---
title: Add a Product Cost Column to the Admin Products List
description: "Add a product cost column to the WooCommerce admin products list to see every product's cost at a glance, sortable."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/add-cost-column/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
tags:
  - Cost of Goods
---

# Add a Product Cost Column to the Admin Products List

To see every product's cost in the WooCommerce products list, turn on the cost column in [Cost of Goods: Product Cost & Profit Calculator for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/). Go to **WPFactory > Cost of Goods**, stay on the **Products** sub-tab, tick **Product cost** under **Admin products list columns** and save. The column is free.

![Product cost column settings in Cost of Goods](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/pasted-image-0-1-13.png)

**Note:** this column appears in the products *list* (the table at **Products > All Products**), not on the single product edit screen. To see or edit the cost on the edit screen, use the Cost field itself.

## Step-by-step

1. Go to **WPFactory > Cost of Goods** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Cost of Goods**).
2. Stay on the **Products** sub-tab.
3. Find the **Admin products list columns** group.
4. Tick **Product cost** ("Add product cost column").
5. Optionally set the **Column width** and **Width unit**.
6. Click **Save changes**, then open **Products > All Products** to see the new column.

## Options reference

| Label | Option ID | Type | Default | Free/Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Product cost | `alg_wc_cog_products_columns_cost` | Checkbox | `no` | Free |
| Column width | `alg_wc_cog_products_columns_cost_width` | Number | `10` | Free |
| Width unit | `alg_wc_cog_products_columns_width_unit` | Text | `%` | Free |

A zero or empty width disables the fixed width. The width unit accepts any CSS unit, for example `%`, `px` or `ch`, and is shared with the profit column.

## What you see in the products list

- A new column titled **Cost**, placed right after the **Price** column.
- Each cost is formatted as a store price, using the **Cost decimals** setting in the same sub-tab.
- Variable products show a range from the lowest to the highest variation cost when the variations differ. A variation with no cost of its own uses the parent's cost.
- A product with no cost entered shows a cost of 0.

## Make the column sortable

To click the column header and sort products by cost, turn on **Advanced > Columns sorting > Sortable columns** (`alg_wc_cog_columns_sorting`, on by default). This makes both the cost and profit columns sortable. The option below it, **Exclude empty lines on sorting** (on by default), leaves products without a cost out of the sorted list.

## Who can see the column

By default every user who can open the products list sees the column. In Pro, **Advanced > Restrict by user role** limits the column, and the rest of the plugin's data, to the roles you select. Administrators always see it.

## If the column does not appear

- Make sure you clicked **Save changes** after ticking **Product cost**.
- Open **Screen Options** at the top of the products list and check that **Cost** is ticked.
- If you use Pro, check that your role is allowed in **Restrict by user role**.

## FAQ

### Is the product cost column free?

Yes. The cost and profit columns, their widths and sorting are all in the free version.

### Can I edit the cost from the products list?

Not from the column itself. Pro adds a Cost field to Quick Edit and Bulk Edit, see [Add a Cost Field to Product Quick Edit and Bulk Edit](https://wpfactory.com/docs/add-cost-field/).

### Why does a product show 0 in the Cost column?

No cost has been entered for it. Open the product and fill in the Cost field in **Product data**.

## Related guides

- [Add a Product Profit Column to the Admin Products List](https://wpfactory.com/docs/add-profit-column/)
- [Customize the Cost Field Label and Position](https://wpfactory.com/docs/customize-cost-label/)
- [Add Cost and Profit Columns to the Admin Orders List](https://wpfactory.com/docs/customize-orders-columns/)

### Get more from Cost of Goods

This feature is free. [Cost of Goods: Product Cost & Profit Calculator for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/) Pro adds cost and profit columns and totals inside WooCommerce Analytics, plus the orders recalculation tool. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/).

Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [Cost of Goods support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Track Product Cost History with the Cost Archive](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-cost-history-archive/)
- [Import Product Costs From Another Meta Key](https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-product-costs-from-meta/)
- [Import and Export Product Costs via CSV](https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-export-product-costs-csv/)
- [Add Extra Order Costs: All Orders, Per Order, and From Meta](https://wpfactory.com/docs/extra-order-costs/)
- [Bulk Edit Product Costs](https://wpfactory.com/docs/bulk-edit-product-costs/)

 

[![Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): Cost & Profit Calculator for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Cost-of-Goods-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/cost-of-goods-for-woocommerce/)