Rental Products: Settings

Rentals Products for WooCommerce is a highly customizable, versatile plugin that allows you to create rental products for your customers. In this guide, you will find all the available plugin-level Settings that will help you configure your store to your liking.

 You can configure the majority of the Rental Products plugin settings via Rentals > Settings.

Each setting offers a short description of how it can be used. Keep in mind that for some settings, more detailed information can be revealed by hovering over the tooltip icon.

Note: This documentation includes examples of using Rental Products based on a US store using $USD, however, the same settings should apply to your store’s currency.

Rental form

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Configure the rental form shown on rental product pages. The settings below will only affect how the rental form looks on product pages. You can change the layout, position, and the date format among other options.

Layout

Choose the layout of the rental form:

• Theme: this option displays the rental form as per your theme’s styling (i.e CSS, templates configuration, etc).
• Theme compatibility: this option keeps most of your theme’s styling but adjusts the rental form to display fields vertically and ensure consistent field sizes for a cleaner look. Use this option if the rental form doesn’t look right with your theme. It keeps most of your theme’s styling but adjusts the rental form to display fields vertically and ensure consistent field sizes for a cleaner look.
• Light, dark, and the boxed options are similar to theme compatibility with some additional styling applied.

Position
Choose where you’d like the rental form to be positioned on the product pages.

The available options are:

• Before the product quantity field
• After the product quantity field

For more details on rental form positioning, see the related FAQ in this documentation.

Date Format
This option sets the display format for the selected rental dates in the rental form. Controls how rental dates are shown after a customer selects them on the product page. 

The allowed formats are:

• D, DD, 
• M, MM, MMM, MMMM, 
• YYYY. 

Note: Day, month, and year must be included. If these are not included and/or an incorrect format is used,  then it is likely to cause issues with rental functionality.

This setting also affects the availability checker.

Date Selection
Select how you’d like your customers to select the dates in the rental form calendar. The options offered are:

• Auto apply selected dates: Automatically applies the dates selected in the rental form calendar.
• Use apply/cancel button: Cancel and apply buttons are shown. The apply button must be clicked to apply the dates selected.

Note: You should disable this setting if you have rentals that allow selections of both single and multiple days in the same calendar. Otherwise, users will have to double-click single-day rentals. 

This setting is also used for the availability checker.

Auto select end date
Checking this will automatically set the end date when a start date is selected.

This will only occur on rental products that allow the selection of a singular range. For example, it will not occur if the pricing type is period and the pricing period multiples is enabled. That’s because multiples of the minimum range can be selected.

Available rental stock totals
Displays the total rental stock available for the rental dates, quantity, and other options selected.

Reset button
Displays a reset button within the rental form calendar, used to reset previously selected dates.

This setting is disabled by default because a new date or range can be easily selected without the need to reset the calendar.

This setting is also used for the availability checker.

Availability checker

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On this page, you can configure the availability checker implemented on your site via a block or shortcode.

The availability checker is a form that allows customers to select their preferred rental dates and quantity. Once these have been selected, it will show an availability status on:

• rental products in product category pages, 
• search pages, 
• most core WooCommerce product blocks,
• and more.

Variable/grouped products are excluded as they require selection of options. 

Once the availability checker is configured, it also auto-populates the rental dates and quantity on available product pages. 

For products that allow the selection of rental periods, the period selection – where available – is highlighted.

Use the Availability Checker block or the [wcrp_rental_products_availability_checker] shortcode to display the availability checker. 

We recommend including the availability checker throughout your store’s customer journey. Areas like the sidebar are ideal as the availability checked should be visible to customers as they browse the products in your store.

Note: It is not recommended to include it on Product Pages, as it may cause confusion since the Rental Form displays similar information.

The availability checker status is displayed on:

• products in product category pages, 
• search pages, 
• most core WooCommerce product blocks,
• and more.

It’s added after call-to-action buttons, like add to cart, select options, read more, etc.

Note: If your theme (or another extension) disables these buttons, you may have issues displaying the availability checker.

Kindly note that the availability checker status is displayed automatically; it doesn’t require a block/shortcode.

Status display
This option allows you to configure how a rental’s availability status is displayed throughout your site. There are two available options:

• Standard: it displays a rental product’s available/unavailable text and the dates/quantities that have been selected.
• Minimal: it only displays the rental product’s available/unavailable text.

Minimum days
Set the minimum number of days that can be selected on the availability checker calendar.

Note: This field and the one below can be set to the same number (greater than 1) to force a period for selection.

Maximum days
Set the maximum number of days that can be selected on the availability checker calendar.

Set to 0 for no maximum.

Note: This field and the one above can be set to the same number (greater than 1) to force a period for selection.

Period multiples

This setting allows the selection of multiples of a period.

More specifically, if the minimum/maximum days on the relevant settings are greater than 1 and both are the same number in order to force a period selection, then enabling this setting will allow the selection of multiples of that period.

For example, if the minimum/maximum days are set to 7, then enabling this setting will allow multiples of that period to be selected – 7, 14, 21 days, etc.

Quantity
Allows a customer to specify the quantity required for the rental dates selected in the availability checker. 

