How to Update Cart Total Programmatically in WooCommerce
As an ecommerce store owner, one of the most important aspects of your website is the shopping cart. The cart is where customers finalize their purchases, so it's crucial that it functions seamlessly and accurately reflects the total cost of the items in the cart.
In WooCommerce, the default cart total calculation is often sufficient for most stores. However, there may be times when you need to customize the cart total calculation to meet the specific needs of your business. This could include applying discounts, taxes, or other adjustments to the total.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to update the cart total programmatically, you might be tempted to use the woocommerce_cart_total
hook. However, this is not the correct hook to use, as it only updates the display of the cart total, not the actual calculation.
Instead, you should use the woocommerce_calculated_total
hook, which allows you to modify the actual total calculation.
Here's an example of how you can use this hook to apply a 15% discount to the cart total:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_calculated_total', 'custom_calculated_total', 10, 2 );
function custom_calculated_total( $total, $cart ) {
return round( $total - ($total * 0.15), $cart->dp );
}
This code should be added to the functions.php
file of your active child theme (or active theme).
Let's break down what's happening here:
-
The add_filter()
function is used to hook into the woocommerce_calculated_total
filter. This filter is called after WooCommerce has calculated the cart total, but before the total is returned to the customer.
-
The custom_calculated_total()
function is the callback function that will be executed when the woocommerce_calculated_total
filter is triggered. It takes two parameters: $total
(the calculated cart total) and $cart
(the WooCommerce cart object).
-
Inside the custom_calculated_total()
function, we calculate the discounted total by subtracting 15% of the original total from the total. We then use the round()
function to round the result to the number of decimal places specified in the $cart->dp
property (which stands for "decimal places").
-
The modified total is then returned, which will replace the original total in the cart.
This is a simple example, but you can use the same approach to apply more complex calculations or adjustments to the cart total, such as:
- Applying a flat-rate discount
- Calculating taxes based on the customer's location
- Adjusting the total based on the customer's membership level or other custom criteria
Remember, the woocommerce_calculated_total
filter is called after the cart totals have been calculated, so the changes you make here will be reflected in the final total displayed to the customer.
Real-World Examples and Statistics
To illustrate the usefulness of this technique, let's look at a few real-world examples and statistics:
-
Applying a Membership Discount:
- A study by the "National Retail Federation" found that 54% of consumers are more likely to shop at a store that offers a loyalty program or membership.
- By using the
woocommerce_calculated_total
filter, you can easily apply a discounted rate for members, helping to increase customer loyalty and retention.
-
Adjusting for Taxes Based on Location:
- According to the "Tax Foundation", the average combined state and local sales tax rate in the United States is 7.12%.
- By using the
woocommerce_calculated_total
filter, you can automatically calculate the correct sales tax for each customer based on their location, ensuring accurate total calculations and a smoother checkout experience.
-
Offering Promotional Discounts:
- A survey by "Invesp" found that 72% of consumers say they would be more likely to make a purchase during a sale or with a discount.
- Using the
woocommerce_calculated_total
filter, you can easily apply temporary discounts or promotions to the cart total, making your offers more attractive to customers and potentially increasing conversion rates.
These examples illustrate the practical applications of the woocommerce_calculated_total
filter and the benefits it can provide for your ecommerce store. By customizing the cart total calculation, you can create a more personalized and engaging shopping experience for your customers, which can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty.
Implementing the Solution
Now that you understand the problem and the solution, let's walk through the step-by-step implementation process:
-
Create a child theme: If you haven't already, create a child theme for your WooCommerce site. This will ensure that your custom code is not overwritten when you update the parent theme.
-
Open the functions.php
file: In your child theme, locate the functions.php
file and open it in a text editor.
-
Add the custom code: Insert the following code into the functions.php
file:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_calculated_total', 'custom_calculated_total', 10, 2 );
function custom_calculated_total( $total, $cart ) {
return round( $total - ($total * 0.15), $cart->dp );
}
This code adds a custom filter to the woocommerce_calculated_total
hook, which allows you to modify the cart total calculation. In this example, we're applying a 15% discount to the total.
-
Save the file: After adding the code, save the functions.php
file.
-
Test the changes: Clear your browser cache and refresh the cart page on your WooCommerce site. You should now see the discounted total reflected in the cart.
That's it! You've successfully implemented a custom cart total calculation in WooCommerce using the woocommerce_calculated_total
filter.
Conclusion
Updating the cart total programmatically in WooCommerce is a common requirement for many ecommerce stores. By using the woocommerce_calculated_total
filter, you can easily apply custom calculations, discounts, or adjustments to the cart total, providing a more personalized and engaging shopping experience for your customers.
Remember, the key is to use the correct hook (woocommerce_calculated_total
) instead of the more commonly used woocommerce_cart_total
hook, which only updates the display of the total, not the actual calculation.
By leveraging this powerful WooCommerce hook, you can unlock a wide range of customization options for your store, helping you to increase sales, customer loyalty, and overall business success. For more information on how Flowpoint.ai can help you identify and fix technical issues that impact your website's conversion rates, be sure to check out our website