To set a minimum order quantity (MOQ) on Shopify, first decide which minimum you mean. Shopify now handles two kinds natively: minimum quantities for B2B company buyers (B2B catalog quantity rules, on every plan since April 2026) and minimum order values (Checkout Blocks order value limits). What it still doesn't do is a minimum number of units of a product for regular shoppers. For that, add an app such as OrderRules: set the minimum on the product or variant, and a Shopify checkout Function blocks orders below it — including Shop Pay and other express checkouts.
If you sell case-packed goods like wine, beverages or supplements, or run a wholesale range alongside retail, you'll want some kind of minimum. Without one, a buyer can order a single unit of something that ships in 12s, and Shopify will accept it. This guide covers what Shopify does natively in 2026, where an app still fits, and how to set a per-product MOQ in OrderRules.
What is minimum order quantity, and which kind do you need?
Minimum order quantity (MOQ) is the smallest number of units a customer must buy. It's easy to confuse with two related rules:
| Rule | Example | Native in Shopify? | Where to set it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum units of a product (MOQ) | "Buy at least 6 of this candle" | Only for B2B buyers | B2B catalog quantity rules (B2B), or an app (everyone) |
| Minimum order value (MOV) | "Spend at least $50 to check out" | Yes | Checkout Blocks → order value limits |
| Increment / case pack | "Buy in 6s: 6, 12, 18" | Only for B2B buyers | B2B catalog quantity rules, or an app |
MOQs exist for real business reasons. Picking and shipping one low-value unit can cost more than the unit itself, case-packed stock should leave in whole cases, and small production runs need a minimum batch.
Stores that use minimums most:
- Wholesale and B2B distributors shipping case quantities (12, 24, 144)
- Beverage producers selling beer, wine, kombucha and CBD by the case
- Supplement and CPG brands with case minimums
- Print shops with setup costs that need minimum runs
- Bakeries and caterers with minimum sizes for custom orders
MOQ vs selling in multiples
MOQ is a floor — "buy at least 12". An increment (step) rule is a multiple — "buy in packs of 6". A minimum on its own doesn't keep packs whole: with a minimum of 12 and no increment, a customer can order 13. For true case packs, set both, with the minimum a multiple of the step. The full guide is selling in multiples and case packs on Shopify.
What Shopify does natively in 2026
Shopify added two native minimums in April 2026. Know them before you install anything — the rule-by-rule table of Shopify's native order limits covers the rest.
B2B catalog quantity rules (B2B buyers only)
Shopify's B2B catalogs support quantity rules — a minimum, a maximum and an increment for each variant — plus volume pricing. Since April 2, 2026, B2B is available on the Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus plans, with up to 3 active catalogs on non-Plus plans. See Shopify's B2B features by plan and setting up quantity rules.
The limits: quantity rules apply only to B2B company customers buying through a catalog. Regular shoppers on your storefront don't see them. They're set per variant, and they count within one order.
If every buyer who needs a minimum is a B2B company customer, native quantity rules may be all you need.
Checkout Blocks order value limits (money, not units)
Shopify's Checkout Blocks app includes order value limits: a minimum and a maximum order subtotal, for all customers or only B2B companies. They apply to every payment method, including Shop Pay and express checkouts. See order value limits. This is the native answer to "spend at least $50".
The add-to-cart limit (a maximum, not a minimum)
Under Settings → Checkout → Advanced preferences, Shopify's add-to-cart limit caps how many of each variant fit in one cart. It's a maximum, only for inventory-tracked products, and it doesn't apply to POS, draft orders or B2B catalogs. It won't set a minimum.
What's still missing
A minimum number of units of a product for regular (non-B2B) shoppers, and increments for them. That's the gap an app fills. The common workarounds don't hold up:
- Sell the case as one product. List "Case of 12" at $48. You lose per-unit inventory and pricing, and a customer who wants 18 has nowhere to go.
- Theme JavaScript. A quantity check on the product or cart page is client-side. Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Buy it now buttons and direct checkout links skip it, and theme updates can break it silently.
- Refund below-minimum orders. Works at tiny volume. It costs a human check on every order and confuses customers.
A minimum that holds has to be checked when the order is placed, with a Shopify checkout validation Function. Functions run on Shopify's servers for every checkout, including express checkouts — see how checkout validation works.
Which tool for which minimum
| Your situation | Use |
|---|---|
| Only B2B company customers need minimums or case packs | Shopify B2B catalog quantity rules |
| "Spend at least $X" for everyone | Checkout Blocks order value limits |
| Regular shoppers must buy at least N of a product, or in multiples | An app — e.g. OrderRules minimum and step quantities |
| Minimums plus store hours, daily caps or per-customer limits in one place | OrderRules |
They combine. A wholesale-and-retail brand might use B2B quantity rules for trade accounts, Checkout Blocks for a $30 retail minimum, and OrderRules for a 6-bottle minimum on one retail product.
Step by step: a per-product MOQ in OrderRules
Step 1: Install OrderRules
Install OrderRules from the Shopify App Store. Minimum and step quantities are on the free Starter plan for up to 3 products. Pro ($9.99/month) removes the product limit and adds collection caps, per-customer limits and CSV bulk editing.
