How To Create Subcategories in Shopify
Introduction
Shopify doesn’t work with traditional category → subcategory structures like other eCommerce platforms. Instead, Shopify uses collections to organize products. But don’t worry, you can still create a smooth subcategory system for your store using smart workarounds such as:
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Automated collections
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Navigation menus
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Product tags with filters
In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the ways to add subcategories in Shopify and make your store easier for customers to browse.
Why Use Subcategories in Shopify
- Better navigation can help customers drill down to find exactly what they are looking for.
- It improved the SEO.
- Improve the conversions so customers can browse with fewer clicks.
Methods for creating Subcategories in Shopify
There are different methods for adding subcategories in Shopify. Some of these are given below.
- Create Subcategories Using Automated Collections
- Create Subcategories with Navigation Menus
- Use Product Tags as Subcategories
Method 1: Create Subcategories Using Automated Collections
Shopify collections can act as both categories and subcategories. For example, create the main category as Clothing and subcategories as Men’s Clothing, Women’s Clothing, etc. Follow these steps to create subcategories.
Step 1: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Products > Collections.
Step 2: Click on the Add collection button.
Step 3: Name the main category as Clothing.
Step 4: Select the smart collection type, set conditions (eg, Product tag is Clothing), and save the changes.
Step 5: Again, click on the add collection button.
Step 6: Repeat the same process for Men’s Clothing and Women’s Clothing and add proper tags.
Step 7: When adding or editing products, add tags like Men, Women, etc
Step 8: Products will automatically add to the relevant categories.
Method 2: Create Subcategories with Navigation Menus
Shopify Navigation menus allow you to create nested menus where you can show one Main category and its subcategories. Here is the final result. Check the GIF below to see how it will look before we go through the steps.
Step 1: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Content > Menus
Step 2: Edit the existing one, like Main Menu, or create a new one by clicking the Add menu button.
Step 3: Add the new Item as Clothing.
Step 4: Under the Clothing, add subcategories and link to the appropriate collections, and click Save.
Method 3: Use Product Tags as Subcategories
Shopify product tags can be used as categories, especially using the Shopify filter system. Here is the final result. Check the GIF below to see how it will look before we go through the steps.
Step 1: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Products
Step 2: Choose the product that you want to update.
Step 3: Add tags like Men, Women, Shoes, Shirt, etc.
Step 4: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Apps > Search & Discovery App and click on the Customize filters button.
Step 5: Add the tag filters using the add filter button.
Step 6: Save the changes.
Bottom Line
The easier you make browsing, the more sales you’ll win!
Even though Shopify doesn’t have a native subcategory feature, you can achieve the same result using collections, navigation menus, and product tags. With the right setup, customers will enjoy smoother navigation, better search visibility, and a faster path to checkout.
If you ever want expert help setting up a professional navigation or store layout, our Shopify experts can assist in optimizing both structure and usability.
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