How to set up minimum order quantity limits in Shopify

Running a Shopify store means balancing customer experience with profitability. One challenge many merchants face is processing small orders that barely cover costs—or worse, result in losses after factoring in shipping, handling, and payment processing fees.

Setting a minimum order quantity (MOQ) or minimum order value can protect your margins while encouraging customers to purchase more. But here’s the catch: Shopify doesn’t offer native MOQ functionality.

In this guide, you’ll learn why MOQ limits matter for your store, when to use them, and exactly how to implement them in Shopify.

What is Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?

Minimum order quantity is the smallest number of products (or minimum dollar amount) a customer must purchase in a single order. Businesses use MOQs to ensure each transaction is profitable after covering fixed costs like:

• Shipping and handling
• Payment processing fees
• Packaging materials
• Labor time for order fulfillment
• Platform transaction fees

For example, if your average shipping cost is $8 and you sell items for $12 each, selling just one unit leaves you with minimal profit. Setting an MOQ of 3 units ($36 total) makes the order worthwhile.

Why Shopify stores need MOQ limits

1. Protect your profit margins

Small orders often eat into profits. When you factor in shipping costs, payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction), and fulfillment time, single-item orders may actually lose money.

MOQs ensure every order contributes positively to your bottom line.

2. Reduce fulfillment costs

Every order requires time for picking, packing, labeling, and shipping—regardless of size. By setting minimum quantities, you reduce the number of low-value orders and focus on more profitable transactions.

This is especially important for businesses operating on tight margins or those with high fulfillment costs.

3. Match supplier requirements

If your suppliers impose MOQs on you (as discussed in the inventory management article), you may need to pass similar requirements to your customers. This ensures you’re not stuck with excess inventory from bulk purchases while only selling single units.

4. Qualify serious buyers for B2B/Wholesale

Wholesale and B2B customers expect different terms than retail shoppers. Setting MOQs helps filter out casual browsers and ensures you’re working with legitimate business buyers who understand bulk purchasing.

5. Encourage larger cart values

When implemented thoughtfully, MOQs can actually improve customer experience by bundling products or encouraging customers to “complete the set” rather than buying single items.

Types of MOQ limits you can set

Before implementing MOQ limits, decide which type makes sense for your business:

• Minimum order quantity (units)

Require customers to purchase at least X units of a product. Example: “Minimum 6 bottles per order”

• Minimum order value (dollar amount)

Set a minimum cart total that customers must reach. Example: “$50 minimum order value”

• Product-specific minimums

Apply different MOQ rules to different products. Example: Custom t-shirts require 12-piece minimum, but accessories have no minimum

• Collection-based minimums

Set MOQ rules for entire product collections. Example: All wholesale items require 10+ units

• Customer group minimums

Create different rules for wholesale vs. retail customers using customer tags. Example: Wholesale customers must order $500 minimum; retail customers have no minimum

How to set up MOQ in Shopify – The Yuko order limit

While Shopify doesn’t offer native MOQ functionality, Yuko Order Limits makes it simple:

Step 1: Install Yuko order limits

• Free Shopify app available in the Shopify App Store
• No coding required
• Works with all Shopify themes
• Compatible with Shopify POS for in-store limits

Installation:

1. Visit the Shopify App Store
2. Search for “Yuko Order Limits”
3. Click “Add app”
4. Authorize the app for your store
5. You will find Yuko order limits in the left most

Step 2: Configure your rules

Once installed, you can create flexible MOQ rules:

Set minimum quantities per product:

• Navigate to products in your store
• Select individual products
• Set minimum quantity (e.g., “Must order at least 5 units”)
• Set maximum quantity if needed (prevent bulk buying abuse)

In different ways you can enforce order limits:

Set minimum cart values:

• Go to Cart Rules
• Set minimum order total (e.g., “$75 minimum”)
• Optionally exclude certain products or collections

Create rules by collection or product type:

• Apply MOQ to entire collections at once
• Perfect for wholesale vs. retail separation
• Set different rules for different product categories

Set different limits for wholesale customers:

• Use customer tags (e.g., “wholesale”, “B2B”)
• Create separate rule sets for each customer group
• Automatically apply appropriate limits at checkout

Step 3: Customize messages

Make MOQ requirements clear and helpful for customers:

Write custom error messages when MOQ not met:

• Default: “Minimum order quantity is 10 units”
• Better: “We offer bulk pricing! Please add at least 10 units to proceed with your order.”

