How are guest customers tracked?

They aren't. Per-customer limits count against a Shopify customer account, so guest checkout is blocked while customer limits are on and every shopper has to log in to buy.

Can I set different limits for VIP or wholesale customers?

No. A per-customer limit applies the same rule to every logged-in customer — OrderRules can't target customer tags or segments. For wholesale buyers, use Shopify B2B: catalogs give company buyers their own quantity rules, separate from retail.

How do I limit orders per customer on Shopify?

Shopify has no native per-customer cap. In OrderRules open Customer Limits, add a rule, set Limit Type to Number of Orders, and set a maximum number of orders per period — for example 2 per week. It counts across every order the customer places, not just the current cart.

How do I stop resellers buying out my stock on Shopify?

A per-checkout cap will not do it, because a reseller simply places ten separate orders. Use a per-customer limit over a period, and turn on strict login enforcement so every order is tied to a customer account rather than an anonymous guest checkout.

Can I give VIP or wholesale customers a higher limit?

Not in OrderRules — every logged-in customer gets the same limit. Set it at a level that works for your best retail customers. Wholesale accounts belong in Shopify B2B, where each company catalog carries its own minimum, maximum and increment per variant.

Per-Customer Order Limits

3 min read · Facts checked October 12, 2026

Limit Orders Per Customer

Per-customer order limits control how frequently individual customers can place orders. This makes it much harder for resellers to buy out your stock, and spreads it more fairly across your customers.

How to Set Up

Go to Customer Limits and tick Enable per-customer limits under Settings
Under Limit Rules, click + Add Rule
Set Limit Type to Number of Orders
Set the Max Count and the Period (for example, 2 orders Per Week)
Click Save in the save bar — the limit applies to every logged-in customer

Example: Weekly Order Frequency

Rule:    Max 2 orders per customer per week
Target:  All customers

Result:
  Monday:    Customer places order 1 -- OK
  Wednesday: Customer places order 2 -- OK
  Friday:    Customer tries order 3 -- Blocked
  Next Monday: Limit resets, customer can order again

Who the Limit Applies To

A per-customer limit is one rule for everyone. OrderRules doesn't target customer tags or segments, so a VIP and a first-time buyer get the same allowance:

Every logged-in customer:   Max 2 orders per week
Guest checkout:             Blocked while customer limits are on

Wholesale and trade buyers

If trade accounts need different rules, keep them out of the retail flow with Shopify B2B:

Buyer	Handled by	Example rule
Retail	OrderRules per-customer limit	2 orders per week
Wholesale company	Shopify B2B catalog quantity rules	Min 20, increments of 10 per variant

Shopify B2B quantity rules apply only to B2B company buyers, so they don't change what retail shoppers see.

How Customers Are Tracked

Logged-in customers: Tracked by their Shopify customer ID. This is accurate and works across devices.

Guest customers: Not tracked. While customer limits are on, guest checkout is blocked and shoppers must log in to complete an order.

What Customers See

On the storefront (logged in):

"1 order remaining weekly across all products (limit 2)"
Or, if maxed out: "You've reached your weekly limit of 2 orders across all products."

At checkout:

"You've reached your weekly order limit of 2 orders."

Tips

Tell shoppers up front that an account is required to order
Use strong messaging on your store ("One order per household per week") to set expectations
Start with a generous limit and tighten it if you see abuse

Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)Per-Customer Quantity Limits