Quantity Breaks
Definition
Quantity breaks are pricing rules that offer customers discounts based on the number of units they purchase.
For example, buy 3–5 units at $9 each, 6–10 at $8.50, and 11+ at $8.
Good or Bad?
Good when it motivates customers to buy more and increase order value.
Bad if it’s poorly communicated or hard to calculate, leading to confusion or abandoned carts.
Why does it matter?
It helps boost sales by encouraging bulk purchases.
Customers feel they’re getting more value, while you move more inventory and raise your average order size.
Common Mistakes
- Not clearly displaying pricing tiers on product pages
- Applying discounts inconsistently across variations or categories
- Failing to test how quantity breaks impact your profit margins
How to Improve It?
- Use pricing tables that update dynamically based on quantity
- Set minimum quantities per tier to protect your margins
- A/B test your quantity break levels to find the most effective thresholds
Recommended Plugin
Dynamic Pricing & Bulk Quantity Discounts for WooCommerce
This plugin lets you create flexible quantity-based pricing rules.
You can apply them by product, category, or user role and show pricing tables directly on product pages.
Real-World Example
A customer looking to buy T-shirts sees a discount if they order more than 5.
They originally planned to buy 3, but seeing the price drop at 6 makes them increase their order.
Related Terms
- Bulk Pricing
- Tiered Pricing
- Dynamic Pricing
- Volume Discount
FAQs
What’s the difference between quantity breaks and tiered pricing?
They’re often used interchangeably, but tiered pricing may apply different prices across ranges while quantity breaks typically discount all units once a threshold is reached.
Can I apply quantity breaks to variable products?
Yes.
Many WooCommerce plugins support quantity breaks by variation, product, or total cart quantity.
Do quantity breaks apply to logged-in users only?
That depends on the plugin.
Some allow setting rules for guests, while others can restrict them to specific user roles.
