How to Create a Discount Code in Shopify, Step by Step
A Shopify discount code is a code your customers type at checkout to get an amount off products, an amount off the order, buy X get Y, or free shipping. You create it in the Discounts section of the admin, and the choices that matter most are the value, who can use it, and until when. This guide follows Shopify’s help documentation.
Based on official documentation. Not tested on a live store.
Before you start
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Before you choose a method
A discount code is typed by the customer at checkout. An automatic discount applies without a code and shows its title in the cart. Choose the method first, because the type and method cannot be changed later.
Step 1: Choose the discount type
Open Discounts in the admin, click Create discount, and choose a type. For a percentage or fixed amount off, choose Amount off products or Amount off orders. The other types are Buy X get Y and Free shipping.
Expected result: A new discount form opens with the type you selected.
Step 2: Set the method and the code
Under Method, select Discount code. Enter the code your customers will type, or click Generate code for a random one.
Choose Automatic discount instead if you want the discount to apply at checkout without a code. An automatic discount uses a Title field that customers see in their cart.
Expected result: The code field is filled in, or the title field is filled in for an automatic discount.
Step 3: Set the value
Under Value, select Percentage and enter a percent, or select Fixed amount and enter a money amount.
Under Applies to, you can limit the discount to Specific products or Specific collections. For a fixed-amount code, you can also check Only apply discount once per order.
Expected result: The value and the scope (whole order, products or collections) are set as you planned.
Step 4: Set minimum requirements and eligibility
Under Minimum requirements, choose a minimum purchase amount or a minimum quantity of items. Then under Eligibility, choose who can use the code: All customers, Specific customers, Customer segments or Markets.
Expected result: Only the customers and markets you chose can use the code, and only above the minimum you set.
Step 5: Set usage limits and combinations
Under Maximum discount uses, you can limit the total number of uses or limit the code to one per customer. Under Combinations, check the discount classes this code can combine with.
Expected result: The total and per-customer limits match your plan, and the combination settings are checked.
Step 6: Set the active dates and save
Under Active dates, set a start date. To set an end date, click Set end date. For a one-day discount, use the same date for start and end. Leave the end date unset if the discount should not expire. Optionally add tags, then click Save.
Expected result: The discount appears on the Discounts page with the dates and values you set.
Check the discount before you rely on it
After you save, open the discount from the Discounts page and compare it with your plan: the value, the scope, the eligibility, the limits and the dates. The type and method stay fixed once the discount exists.
If you run several codes at once, check the combinations on each one. Shopify’s rule is that combinations are set for each discount individually.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
The code is outside its active dates, the customer is not eligible, or the minimum order is not reached.
Check the start and end dates, the eligibility setting and the minimum requirement on the discount.
Each discount has its own combination settings, and a customer can use up to 5 product or order codes plus 1 shipping code.
Open each discount, check the Combinations section, and count the codes on one order.
An end date was set on the discount, even though you wanted no expiry.
Check the active dates. Leave the end date unset if the code should not expire.
The type and method can’t be changed on an existing discount.
Delete the discount and create a new one with the correct type or method.
Discount code or automatic discount?
Use a discount code when you want to control who uses it, for example in an email campaign. Use an automatic discount when the offer should apply to every eligible order. Shopify’s combinations page notes that a store can have at most 25 active automatic discounts, and that this total includes discounts from apps.
Key takeaways
Start with the discount type and the method, because they cannot be changed later.
Use the minimum requirement and the eligibility settings to control who can use the code.
Leave the end date unset if the code should not expire.
A customer can use up to 5 product or order codes and 1 shipping code on one order.
FAQ
Can a customer use more than one discount code on an order?
Does a discount code expire on its own?
Can I limit a code to one use per customer?
Can I change the type or method of an existing discount?
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