---
title: "How to Create a Product Archive Template in WordPress for Free?"
url: https://nexterwp.com/docs/create-product-archive-template-in-wordpress/
date: 2023-04-24
modified: 2026-08-18
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "Are you looking to create a custom product archive template for your WooCommerce store? By default, WooCommerce comes with a basic product archive template, but creating a custom one can..."
image: https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/create-product-archive-template-in-wordpress-1024x519.jpg
word_count: 581
---

# How to Create a Product Archive Template in WordPress for Free?

## Key Takeaways

- Nexter Extension (Free) provides the Theme Builder path for creating a custom product archive template in WordPress, and WooCommerce must be installed.
- Nexter Theme Builder starts a product archive template from Dashboard > Nexter Extension > Theme Builder > Add New Template, then Archive Page is selected in the template dropdown.
- Display conditions support multiple locations, including Default Products Archive, Products: Product categories, Products: First Child Category, Products: All Child Category, and Products: Product tags.

Are you looking to create a custom product archive template for your WooCommerce store? By default, WooCommerce comes with a basic product archive template, but creating a custom one can help enhance the user experience and make your store stand out.

***Requirement  – This is a feature of Nexter Extension (Free) plugin, make sure its installed & activated to enjoy all its powers.***

With the Nexter Theme Builder, you can create custom product archive templates that can resonate with your brand.

> *Note: You must have the WooCommerce plugin installed.*

To create a product archive template using the Nexter Theme Builder, follow the steps –

1. From the Dashboard, go to **Nexter Extension** > **Theme Builder** > **Add New Template**.

2. In the popup, select **Archive Page** from the **Select Template** dropdown.

3. Then, in the **Name of Template** field, add the template name.

4. Then, click on the **Next** button.

5. On the next screen, you have to set the appropriate display conditions. From the **Include/Exclude** dropdown, you can choose whether to show or hide the template in the selected locations.

6. Then from the second dropdown, you have to select the location. Here you’ll find many product archive template related location options under the **Products** label -

- **Default Products Archive** - This will target the default products archive page i.e the shop page.

- **Products : Product categories** -  This will target the product category page, you can also select individual product categories from **Condition Type** dropdown.

- **Products : First Child Category** - This will target the immediate subcategory page of a product category, you can also select individual parent product categories from **Condition Type** dropdown to target its first child category.

- **Products : All Child Category** - This will target all the subcategory pages of a product category, you can also select individual parent product categories from **Condition Type** dropdown to target its subcategories.

- **Products : Product tags** - This will target the product tag archive page.

Select the appropriate option for your template.

Based on the option selected, you’ll get an additional field to select the individual item of the source.

> *Note: You can add multiple locations.*

You can click on the **+ Add Conditions** button to add additional conditions. Follow the same process to add multiple conditions.

> *Note: Using multiple conditions, you can include the template in a certain location and exclude it from a certain location at the same time.*

From the Preview Type and Preview ID dropdowns, you can select a post type and individual post respectively to check the template preview. 

So when you check the template preview using the WordPress Preview option, it will use your selected archive page.

7. Once done, then click on the **Create** button.

8. Then it will open the WordPress editor, where you can use the WordPress blocks or Elementor to create the actual layout and content of the template.

Be sure to use product archive related blocks or widgets to ensure that your content is displayed correctly. If you are using Elementor, you can utilize the WooBuilder widgets from The Plus Addons for Elementor to easily customize your entire WooCommerce store, including the product archive template. These widgets offer a wide range of options to create a cohesive design across your WooCommerce store.

9. Once done, publish the template.

Now your archive template will be created and will show as per the set display conditions.

Also, check [How to Create a Single Product Template in WordPress for Free](https://nexterwp.com/docs/create-single-product-template-in-wordpress/).

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What do I need before creating a product archive template in WordPress?**
A: Nexter Extension (Free) and WooCommerce are the two required pieces here. Nexter Theme Builder is the part that creates the custom product archive template, and the page says the feature lives in Nexter Extension (Free), so it has to be installed and activated first. WooCommerce also has to be installed because the template is meant for product archive pages like the shop page, product categories, and product tags.

**Q: Why is my custom product archive template not showing on the shop page?**
A: Display conditions control where the template appears, so a missing or mismatched condition is the first thing to check. The page lists Default Products Archive as the option that targets the shop page, while other choices target product categories, child categories, or product tags. Nexter Theme Builder in Nexter Extension lets you include or exclude locations, so the template only shows where those conditions match.

**Q: Can I use one product archive template for both the shop page and product categories?**
A: One template can cover multiple locations because the page says you can add multiple conditions. That matters when you want a consistent layout across Default Products Archive and specific category archives without building separate templates for each one. The catch is that each location still needs its own condition set, so you should choose the exact Products label option that matches where you want it displayed.

**Q: What is the difference between Default Products Archive and Products: Product categories?**
A: Default Products Archive targets the main shop page, while Products: Product categories targets category archive pages. That distinction matters because a store can have one layout for the shop and a different one for category browsing. The page also notes that Product categories can be narrowed further with Condition Type if you want individual categories instead of all of them.

**Q: How do I target only subcategory pages in a WooCommerce archive template?**
A: The page gives two separate options for that: Products: First Child Category and Products: All Child Category. First Child Category targets the immediate subcategory page of a product category, while All Child Category targets all subcategory pages under a parent category. That makes it easier to control whether your layout applies narrowly or across an entire category tree.

**Q: What should I use to build the layout after creating the archive template?**
A: The WordPress editor opens after you create the template, and the page says you can build it with WordPress blocks or Elementor. For archive layouts, it specifically recommends using product archive related blocks or widgets so content displays correctly. If you are using Elementor, The Plus Addons for Elementor provides WooBuilder widgets that can customize your WooCommerce store, including the product archive template.