Best Practices For Shopify Minimum Order Quantity 2025

E-commerce success starts with the small details. Shopify Minimum Order Quantity  (MOQ) is the secret many shops are missing. But the core issue isn’t whether to apply MOQ or not, but rather how to set the appropriate MOQ level. The most important thing is that customers feel they are getting worthy value, instead of worrying about the amount of money they have to spend!

It really isn’t as complicated as you might think! With just a few simple setup steps, you can effectively utilize this function on your Shopify shop. But where do you start? Don’t worry, in this article, eComStart will help you build an effective MOQ strategy and turn MOQ into a highlight that helps increase order value naturally!

1. What is Shopify Minimum Order Quantity?

Shopify Minimum Order Quantity, or what we often call MOQ, is the least amount of product that a business requires a customer to purchase in a single transaction. It’s pretty common in wholesale, manufacturing, or if you’re selling on Shopify platform.

MOQ can be calculated based on either:

• Product quantity (For example, a minimum of 50 t-shirts per order).
• Total order value (For example, an order minimum of 50 USD).

1.1.Why do businesses set MOQ and How does it benefit them?

So, why do businesses set a Shopify Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)? Let’s delve into the details of the advantages that MOQ brings to businesses.

• Cost optimization through scale effects

Applying MOQ really helps businesses to reduce manufacturing costs per product unit quite significantly. According to McKinsey report, those manufacturing businesses can save up 15 to 25% of their expenditure just by setting sensible Minimum Order Quantities.

• Boosting negotiation power with suppliers

A study from the Harvard Business Review showed that companies who use MOQ often get much better deals, it means like 10 to 20% better pricing compared to small, individual orders. A prime example is Apple; they often require very high MOQs from their component suppliers to ensure a stable supply and competitive pricing.

• Effective inventory control

MOQ assist companies avoid overstocking or, otherwise, not have enough materials on hand. By setting minimum purchase limits for each order, businesses can stock just the right amount, reduce storage expenses, and prevent wastage from damage or outdated goods. 

• Increasing profit through eliminating inefficient orders

MOQ enables businesses to focus on orders with higher value, and from that improve their profit margins. A Shopify survey find out that businesses using MOQ tend to have 20 to 30 percent higher profits than who does not set minimums.

• Ensuring quality and production efficiency

Dealing with a lots of small orders not only push up costs but also can easy to make mistakes in production and delivery. MOQ helps businesses concentrate on large batches, ensures consistent quality, and a smoother production process. 

2. How to set minimum order quantity in Shopify 

Now that we’ve got the reasoning behind MOQ, let’s delve into the specifics of setting Minimum Order Quantities on Shopify. You’ll definitely be surprised to find there are more than just a couple ways to set Minimum Order Quantity Shopify !

2.1. How to set Minimum Order Quantity in Shopify manually

We’ll walk through each step of setting up a  Manual MOQ for each product. This is a solid foundation for you to fully understand the process and proactively control your orders.

Step 1: Go to Catalogs

From your Shopify admin, go to Markets> Catalogs an select the catalog you want to edit.

Step 2: Manage Products 

Scroll down to the Products section> Find the product variants, click (+) Add in the ” Rules” column, then adjust your minimum quantity.

Step 3: Save the change

Click Done in the rule dialog, then Save the catalog.

2.2. How to add minimum order quantity in Shopify by using Apps

Besides the manual method of setting MOQ, Shopify for 1 dollar also offers apps that make this task easier. We’ll explore some popular apps and how to use them to set up MOQ effectively.

Let’s take a look at an example of how to set minimum order quantity Shopify using the Minmaxify Order Limits app!

Step 1. Install the Minmaxify Order Limits app

If you haven’t already, install the Minmaxify Order Limits app from the Shopify App Store.  

Step 2. Access the App Settings

Navigate to the Apps section in your Shopify admin and click on the Minmaxify Order Limits app to open its dashboard.

