or Vue bindings with similar logic if you’re using a JS framework.

Conclusion

This approach gives you full control over Shopify bundles:

• No paid apps
• Faster page load (no injected JS)
• Real inventory sync — since you’re using real SKUs
• Variant-specific bundles for sizes, colours, kits, and more

Need help implementing this on your theme? I work with Shopify stores running custom themes like Label and Dawn — and can help you build performant, flexible bundle logic with zero bloat.