If disabled defaults quantity to 1 and hides the quantity.

Catalog

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Below, you can find all the relevant settings regarding the rental product catalog.

Rental product toggle

Configure the rental or purchase toggle shown on rental or regular products.

Note: The rental or purchase toggle is added automatically via the woocommerce_single_product_summary  action hook.

If your theme (or another extension) removes this hook, you may have issues displaying the form. In this scenario, seek support from your page builder/theme support team on how to reinstate this hook.

We provide a workaround of using [wcrp_rental_products_rental_purchase_toggle] shortcode on your product page template if your theme developer cannot help. Please note that the shortcode should only be used if the toggle is not added automatically due to the missing hook.

Position

The position of the toggle for rental or purchase based products. You can choose between two options:

• After the “Add to cart” button
• After the product price

Type

The toggle type is for rental or purchase-based products. You can choose between two options:

• Link
• Button

The button type uses the button class; often, styling is included in your theme, however, it’s not guaranteed.

Display in archives

You can use this option to show or hide the toggle from archive pages.

Rental price display

Configure the rental price display.

Rent pricing

When enabled, it will display rent pricing information before the purchase product price (e.g. “Rent for/Rent from…”).

Price prefix

Set text to appear before a rental product price. 

You can also have rental prices substituted here using {rental_price_including_tax} and/or {rental_price_excluding_tax}.

Note: this can also be filtered via the wcrp_rental_products_rental_price_display_prefix filter hook.

Price suffix

Set text to appear after a rental product price. 

You can also have rental prices substituted here using {rental_price_including_tax} and/or {rental_price_excluding_tax}.

Note: this can also be filtered via the wcrp_rental_products_rental_price_display_suffix filter hook.

Rental information

Configure the rental information display.

Title

The title is used as the rental information tab and inner heading displayed on the product page. 

Note: it can also be filtered via the wcrp_rental_products_rental_information_title filter hook. 

The default text is “Rental information”.

Heading

Displays the rental information title as a heading within the rental information tab.

Contents

Adds rental information to a tab on the product page. This will be used in addition to any rental information that has been set at the product level.

In person pick up/return defaults

Configure the in person pick up/return defaults used if not set at the product level.

Time restrictions

• Restricted (Recommended):
  When this option is selected, the in-person pickup time must be earlier than the return time. This helps prevent scheduling overlaps and ensures accurate availability.
  
  
  Note: If the times are not set correctly, the in-person pickup or return option may not appear at checkout.
• Unrestricted:
  This allows you to set pickup and return times freely, without any time-based restrictions.
  
  Suitable if you have unlimited rental stock or enough buffer stock to handle potential overlaps.

Return date

Set the date an in person return should occur. 

The in person pick up and return times/fees below are based on the in-person return date selected above. 

You may wish to populate the settings for both options to cover all product data scenarios.

Pick up/return times/fees

See the tooltip information of each setting for how to populate.

Orders

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Configure order and rental management-related settings.

Immediate rental stock replenishment

Set whether rental products will be made available immediately if a customer returns them early.

When enabled, if rental products are marked as returned, they will be immediately available to rent again.

If disabled, a rental product will remain unavailable in customer-facing areas such as the rental form on the product page until the date due to be returned. Disabling this setting does not affect the rentals dashboard inventory totals. 

Note: If the archive rentals setting is enabled, any returned rentals archived will be immediately replenished regardless of this setting.

Cancel rentals in failed orders

When an order fails, then rental stock remains reserved as the order can still be accessed through the customer’s account and even make a payment at a later date.

Enabling this setting means that when an order is set to failed, then all the rentals within the order are cancelled, removing the reservation of the rental stock. 

The ability to make a payment against a failed order with rental products included is disabled, too.

Return rentals in completed orders

Set whether rental products are marked as returned when an order is completed.

Enabled (Default):
When you mark an order as Completed, all rentals in that order will be automatically marked as returned.

This streamlines the process and ensures return records stay up to date.

Disabled:
You’ll need to manually mark each rental item as returned after completing the order.


Note: When disabled, rental return reminder emails will not be sent, as they only check for unreturned items in Processing orders.

This setting should be disabled in limited scenarios, and typically as a workaround. Such as, if you are using an automated shipping integration that sets dispatched orders to completed.

Labels

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Configure the most commonly used text references.

These settings can be used to modify the most commonly used text references. 

For more granular control over any text included in this extension, you can check the translations section.

Advanced Settings

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Rental Form

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Calendar custom styling

Set custom styling for the rental form calendar. 

When enabled, a textarea will appear below that you can use to change the color/pixel values only. If you’d prefer to apply your own custom styling via other methods, we recommend keeping this setting disabled and use your own CSS.

This setting is also used for the availability checker.

Note: If you wish to reset any custom styling to the default, click on the link in the description of the setting.

Calendar custom styling code

This textarea only appears if the Calendar custom styling setting is enabled. Here you can apply custom styling code that will affect the rental form calendar.

Maximum date (in days)

Set the maximum number of days from today that the rental form will allow date selection up to. 

If empty, it defaults to 730. This setting is also used for the availability checker.

Maximum date (specific date)

Set the maximum date that the rental form will allow date selection up to.

