Getting customers to buy more in a single order is one of the simplest ways to boost your revenue. Instead of spending extra on ads to acquire new traffic, you can increase Average Order Value (AOV) by rewarding customers who purchase higher quantities of the same product.

One proven way to do this is by offering volume discounts (also called quantity breaks). With this approach, the more units a customer buys, the bigger the discount they receive. This creates a win-win: customers feel they’re getting a better deal, and merchants benefit from larger order sizes.

Why Volume Discounts Work

Psychology and economics both play a role in why quantity-based pricing is effective:

• Perceived savings: Customers see clear value in buying more and saving more.
• Encourages bulk buying: Great for consumables, fashion, or accessories where multiple items are often useful.
• Variant flexibility: Shoppers can mix different colors, sizes, or variations of the same item while still qualifying for the discount.
• Better margins for merchants: Higher quantities reduce shipping and handling costs per item, improving profit margins.

For example: “Buy 2 and save 10% • Buy 3 and save 15% • Buy 5 and save 20%.”

Challenges Without a Structured Volume Discount System

• Manual discount codes: Promo codes feel clunky and aren’t visible until checkout, reducing motivation.
• Lack of real-time updates: Customers can’t see how much they’ll save as they add items to their cart.
• One-size-fits-all offers: Flat discounts don’t incentivize buying more than one item.
• Poor integration: Without seamless setup, offers may break the shopping flow or harm trust.

Best Practices for Quantity Breaks

• Offer multiple tiers: Set clear steps that reward larger purchases (e.g., 2 items = 5% off, 3 items = 10% off, 5 items = 20% off).
• Show savings upfront: Display the discount progression directly on the product page.
• Let customers mix variants: Allow different colors or sizes of the same product to count toward the discount.
• Keep design clean: Make sure discount tables are clear, mobile-friendly, and match your brand.
• Stack with other offers: Combine quantity discounts with free shipping thresholds for maximum impact.

How Addly Simplifies Volume Discounts

Addly • AI Bundles & Upsells includes a volume discount / quantity break feature designed to help Shopify merchants scale sales of the same item with minimal effort:

• Flexible discount tiers: Easily set multiple levels of discounts (e.g., Buy 2 = 10% off, Buy 3 = 15% off, Buy 5 = 20% off).
• Variant support: Customers can mix different variants (colors, sizes, styles) of the same product while still qualifying.
• On-page discount tables: Clear, mobile-optimized tables show exactly how much shoppers save as they add more.
• Custom design: Style the discount table to match your store’s branding.
• No-code setup: Configure directly in Shopify admin—no complicated discount codes required.
• Analytics: Track which tiers perform best to refine your offers over time.

Merchant Experiences

“The volume discount table is fantastic. Customers understand instantly how much they save, and we’ve seen bigger cart sizes since enabling it.”

“Being able to mix variants into the same discount was huge for us. Shoppers love picking multiple colors and still getting the deal.”

Final Thoughts

Volume discounts and quantity breaks are a proven way to encourage bulk orders, improve profit margins, and increase AOV. By making savings visible and easy to understand, customers feel rewarded for buying more—and merchants benefit from higher sales per order.

With Addly, Shopify merchants can set up clean, flexible, and branded quantity breaks that motivate shoppers to add more to their cart—all without complex coding or manual discount codes.

Clearer offers. Bigger carts. More revenue—with smart quantity breaks.