Good variation relationship listings allow buyers to compare and choose products based on different attributes such as size, color, or other characteristics from the available options on a single product detail page. If your products fulfill the following requirements, typically they are good candidates for a variation:
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The products are fundamentally the same.
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The products vary only in a few very specific ways.
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Buyers expect to find these products together on a single product page.
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Products could share a single title.
When to use variation relationships
The following questions can help you to determine whether certain products are valid variations:
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Are the products fundamentally the same (i.e. the similarities of the ASIN’s design and function are so basic as to be hard to alter resolve, or overcome)?
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Could the products share the same title?
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Do the products vary only in a few, specific ways that do not alter the core essence and nature of the item (such as color or size)?
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Would customers expect to find these products together on a single product detail page?
If your product does not fulfill the following requirements, they are probably not a good candidate for variation:
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There is only one variation of your product.
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The products are fundamentally different from each other.
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The products require completely different product descriptions.
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The products cannot be described by a single product title.
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A customer would not expect to find the products together on the product page.
Note: Amazon may remove products that do not correctly use established variation themes. To learn how to list parent and child products, see
Create parent-child relationships.
The following table illustrates different kinds of variations:
Single Variations |
The products vary in one configuration only and buyers can make purchasing decision based on the difference between these configurations. For example, scarf with different colors. |
Double Variations |
The products vary in two configurations and buyers can make purchasing decision by comparing those configurations. For example, dress with different colors and sizes. |
No Variations |
The product exists in one configuration only. |
Examples of good variations:
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Identical products that vary only by color:
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A product that is available in different scents:
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A product that is available in different sizes and colors:
Tips for creating variations
Do |
Do not |
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Describe each child product fully, so they will be included in browse and search
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Add the appropriate variation value to the product title
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Use SKUs to build relationships using field for SKU and parent SKU
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List the child offers in the parent SKU in the flat-file or XML
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Make sure variation family does not exceed the limit in Variation Relationship FAQ
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Create variation families or add children to variation families that are not the same brand or product type
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Add or create an Item Package Quantity variation (multi-pack) that was not created by the manufacturer
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Include price and quantity value for the parent products
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Include variation value in the parent title
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Choose a variation theme other than what is listed in the approved theme for each product type
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List different products together
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Put more than one product characteristic in a variation attribute
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Introduce large variation family as defined in Variation Relationship FAQ
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Important: Not all related products are valid variations. Amazon reserves the right to remove the newly-created variations families or children that are added to a variation family that do not comply with standards outlined above. Variation families with more than 2000 child ASINs will not be displayed on the detail page.
Examples of bad variations
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Individual bath gel, shampoo, and scented powder (separate SKUs) that are of the same scent
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Short sleeve and long sleeve t-shirts by the same manufacturer
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Dinner plates, salad plates, and soup bowls (separate SKUs) with the same pattern
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Cellphone cases with screen protectors for the same cellphone model