Display MOQ requirements on product pages:

• Show badges or banners: “10-piece minimum order”
• Add text below the add-to-cart button
• Include MOQ in product descriptions

Show progress bars:

• Visual indicator: “$25 more to reach minimum order”
• Encourages customers to add more items
• Reduces cart abandonment by setting clear expectations

Step 4: Test & launch

Before going live with MOQ limits:

Preview how limits appear to customers:

• Create a test order as a customer
• Check mobile and desktop views
• Verify messages display correctly

Test checkout flow:

• Attempt to checkout below MOQ (should be blocked)
• Verify error messages are clear
• Test with different customer tags (wholesale vs. retail)

Monitor analytics:

• Track cart abandonment rates
• Monitor average order value changes
• Measure impact on conversion rates
• Adjust MOQ thresholds based on data

Minimum order quantity limits best practices for Shopify stores

1. Be Transparent

Display your MOQ clearly on:

• Product pages (in description or near add-to-cart)
• Collection pages
• Cart page
• Homepage (if applicable)
• FAQ section

Customers appreciate knowing requirements upfront rather than discovering them at checkout.

2. Explain the Why

Don’t just state the rule explain the benefit:

• ❌ “Minimum order: $50”
• ✅ “Our $50 minimum allows us to offer free shipping and competitive pricing on all orders!”

When customers understand the reasoning, they’re more likely to comply.

3. Offer Alternatives

Help customers meet minimums easily:

• Product bundles: Pre-packaged sets that meet MOQ
• Recommended add-ons: “Add $12 more to reach minimum”
• Mix-and-match options: “Choose any 6 items from this collection”
• Sample packs: Curated selections at minimum quantity

4. Use Tiered Pricing

Incentivize purchases beyond your MOQ:

• 6-11 units: $10 each
• 12-23 units: $9 each
• 24+ units: $8 each

This encourages customers to buy more while ensuring you meet profitability thresholds.

5. Monitor Impact

Track these metrics after implementing MOQ:

• Cart abandonment rate: Did it increase significantly?
• Average order value (AOV): Hopefully this increases
• Conversion rate: Watch for major drops
• Customer feedback: Are shoppers confused or frustrated?

If MOQ negatively impacts sales, consider adjusting your minimums or improving messaging.

6. Segment Your Customers

Not all customers should face the same MOQ:

• Retail customers: Lower or no MOQ
• Wholesale buyers: Higher MOQ with volume discounts
• VIP customers: Waived MOQ as a loyalty perk
• First-time buyers: Reduced MOQ to encourage trial

Use Yuko’s customer tag feature to create these segments.

Common MOQ scenarios & solutions

Scenario 1: Wholesale store needs different MOQs for retail vs. wholesale

Challenge: You sell to both individual consumers and business buyers. Retail customers want single units, but wholesale orders should be larger.

Yuko Solution:

• Tag wholesale customers with “wholesale” or “B2B”
• Create two rule sets:
  • Retail (no tag): No MOQ or low MOQ ($25)
  • Wholesale (tagged): Higher MOQ ($500 or 50 units)
• Rules automatically apply based on logged-in customer

Scenario 2: Custom products require minimum orders

Challenge: You offer personalized t-shirts. Screen printing setups make small orders unprofitable.