Step 2: Set the minimum on the product or variant
Open Product Limits, choose the product, and enter a Minimum Order Quantity. Minimums are set per product or per variant; a variant's setting overrides its product's. Use variants when pack types differ — a "Sample" variant with no minimum and a "Case" variant with a minimum of 1 case.
OrderRules minimums work on products and variants only. There's no collection-wide or whole-cart unit minimum, and the minimum applies to every shopper — it can't be switched on for some customer tags only. If you need a minimum just for trade accounts, that's what Shopify's B2B quantity rules are for.
Step 3: Add a step quantity for case packs
If the product ships in cases, set a Step Quantity as well — 12 for a case of 12 — so orders go 12, 24, 36. See selling in multiples.
Step 4: Check the storefront message
OrderRules shows a minimum-order badge on the product page ("📦 Minimum order: 6 units") and, if a cart falls short, a checkout message naming the product, the minimum, and how many more are needed. Edit both in Settings. Telling customers the minimum before checkout prevents most abandoned carts at the block.
Step 5: Test with an express checkout
Add fewer than the minimum and check out with Shop Pay or another express method. Checkout should stop with the minimum message. An app that only checks on the cart page passes the cart test and fails here.
Step 6 (large catalogs): bulk edit with CSV
On Pro, export your product limits to CSV, fill the Min Order Qty and Step Quantity columns in a spreadsheet, and import. See Shopify bulk product limits: CSV import guide.
B2B and wholesale best practice
- Use Shopify's B2B quantity rules for trade accounts. They're native, per catalog, and on every plan now. Keep app minimums for rules that apply to everyone.
- Match the minimum to the fulfilment unit. If you stock cases of 24, a minimum of 20 makes your team break cases.
- Show the minimum on the product page, not only at checkout. Wholesale buyers who discover a minimum at checkout abandon.
- Mixed cases need a different tool. "Any 12 bottles from this collection" is a collection-level minimum, which OrderRules doesn't offer. Options: a mixed-case product bundle, B2B quantity rules, or a bundling app.
- Credit limits for trade accounts are a separate problem. OrderRules' per-customer spend caps block further orders once a customer reaches the cap, for logged-in customers — see customer spending caps.
Common MOQ mistakes
- A minimum with no storefront message. Customers hit the block at checkout and leave.
- Client-side-only enforcement. Express checkouts skip it.
- Retail minimums on wholesale products (or vice versa). Use B2B catalogs to separate the two.
- Minimums that don't match your stock unit. Cases of 24 need minimums in 24s.
- Not testing with Shop Pay.
- Minimums everywhere "just in case." They add friction. Use them where unit economics demand it.
How OrderRules compares with other MOQ apps
| App | Minimum quantity scope | Free plan | Storewide daily caps | Per-customer limits | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OrderRules | Product, variant (+ step quantity) | Yes (3 products) | Yes | Yes (Pro, login required) | — |
| Avada Order Limits | Product, collection | Yes | No | Limited | vs Avada |
| MinMaxify | Product | No | No | No | vs MinMaxify |
| KOR Order Limits | Product, collection | No | No | Tag-only (Pro) | vs KOR |
| MinCart | Cart, product | No | No | No | vs MinCart |
| Pareto Order Limits | Product | Yes | No | No | vs Pareto |
Competitor capabilities as listed on their App Store pages; check the comparison hub for details.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify have a built-in minimum order quantity feature?
For B2B buyers, yes: B2B catalog quantity rules set a minimum, maximum and increment per variant, on every plan since April 2026. For regular shoppers, no — there's no native per-product minimum, so you need an app.
Can I set different MOQs for wholesale and retail customers?
Use Shopify's B2B catalogs for the wholesale minimums and keep retail without one. OrderRules minimums apply to every shopper and can't target customer tags.
Does MOQ enforcement work with Shop Pay and Apple Pay?
Only if it runs as a checkout validation Function. OrderRules' minimums do, and Shopify's B2B quantity rules and Checkout Blocks order value limits also apply at checkout. Cart-page scripts don't.
What's the difference between MOQ, minimum order value and order limits?
MOQ is a unit count ("at least 12 of this"). Minimum order value is a money threshold ("spend $50"), which Shopify's Checkout Blocks handles natively. Order limits usually mean maximums — "no more than 50 orders a day" — which OrderRules handles.
Can I set MOQ at the variant level?
Yes. OrderRules minimums and step quantities can be set per variant, overriding the product.
How do I bulk-import MOQ rules for hundreds of products?
On Pro, export product limits to CSV, fill in the Min Order Qty (and Step Quantity) columns, and import. See the CSV bulk import guide.
Is minimum order quantity the same as selling in multiples?
No. A minimum is a floor; a multiple is an increment. For case packs, set both — see how to sell in multiples on Shopify.
Next steps
If your minimums are for B2B company buyers, start with Shopify's B2B quantity rules. If you need "spend at least $X", use Checkout Blocks. If regular shoppers must buy a minimum number of a product — or in cases — install OrderRules and set it on the product; the free plan covers 3 products.
To see how OrderRules stacks up against other apps, see the Shopify order limit app rankings.