Create and edit item unit types
About item unit types
Each business is different — some Square sellers sell whole item quantities (like articles of clothing), while others sell items by weight or length. Some businesses sell both.
By default, each new item you create will have the unit type “per item”. When you set your unit type, you can choose from a list of preset units, such as pounds, ounces, and feet. You can also choose to add your own custom unit, in whole number or decimal quantities.
Before you begin
You have two options for setting up item unit types:
Create item unit types from the Square Dashboard on a laptop or desktop computer
Create item unit types from the Square POS apps and devices
When you add, update, or delete an item unit type, the change will reflect in your Square apps, Square Dashboard, and Square Online website.
The precision gives you the option to sell and adjust inventory by decimal quantity up to the hundred-thousandth place (.00000).
Step 1. Create and edit item unit types
- Sign in to your Square Dashboard and click Items & orders > Items > Units.
- Click Add a Unit or select an existing unit to edit.
- Select a unit and set the precision of the unit.
- Click Save.
Step 2. Apply item unit type to items
Apply item unit type to a single item
- Sign in to your Square Dashboard and click Items & orders > Items.
- Select an existing item.
- Click Unit and select a unit.
- Enter the unit cost.
- Click Save.
Apply item unit type to multiple items
- Sign in to your Square Dashboard and click Items & orders > Items.
- Tick multiple items from the list > Edit items.
- Navigate to the Sold by column and select a unit type.
- Click Update variations.
Apply item unit type to an item with no variation.
- Open the Square app and tap ≡ More > All items.
- Tap on the selected item from the list.
- Tap Per item next to Unit within the Price and inventory section.
- Tap a unit > Save.
- Tape Save.
Apply item unit type to an item with variations
- Open the Square app and tap ≡ More > All items.
- Tap on the name of your variation within the Variations section, an Edit variation window will pop up.
- Tap Per item next to Unit within the Sales Information section.
- Tap a unit > Save > Done.
- Tape Save.