Step 3. Create a New Limit Rule 

Look for an option to Rule>Create rule within the app’s interface.

Step 4. Define the Limit Type

Choose the type of limit you want to set. For a minimum order quantity, you’ll typically select an option related to the “Cart” or “Product.”

Step 5: Set the Minimum Quantity or Value

Specify the minimum quantity of items or the minimum dollar value that the customer’s cart must meet to proceed to checkout.  

Step 6: Configure Conditions (Optional): 

Minmaxify often allows you to apply these limits based on specific conditions, such as:

• Entire Cart: Applies the limit to the total contents of the shopping cart.
• Specific Products or Collections: Applies the limit only if certain products or products from specific collections are in the cart.
• Customer Tags: Apply limits only to customers with specific tags (useful for wholesale pricing or special groups).

Step 7: Customize Notifications

The app usually provides options to customize the message that customers see if their cart does not meet the minimum order requirement. Write a clear and helpful message informing them of the MOQ.  

Step 8: Save and Enable the Rule

Once you have configured the limit rule and any conditions, save the rule and ensure it is enabled for it to take effect on your storefront.

2.3. Use code to set Shopify minimum order quantity per product

Now, if you want to control everything at a more detailed level, let’s explore how to use code to set up Shopify minimum order quantity per product.

Step 1: Duplicate Your Theme

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
2. Find the theme you want to edit.
3. Click Actions > Duplicate.
4. Work on the duplicate theme to avoid affecting your live store.

Step 2: Access the Theme Code Editor

On your duplicated theme, click Actions > Edit code.

Step 3: Locate the Cart Page File

In the code editor, navigate to the files related to your cart page. Common locations include:

• Section/main-cart-items.liquid or templates/cart.liquid

Step 4: Customize the message and Save

• In the code box section, find the code (Ctrl + F for Window or Cmd +F for Mac) “data-cart-quantity”
• Then under this, adjust the desired number in Min= ‘{number}’ 
• Save the changes

2.4. Use shipping rate conditions to set Shopify Minimum Order Quantity

Besides the manual methods or using apps, did you know that we can also use shipping conditions to set up MOQ? This is a clever ‘promotion’ trick that both increases order value and attracts customers to buy more.

Step 1. Determine Your Target Minimum Order Value

Based on your product pricing and the average number of items you’d like customers to purchase, calculate a minimum order value that aligns with your goal. For example, if your average item price is $20 and you’d like customers to buy at least 3 items, you might set a minimum order value of $60.

Step 2. Navigate to Shipping Settings

From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

Step 3. Select or Create a Shipping Profile

You can either edit an existing shipping profile (like your “General” profile) or create a new one for specific products if needed. Click Manage rates next to the profile.

Step 4. Configure Shipping Zones

Ensure you have shipping zones set up for the regions you ship to.

Step 5. Add a Shipping Rate for Orders BELOW the Minimum Value:

1. Click Add rate within a shipping zone (domestic or international shipping).

2. Give this rate a clear name, such as “Orders under $60 – High Shipping” in the Shipping rate>Custom section.
3. Set a relatively high price for this shipping rate. This acts as a disincentive for smaller orders.
4. Click Add conditions.
5. Select the “Based on order price” condition.
6. Set the “Minimum price” to $0 and the “Maximum price” to your calculated minimum order value minus a cent (e.g., $59.99).

Step 6. Add a Shipping Rate for Orders AT or ABOVE the Minimum Value

1. Click Add rate again within the same shipping zone.
2. Name this rate appropriately, such as “Orders $60 and over – Standard Shipping” or “Free Shipping on Orders over $60”.
3. Set a lower price or $0 for free shipping to incentivize reaching this threshold.
4. Click Add conditions.
5. Select the “Based on order price” condition.
6. Set the “Minimum price” to your calculated minimum order value (e.g., $60.00) and leave the “Maximum price” field empty.

Step 7. Save Your Changes

Click Save at the top of the shipping profile settings.