Yuko Solution:

• Create a “Custom Products” collection
• Set collection-wide MOQ: 12 units minimum
• Display clearly: “Custom orders require 12-piece minimum due to printing setup costs”
• Offer pre-designed items without MOQ for customers wanting smaller quantities

Scenario 3: Free shipping threshold + MOQ

Challenge: You want to offer free shipping at $75 but also need a $50 MOQ.

Yuko Solution:

• Set minimum cart value: $50
• Add shipping threshold message: “Add $X more for free shipping!”
• This creates two conversion points:
  • First goal: Reach $50 minimum
  • Stretch goal: Reach $75 for free shipping
• Use progress bars for both thresholds

Scenario 4: Seasonal products with expiration

Challenge: You sell seasonal items (holiday decorations, perishable goods) that need to move quickly.

Yuko Solution:

• Set higher MOQs during peak season to maximize profit
• Lower or remove MOQs near end of season to clear inventory
• Update rules in Yuko as seasons change (takes 30 seconds)
• Communicate clearly: “End of season—no minimum orders!”

Scenario 5: New product launch

Challenge: Testing demand for a new product without committing to large supplier MOQs.

Yuko Solution:

• Set initial MOQ based on supplier requirements
• Use affiliate marketing (Yuko Affiliate Marketing) to drive pre-orders
• Once demand is validated, place supplier order
• Adjust customer-facing MOQ based on reorder patterns

Advanced minimum order quantity limits strategies

Geographic MOQ variations

If shipping costs vary dramatically by region:

• Higher MOQ for international orders
• Lower MOQ for local/regional customers
• Use shipping zones to inform MOQ policy

Note: This requires custom development or third-party apps beyond basic MOQ limits.

Combine MOQ with quantity breaks

Encourage larger orders by showing savings:

“Buy 10 for $15 each = $150 total Buy 20 for $13 each = $260 total (Save $40!) Buy 50 for $11 each = $550 total (Save $200!)”

Time-limited MOQ reductions

Create urgency during slow periods:

• “Flash Sale: No minimum order this weekend only!”
• “Holiday Special: $25 minimum (regular $50)”
• Temporary promotions to boost volume

What to avoid when setting minimum order quantity limits

Don’t hide MOQ requirements

Customers discovering MOQ at checkout is frustrating and leads to abandonment. Always display prominently.

Don’t set arbitrary minimums

Base your MOQ on actual costs and profitability calculations, not guesswork. If $50 feels right but your data shows $35 is profitable, go with $35.

Don’t ignore customer feedback

If multiple customers complain about MOQ, listen. You might need to:

• Lower the threshold
• Improve messaging
• Offer more bundle options
• Create exceptions for certain circumstances

Don’t apply MOQ to All products blindly

Consider which products truly need MOQ:

• High-value items may not need MOQ
• Loss leaders can have no minimum
• Custom/bulk items definitely need MOQ

Measuring MOQ success

After implementing MOQ limits, track these KPIs:

Immediate metrics (Week 1-4):

• Cart abandonment rate changes
• Average order value increase
• Customer support inquiries about MOQ
• Conversion rate impact

Long-term metrics (Month 2+):

• Total revenue trends
• Profitability per order
• Customer lifetime value
• Repeat purchase rates

Success indicators:

• AOV increased by 20%+
• Cart abandonment stayed below 70%
• Fewer unprofitable small orders
• Positive or neutral customer sentiment

Ready to set up MOQ limits in your shopify store?

Minimum order quantities protect your profit margins, reduce fulfillment costs, and encourage customers to purchase more. While Shopify doesn’t include native MOQ functionality, Yuko Order Limits makes implementation simple, flexible, and free.

Get started in 3 steps:

1. Install Yuko Order Limits from the Shopify App Store (free)
2. Configure your rules based on your profitability thresholds
3. Monitor and optimize using built-in analytics

Whether you’re running a wholesale operation, selling custom products, or simply need to ensure every order is profitable, MOQ limits give you the control you need.

Frequently Asked Questions