Create a Discount Code

A discount code is a code your customers type at checkout to receive a discount, such as a welcome offer or a campaign code. You create one from the Discounts page: pick a discount type, set the Method to Discount code, enter the code and its value, then set who can use it and when. This article covers the path for codes customers enter; while Automatic Discounts handles discounts that apply with no code.

Type and value

The discount type decides what the code discounts, and the Discount value decides how much:

Before you begin

• Your role includes Edit discounts.
• You know the offer: what it discounts, who can use it, and when it runs.
• Open Discounts in the admin sidebar, then select Create discount.

Steps

1. Open Discounts and choose a type

Open Discounts, click Create discount, and in the Select discount type dialog choose the type you want, for example Amount off products. See Discounts Overview for the page and the type dialog.

2. Set the method to Discount code and enter the code

At the top of the form, set Method to Discount code. In Discount code, type the code customers will enter, such as WELCOME15, or click Generate random code for a unique code. The helper text confirms that customers are required to enter this code at checkout. Under Discount value, choose Percentage or Fixed amount and enter the amount.

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3. Choose what the discount applies to

Under Applies to, choose Specific collections or Specific products, then use Browse or the search box to pick them. See Limit a Discount to Specific Products.

4. Set who can use the code

Under Eligibility, choose All customers, Markets, Specific customer segments, or Specific customers. To limit a code to a group such as VIPs, use Specific customer segments. See Apply a Discount to a Customer Segment.

5. Add purchase requirements

Under Purchase requirements, leave No minimum requirements, or set a Minimum purchase amount or a Minimum quantity of items so the code only applies to larger orders.

6. Set usage limits and combinations

Under Usage limits, turn on Limit number of times this discount can be used in total to cap total redemptions, and Limit to one use per customer to stop repeat use. Under Combinations, choose whether the code can combine with Product discounts, Order discounts, or Shipping discounts.

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By default a discount does not combine with any other discount at checkout. Only turn on a combination if you want two discounts to stack.

7. Set the active dates

Under Active dates, set the Start date and Start time, and turn on Set end date if the code should stop on a certain day. See Schedule Discounts.

8. Save, then test the code

Save the discount. Place a test order, enter the code at checkout, and confirm the discount applies and the total is correct. Try an order that does not meet the rules to confirm the code is rejected.

Verify the result

• The code appears in the Discounts table with Method set to Code and the type you chose.
• Its Status is Active when it is within its active dates.
• At checkout, entering the code lowers the price by the value you set, and usage limits are respected.

Best practices

• Use a code customers can read and type, such as WELCOME15, rather than a string that is difficult to read.
• Set a usage limit on public codes so a single code is not redeemed far more than planned.
• Add a purchase requirement when you want the code to apply only to larger orders.
• Give the code an end date so a campaign does not run longer than intended.

Common mistakes

• No usage limit on a public code, which lets it be shared and reused without bound.
• No purchase requirement, so the code applies to very small orders.
• Turning on combinations without meaning to, so the code stacks with another discount.
• No end date, which keeps the code working after the campaign is over.

If something goes wrong

• The code is rejected at checkout. Check the active dates, eligibility, and any purchase requirement, and confirm the customer typed the exact code.
• The discount amount is wrong. Check the Discount value and what the discount applies to.
• A customer says the code worked before. Its usage limit may be reached.
• You cannot create a discount. Your role may not have permission to manage discounts.

Next steps

• Automatic Discounts
• Limit a Discount to Specific Products
• Schedule Discounts

Related articles

• Discounts Overview
• Discount Usage Limits
• Combine With Other Discounts
• Discount Code Not Working