There are four quantity limit methods: quantity rules, quantity limits by product, quantity rules by customer group, and cumulative quantity rules. Choose based on how quantities are counted and whether limits vary by customer group.
If you want to apply the same condition together to multiple products within a single order, use product quantity rules.
If you want to set different conditions in detail for each product or variant within a single order, use quantity limits by product.
Use quantity rules by customer group to vary purchase limits or order multiples by membership tier, wholesale status, or another customer group.
If you want a per-customer limit on the total purchased across orders, use cumulative quantity rules.
If you want to limit the total quantity for a collection or the entire cart, use product quantity rules.
If you want many different quantity limits combined into a single checkout rule overall when enabled, use quantity limits by product.
The first difference to check is whether the limit is evaluated within a single order or against the total purchased across orders.
Method | What is evaluated |
|---|---|
Product quantity rules | A single order (the cart) |
Quantity limits by product | A single order (the cart) |
Quantity rules by customer group | A single order, with different limits per customer group |
Cumulative quantity rules | The total purchased across orders |
Note: Due to a Shopify limit, you can enable up to a total of 25 checkout rules per store, including checkout rules enabled by other apps. Each enabled quantity rule, quantity rule by customer group, and cumulative quantity rule counts as 1, and quantity limits by product counts as 1 overall when enabled.
Both are evaluated within a single order. Compare the setup target, how totals are calculated, application to new products, and checkout rule consumption, and choose the method that fits your purpose.
Comparison item | Product Quantity Rule | Quantity Limits by Product |
|---|---|---|
Checkout rules consumed | 1 per enabled rule | 1 overall when enabled |
Setup method | Set eligible items and applicability per rule | Set per product or variant |
Apply the same condition in bulk | Can apply to all products, collections, product tags, and so on | Set per product |
Different limits per variant | Create a rule for each different condition | Can set individually within one product's settings |
Total across all variants of a product | Can set by making the applicability "Product" | Can set with "Total quantity limit" |
Total quantity for a collection or cart | Can set | Cannot set |
Automatic application to new products | Possible depending on how eligible items are specified | Not applied automatically |
On the Full plan, you can vary the minimum quantity, maximum quantity, and increment for groups based on customer tags or a customer metafield. Each group can also be set to No limit or Cannot purchase. Applicability can be Variant, Product, or Cart.
Customers must be logged in to match an added group. Guests use the guest settings; logged-in customers who match no added group use the member settings. When other rules also apply, their conditions must be met as well.
Cumulative quantity rules are evaluated against the total purchased across orders. The table below compares them with quantity rules and quantity limits by product. Quantity rules by customer group also evaluate a single order; they do not provide separate cumulative totals by group.
Comparison item | Product quantity rules / limits by product | Cumulative quantity rules |
|---|---|---|
What is evaluated | A single order (the cart) | The total purchased across orders |
Identifying the customer | Not required | Required |
Limits you can set | Minimum quantity, maximum quantity, increment | Maximum quantity only |
When it is evaluated | When the cart is updated or at checkout | The total is evaluated at checkout |
Changing eligible items | Can be changed at any time | Cannot be changed once tracking has started |
Plans | Light plan and Full plan | Full plan |
A cumulative quantity rule evaluates the total only when the customer can be identified. For a customer who is not logged in, purchases are counted when the email they enter at checkout matches their customer record.
Initial Setup (Product Quantity Limits)
Product Quantity Rules: Settings
Quantity Limits by Product: Settings
About Cumulative Quantity Rules
Cumulative Quantity Rules: Settings