# Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) Rules

> Source: https://primemoq.app/help/rule-types/minimum-order-quantity
> Collection: Rule Types
> Updated: 2026-08-02

A minimum quantity rule blocks checkout until the cart holds at least a set number of units of the products it covers. Here is how to build and test one.

**Short answer.** A minimum quantity rule blocks checkout unless the cart contains at least the number of units you set. In the Conditions card, set Limit type to Quantity and fill in Minimum quantity. Whether each product must reach the minimum on its own or several products can add up to it is decided separately, in the How to count card.

## Key takeaways

- Set Limit type to Quantity and fill in Minimum quantity. Leave the other fields blank if they do not apply.
- How to count decides whether the minimum applies per product or across the whole matching cart.
- The quick-start tile creates the same rule pre-filled with a minimum of 6.
- A rule matching zero products is never enforced, whatever its saved status says.

## What it does

A **minimum quantity** rule blocks checkout unless a shopper's cart includes at
least a set number of units of the products the rule applies to. This is the
classic MOQ, and the quick-start template for it is labelled **Minimum quantity
(MOQ)**.

| Goal | Example |
|---|---|
| Protect margin on low-priced items | Require at least 6 units so fees and packaging do not eat the profit |
| Enforce a supplier-style minimum | "This item is only sold in orders of 12 or more" |
| Push average order value up | Set a small minimum, such as 2, across the whole store |

## How it is enforced

The rule compares the quantity of matching products in the cart against
**Minimum quantity**. If the cart holds fewer units, checkout is blocked and the
shopper sees your **Minimum limit message**.

What counts as "matching products" (each product on its own, or all matching
products added together) is controlled separately, in
[How to count](/help/rule-types/per-item-vs-combined-total).

## Create the rule

**Start from the quick-start tile, or from scratch.** On the Dashboard or Rules
page, before you have any rules, the **Minimum quantity (MOQ)** tile opens a rule
pre-filled with a minimum of 6. Otherwise go to **Rules > Create rule**, name it,
and set **Limit type** to **Quantity** in the Conditions card.

**Set the minimum.** Enter your number in **Minimum quantity**. Leave **Maximum
quantity** and **Sell in multiples of** blank unless you need them too.

**Choose how to count.** If the rule covers several products, decide whether each
product must independently meet the minimum (**Each item separately**) or whether
the shopper can mix products to reach the total (**Combined total**).

**Choose applied products.** In the **Products** card, scope the rule to specific
products, a collection, tag, vendor, product type, or your entire store.

**Write the message, optionally.** In **Messages**, customise the **Minimum limit
message** shown when the cart falls short, or leave it to use your shop's default
template.

**Save.** The rule enforces immediately.

## Verify it works

| Cart | Expected result |
|---|---|
| 1 unit, below a minimum of 6 | Blocked, limit message shown, checkout stopped |
| 6 units | Allowed |
| 6 units with one from a non-matching product | Only the matching units count toward the minimum |

In the rule editor's **Preview** card, drag the quantity stepper below your
minimum and confirm the warning reads correctly. Then add fewer than the minimum
to a cart on the live storefront and confirm both that the message appears on the
product page and that checkout is genuinely blocked, not just warned about.

## Common mistakes

- **Nothing blocks at checkout even though the rule is Active.** Check that the
  product scope really includes the product you are testing, and that it matches
  at least one product. A zero-match rule is never enforced.
- **The minimum applies across several different products when you wanted it per
  product.** Set **How to count** to *Each item separately*, not *Combined total*.
- **The message does not show on the product page.** The app embed is most likely
  not enabled yet.

## FAQ

### Does a minimum quantity rule stop the shopper adding to cart, or only block checkout?

It blocks checkout. The product page shows the limit message as soon as a disallowed quantity is set, and the Add to cart button is disabled in the preview, but the enforcement that cannot be bypassed happens at checkout.

### Can I set a store-wide minimum order quantity?

Yes. Choose All store as the Products scope. Be careful with the counting mode: a store-wide minimum of 6 counted per item means every single product in the cart needs 6 units, which is rarely what merchants intend. Combined total is usually the right choice for a store-wide minimum.

### Does the minimum count variants separately?

By default yes, when How to count is set to Each item separately. Turn off Count each variant separately if a shopper should be able to mix sizes or colours of the same product to reach the minimum.

### Can I apply a minimum only to wholesale customers?

Yes. Set Customer eligibility to your wholesale tag or segment, and retail shoppers never see the rule. This is the usual setup for a B2B minimum.

### What happens if a customer already has fewer than the minimum in an abandoned cart?

Nothing until they check out. The rule is evaluated against the cart at checkout, so an old cart below the minimum is simply blocked at that point with the message explaining why.

### Can I combine a minimum with a case-pack multiple?

Yes. Minimum quantity 6 with "sell in multiples of" 6 means one or more full cases. Both conditions are enforced together in the same rule.

**Best for:** Stores that lose money on very small orders, including DTC brands with low unit prices and suppliers with a genuine per-order minimum.

**Applies to:** Quantity limit type