How to create discount codes on Shopify

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

To create discount codes on Shopify, navigate to Discounts in your admin panel, click Create discount, choose your discount type, set the discount value and conditions, then generate or enter a custom code. Save your discount to make it active for customers.

Try Shopify Full Shopify Review

Prerequisites

Shopify admin account access
Active Shopify store
Products added to your store
Understanding of discount types (percentage, fixed amount, free shipping)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access the Discounts section

From your Shopify admin dashboard, click on Discounts in the left sidebar menu. If you don't see it immediately, look under the Marketing section or use the search bar at the top of the admin panel.

You can also access discounts by typing 'discounts' in the admin search bar for quick navigation.

Create a new discount

On the Discounts page, click the Create discount button. You'll see three options: Amount off products, Buy X get Y, and Free shipping. Select the type that matches your promotion goals.

Choose 'Amount off products' for simple percentage or fixed amount discounts, which are the most commonly used.

Configure discount details

Enter a descriptive title for your discount in the Discount title field (this is for internal use only). Set your discount value by choosing either Percentage or Fixed amount, then enter the discount amount. Under Applies to, select whether the discount applies to entire order, specific collections, or specific products.

Use clear internal titles like 'Summer Sale 20%' to easily manage multiple discounts.

Set minimum requirements and usage limits

In the Minimum requirements section, choose if there's a minimum purchase amount, quantity of items, or no minimum. Under Customer eligibility, select All customers, Specific groups of customers, or Specific customers. Set usage limits by configuring Limit number of times this discount can be used in total and Limit to one use per customer if desired.

Setting minimum requirements helps ensure profitability while encouraging larger orders.

Generate or customize the discount code

In the Discount code section, Shopify will automatically generate a random code. To use a custom code, clear the generated code and type your preferred code (letters, numbers, and hyphens only). The code should be easy for customers to remember and type, like SAVE20 or FREESHIP2026.

Custom codes work better for marketing campaigns, while random codes provide better security against unauthorized use.

Set active dates and combinations

Under Active dates, set the start date and optionally an end date for your discount. In the Combinations section, choose whether this discount can be combined with other discounts like product discounts, order discounts, or shipping discounts by checking the appropriate boxes.

Be careful with discount combinations as they can significantly impact your profit margins.

Review and save the discount

Review all your discount settings to ensure everything is correct. Pay special attention to the discount amount, minimum requirements, and active dates. Once satisfied, click the Save discount button at the top or bottom of the page. Your discount code is now active and ready to use.

Test your discount code with a test order before promoting it to ensure it works as expected.

Share and monitor your discount code

After saving, you can share the discount code with customers through email campaigns, social media, or your website. Monitor the discount's performance by returning to the Discounts page where you can see usage statistics, total sales generated, and number of times used.

Use Shopify's analytics to track which discount codes perform best and adjust future promotions accordingly.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Discount code not working at checkout

Check that the discount is active, hasn't expired, and meets all minimum requirements. Verify that the code was entered correctly (codes are case-sensitive) and that it hasn't reached its usage limit.

Cannot create custom discount code

Ensure your custom code contains only letters, numbers, and hyphens. The code must be unique and not already in use. Avoid special characters like spaces, symbols, or emojis.

Discount not applying to specific products

Review the Applies to settings and ensure the correct products or collections are selected. Check that the products aren't already discounted if you haven't enabled discount combinations.

Customers can't see discount in cart

Discounts only appear after the code is entered at checkout. Make sure customers are entering the code in the Discount code field during checkout, not in the cart page.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Shopify website before purchasing.

Visit Shopify View Shopify Pricing