# Discount codes and automatic discounts

Level: Beginner. About 20 minutes. Plans: Not stated by Shopify. Checked against Shopify's documentation on 2026-10-08.

**Short answer:** From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts, click Create discount and pick a type such as Amount off products [1]. Under Method, choose Discount code (customers type it at checkout) or Automatic discount (applied in the cart when conditions are met), set the value, eligibility, combinations and dates, then click Save [2][1]. A store can have at most 25 active automatic discounts [3].

## Before you start

Shopify has three built-in discount types: amount off (a percentage or a fixed amount), buy X get Y, and free shipping [4]. Each can run as a **discount code**, which customers enter at checkout, or as an **automatic discount**, which applies in the cart and at checkout once the conditions are met [2]. Discounts apply to the order subtotal before tax, and tax is calculated afterwards [5].

- **Plan.** Shopify's discount pages don't list which plans include discounts. Some options are Shopify Plus only, such as stacking several product discounts on the same line item and building a custom discounts app [5][3].
- **Limits.** You can have at most 25 active automatic discounts, including app-based ones [3][6]. A customer can use at most 5 product or order discount codes and 1 shipping discount code on one order [3].
- **In person.** Discount codes work online and with Shopify POS [7]. Automatic discounts apply at retail locations only with POS Pro [1].
- **Sale prices are different.** Discounts are not the same as sale prices set with compare-at prices [8].

Worked example: a candle shop selling 40 products in the US and Canada runs 15% off its Fall collection, with the code FALL15 for its email list.

## Steps

1. **Start a new discount.** From your Shopify admin, go to **Discounts** and click **Create discount** [1].
2. **Pick the type.** From the **Select discount type** menu, choose **Amount off products** or **Amount off orders** [1]. The candle shop picks **Amount off products**.
3. **Choose the method.** Under **Method**, select **Discount code** or **Automatic discount** [1]. For a code, enter a name such as FALL15 or click **Generate code**. Avoid special characters in the name [1][7]. For an automatic discount, enter a **Title** customers will see [1].
4. **Set the value.** In the **Value** section, select **Percentage** or **Fixed amount** and enter the amount [1]. Amount off discounts don't reduce shipping costs [1].
5. **Choose what it applies to.** Under **Applies to**, select **Specific products** or **Specific collections** and add them [1]. The candle shop adds its Fall collection.
6. **Add a minimum if you want one.** Under **Minimum requirements**, choose **Minimum purchase amount** or **Minimum quantity of items** [1]. Minimums count product prices only, not shipping or taxes [1].
7. **Choose who can use it.** Under **Eligibility**, choose **All customers**, **Specific customers**, **Customer segments** or **Markets**, and click **Add** if needed [1].
8. **Limit uses for a code.** Under **Maximum discount uses**, check **Limit number of times this discount can be used in total**, **Limit to one per customer**, or both [1]. Automatic discounts don't have this section [1].
9. **Decide what it combines with.** Under **Combinations**, check the discount classes it can combine with [1]. Discounts don't combine unless both of them allow it [3].
10. **Set the dates and save.** In **Active dates**, set a start date. Click **Set end date** to add an end, or leave it blank so the discount doesn't expire [1]. Times follow your store's time zone [1]. Click **Save** [1].
11. **Share the code with a link.** Click the discount's name, click **Promote**, then select **Get a shareable discount code**. Choose the page, product or collection the link opens, then click **Copy link** or download the QR code [9]. Links and QR codes work only for active discounts [9].

## Check your work

- Add an eligible product to your cart and enter the code at checkout. The discount should appear, and the total should match the value you set [1][7].
- Add only products that aren't eligible and enter the code. You should see a message that the code isn't valid for the items in your cart [8].
- On the **Discounts** page, the discount shows as active, and its **Timeline** records when you created it [9].

## Common problems

- **"Customers see 'Enter a valid discount code'."** The code doesn't exist or isn't active yet. Check the spelling and the **Active dates** [8][1].
- **"There's no discount code box at checkout."** The field appears only when you have at least 1 active discount code available to customers [8].
- **"Two discounts don't stack."** Both discounts must allow the other's class under **Combinations** [3]. If they can't combine, Shopify applies the best discount for the cart [3]. Combinations work only on the Online Store, the Storefront API and Shopify POS, not on external checkouts such as Facebook, Instagram or Google [3].
- **"The automatic discount didn't apply."** Customers must add every eligible item to the cart, including the items needed to qualify and any free items [6].
- **"A Buy X get Y product won't take another discount."** On stores not on Shopify Plus, products in an active Buy X get Y discount can't get extra product discounts [3].
- **"I need to end a sale early."** Open the discount and click **Deactivate**, then **Deactivate** again to confirm [9]. Deleting a discount is permanent [9].
- **"A customer reused a one-per-customer code."** If you delete such a discount and create it again, customers who used the first one can use the new one [7].

## Further reading

- [Combining discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-combinations) [3]
- [Managing and editing your discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/managing-discounts) [9]

## Sources

1. [Amount off discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-types/percentage-fixed-amount), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08
2. [Discount methods](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-methods), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08
3. [Combining discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-combinations), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08
4. [Discount types](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-types), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08
5. [Discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08
6. [Automatic discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-methods/automatic-discounts), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08
7. [Discount codes](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-methods/discount-codes), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08
8. [Discount codes FAQ](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discounts-faq), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08
9. [Managing and editing your discounts](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/managing-discounts), Shopify Help Center, accessed 2026-10-08

Source page: https://webmerchants.net/guides/discounts