If populated, this setting overrides the rental form maximum date days setting above. This setting is also used for the availability checker.

Notices use WooCommerce classes

Notices displayed in the rental form will use WooCommerce CSS classes and have the standard WooCommerce notice styling when enabled. 

Disable this if you want to apply your own custom CSS notice styling. It may also help in troubleshooting issues with a theme targeting WooCommerce notices.

Period selection option labels

Set how option labels are displayed when the product is using the period selection pricing type. There are two options available:

• Days
• Weeks

If the Weeks option is used, then the options display as weeks. Day periods that do not divide into weeks remain in days.

For example, if period selections are 1, 7, 14 – entered in days – it will display these as 1 day, 1 week and 2 weeks.

Start/end notices

Displays a notice instructing the customer that the dates selected cannot start/end on the highlighted days in the rental form calendar if a product has disabled the start/end dates/days feature.

Availability checker

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Mode

There are two modes available:

• Standard (default) 
• AJAX

Standard Mode (Default):
Availability information (e.g. from the availability checker block or shortcode, and status labels on product/category pages) is loaded immediately with the page.

This is the preferred mode for most setups.

AJAX Mode:
Use this option if you’re having issues with third-party caching plugins or services.

It loads availability data after the page loads, helping prevent conflicts caused by aggressive caching.

Make sure to purge any caches after enabling the AJAX mode. 

Note: Regardless of the mode used, on product pages the auto population of dates/quantities is AJAX-based.

Status on rental only products

Display availability checker status in loops/blocks on Rental only type products.

Status on rental or purchase products

Display availability checker status in product loops/blocks on Rental or purchase type of products. 

It is recommended this setting remains disabled as the price/add to cart of the purchasable part of a rental or purchase product is shown on loops/blocks. It’s possible that if the availability checker status is displayed, a customer may confuse the price/add to cart button as referring to the rental product.

Apply dates redirect

If populated with an internal URL, when dates/quantity are applied in the availability checker, the user will be redirected to this URL instead of being shown the default applied dates confirmation. 

Note: External URLs cannot be used for this redirect.

Catalog

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Advanced pricing

Set if advanced pricing calculations should be used.

Rental price display override prefix/suffix

Displays the rental price display prefix/suffix when the rental price display has been overridden on the product.

Return Days Display
Displays the number of days a customer has to return an item in customer-facing areas such as:

• the product rental form
• cart
• checkout
• emails

If disabled, any return days threshold is still used to calculate availability. The only difference is that the return period is not shown to the customer.

Disabling this setting is useful if you prefer to provide your own return instructions but still want a longer return window for availability purposes.

For example:
You want the customer to return the item within 3 days, but need an additional 3 days to service the product before it can be rented again.

By setting the return threshold to 6 days and disabling this setting, the product will only become available after 6 days, while you can still tell the customer to return it within 3 days using your own messaging.

Note:
Return days are never shown if:

• The product has a return threshold of 0
• The product uses in-person pickup/return

Orders

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Checkout draft restrictions

If you’re using cart/checkout blocks (instead of the classic cart/checkout), it’s possible for orders with Draft status (known as checkout drafts) to exist.

By default:

• These draft orders are hidden from the Orders section.
• The option to manually change an order’s status to Draft is also disabled.

This default behavior exists because changing a draft order to a status that reserves rental stock can cause issues. The stock may have already been reserved by newer orders created after the draft, which can lead to stock conflicts.

It is strongly recommended to keep this setting enabled.

If you disable it and allow changes from draft to a rental-reserving status, rental stock overlaps are very likely to occur.

Product updated restrictions

When enabled, if a product in the cart has been updated after being added, the cart/checkout will display a notice stating that the product has changed and the previous pricing or availability may no longer be accurate.

In this case, the customer cannot complete the checkout until the product is removed from the cart.

It is recommended to keep this setting enabled.

If disabled, customers may place orders with outdated pricing or availability, which could lead to stock overlaps or incorrect charges.

There are some rare cases where you might choose to disable this—such as when you’re using custom functionality that intentionally updates product data after it’s added to the cart.

Same rental dates required

Ensures that all rental products in the cart have the same rental dates.

Only enable this setting if you want to force all rental products in the cart to have the same rental dates.

Performance & debugging

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Archive rentals

Orders older than the number of days you set here will have their returned rentals automatically archived. This is based on the order creation date. Set to 0 to disable and prevent future archiving.

Archiving removes returned rental data from active queries, which can help improve site performance.

Aside from potential performance benefits, the only noticeable change is that archived rentals will no longer appear in the rentals dashboard calendar. 

You can still view them by clicking the “Include archived rentals” button.

Note: It’s recommended to test this setting on a staging or development site before enabling it on a live website.

Performance optimization

This is a setting which queries rental data in some areas using alternative methods for performance optimization.

Advanced configuration

Only populate when instructed by the developers of this extension to diagnose an issue or for specific server configurations.

More information

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Do you have more questions? You can click here to return to the Rental Products for WooCommerce’s Getting Started table of contents.

You didn’t find what you were looking for? We’d love to hear from you and help you with any questions you have.