3. 5 Best strategies to optimize Shopify MOQ 2025

Setting up MOQ is very important, but optimizing it is even more crucial. In 2025, these 5 best strategies will not only help you increase revenue but also save costs, maximizing profits on Shopify.

3.1. Communicating MOQ subtly to customers

Customers usually don’t mind MOQ, but they’ll get annoyed if they suddenly face this requirement at checkout. We need to understand that nobody likes being excited to pay, then suddenly get a notice “You need to buy 3 more items to meet the MOQ!”

Your Shopify store should use a smarter approach: Tell people about the MOQ right from the start.

• On the Shopify product page, instead of writing “MOQ: 5” small in the corner, show a positive message: “Order at least 5 items to get a special discount!”
• On the cart page, if the customer hasn’t reached the MOQ, don’t just show an error message. Instead, suggest: “You only need 2 more items to reach the MOQ. Check out these related products!” along with a list of related items.

Alternatively, if you’re looking to quickly establish a professional store with a ready-made, effective MOQ strategy, a prebuilt eCommerce store from eComStart would be an excellent option. Certainly, with eComStart, you’ll find it straightforward to make a great first impression on your customers!

3.2. Setting flexible MOQ – Understand customers to optimize

MOQ isn’t a fixed number that never changes. You need to adjust it for different customer groups. You should:

• For individual customers: If order analysis shows they usually only buy 1-2 items, having a high MOQ will backfire. Instead, create combo packs of 3-5 items with a discount.
• For dealers/businesses: While a high MOQ is obvious, you need to look at their order history. If they usually order about 50 items a month, setting an MOQ of 100 might make them hesitate.

3.3. Turn MOQ into offers – A clever strategy

Instead of forcing customers to buy a large quantity, motivate them to want to buy more. The most effective way is to combine MOQ with quantity discounts.

• “Buy 5 get 1 free” – everyone likes free stuff.
• “Buy 10 items or more, get each item for only $80 (save 20%)” – specific numbers are always convincing.

This isn’t just about pricing strategy, it’s also the art of using customer psychology. When customers see a clear benefit, MOQ will naturally become a valuable option for them.

3.4. Use Stocky to manage MOQ fully

Managing MOQ is important for both customers and inventory operations, and also it is essential for coordinating with suppliers. If you’re running Shopify POS, the Stocky app is a helpful solution to:

• Set MOQ for each supplier, ensuring each time you restock, you get the optimal quantity for cost savings.
• Automatically alert you when stock levels are about to hit the minimum, helping you to proactively reorder.

Smart restocking management will help control costs better, which lets you apply MOQ to customers more flexibly and effectively.

3.5. Use Shopify Flow to create automated workflows

To make everything run smoother and more efficient, we can harness the power of automation. In the 4.0 era, you don’t need to spend time tracking each product to check MOQ. Shopify Flow will automate the whole process:

• When stock levels go below the supplier’s MOQ, the system will automatically send an alert via email or Slack, or even create a draft purchase order.
• When customers reach the MOQ, the system can automatically send a thank-you voucher or a message “Congratulations, you’ve reached the free shipping condition.”

For example: When the stock of lavender scented candles hits the MOQ of 20 units (remaining: 15), Shopify Flow will automatically create a Slack notification that includes: 

(1) A restock alert

(2) A direct order link to the supplier

(3) Smart suggestions for other seasonal scents based on current sales trends. 

This automated workflow ensures timely inventory management while optimizing purchasing efficiency.

4. Conclusion

Setting up a Shopify Minimum Order Quantity  is a smart strategy that helps increase profits, optimize operations, and enhance user experience. By carefully analyzing costs, studying buyer behavior, and utilizing tools like tiered pricing or process automation, you can effectively implement MOQ without diminishing customer satisfaction.

Remember: success doesn’t lie in rigid numbers, but in how you turn MOQ into an opportunity. And if you’re looking for a more optimized solution, eComStart could be a worthwhile starting point

5. FAQS