---
title: How to Set Purchase Limits by Formula (and When to Use Them)
description: "When to use formula-based WooCommerce purchase limits, for cases the fixed limit fields cannot express."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/max-products-per-user-formula-limits/"
updated: "2026-10-05"
category: How to
tags:
  - Maximum Products per User for WooCommerce
---

# How to Set Purchase Limits by Formula (and When to Use Them)

## Why and when to use formula-based limits

Formula-based limits in [Maximum Products per User for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/maximum-products-per-user-for-woocommerce/) are for cases the fixed All Products, Per Product and Per Taxonomy fields cannot express: a limit for two specific users, a rule that only runs during a sale, or a cap that depends on payment method or membership plan. This is a Pro feature.

### Good use cases

- Different caps for named customers by `user_id`.
- Higher caps for a role such as wholesale using `user_role`.
- Time-limited promotions with `start_date` and `end_date`.
- Limits tied to a membership plan or the chosen payment method.

### How to enable it

1. Go to **WPFactory > Max Products per User** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Maximum Products per User**) and open the **Formula** section.
2. Enable **Limits by formula**.
3. Add one `[wpfmppu]` rule per line. Rules are read top to bottom and the first match wins; every rule needs a `limit`.

**Note:** use the current `[wpfmppu]` tag. The old `[alg_wc_mppu]` tag is a deprecated alias as of 4.5.0.

For the full attribute list and setup steps, see [how to set purchase limits by formula](https://wpfactory.com/docs/maximum-products-per-user-for-woocommerce/) and the [formula attributes reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/maximum-products-per-user-for-woocommerce/).

## How to Set Purchase Limits by Formula

The Formula section of [Maximum Products per User for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/maximum-products-per-user-for-woocommerce/) lets you set limits with shortcode rules instead of fixed fields, so you can target individual users, roles, products, categories, payment methods and more. This is a Pro feature.

![Limits by Formula section in Maximum Products per User with the formula textarea](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/max-products-per-user-limits-by-formula.png)

### Before you start

- WooCommerce, active.
- [Maximum Products per User](https://wpfactory.com/item/maximum-products-per-user-for-woocommerce/) Pro (the Formula section is Pro-only).
- To use `product_id`, `product_sku`, `is_downloadable` or `is_virtual`, enable **Limits > Per product**. To use `term_id`, enable **Per product category** or **Per product tag**. To use `payment_method`, enable **General > Count by current payment method**.

### Where to find it

Go to **WPFactory > Max Products per User** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Maximum Products per User**), open the **Formula** section, enable **Limits by formula** (`alg_wc_mppu_formula_enabled`) and add one shortcode per line.

### How it works

- Use the `[wpfmppu]` shortcode, one per line.
- The plugin reads top to bottom and stops at the first matching rule.
- The `limit` attribute is required on every rule.

**Note:** the current shortcode tag is `[wpfmppu]`. The old `[alg_wc_mppu]` tag still works but is deprecated as of 4.5.0.

### Available attributes

| Attribute | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| `limit` | Maximum allowed (required). |
| `user_id` | One or more user IDs (comma-separated). |
| `user_role` | One or more roles. |
| `membership_plan`, `memberpress_plan_id`, `sumo_membership_plan`, `swpm_membership_id` | Membership plans (requires the relevant membership plugin). |
| `payment_method` | Current payment method (needs Count by current payment method). |
| `product_id`, `product_sku`, `is_downloadable`, `is_virtual` | Target products (needs Per product enabled). |
| `term_id` | Target categories/tags (needs Per taxonomy enabled). |
| `product_limit_meta` | Use product meta as the limit (only with `product_id`). |
| `start_date`, `end_date`, `not_date_limit` | Make a rule apply only during a date window. |

You cannot combine `product_id` (or `product_sku`/`is_downloadable`/`is_virtual`) and `term_id` in the same rule.

### Examples

- `[wpfmppu limit="18" user_id="2,5"]`: limit of 18 for users 2 and 5.
- `[wpfmppu limit="18" user_id="2,5" product_id="100,110"]`: limit of 18 on products 100 and 110 for users 2 and 5.
- `[wpfmppu limit="3" user_role="customer"]`: customers can buy up to 3.

### Ready to set this up?

Formula limits are a Pro feature of [Maximum Products per User](https://wpfactory.com/item/maximum-products-per-user-for-woocommerce/). [Get Maximum Products per User Pro](https://wpfactory.com/item/maximum-products-per-user-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [How to Customize Purchase Limit Messages and Enforce Limits at Checkout](https://wpfactory.com/docs/frontend-user-limits/)
- [How to Set Product-Specific Purchase Limits](https://wpfactory.com/docs/setting-product-specific-limits/)
- [How to Handle Guest Purchase Limits in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/guest-user-product-limits/)
- [How to Set a Date Range for WooCommerce Purchase Limits](https://wpfactory.com/docs/managing-woocommerce-product-limits/)
- [How to Set Up Product Purchase Limits in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/manage-product-limits/)

 

[![Maximum Products per User for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Maximum-Products-per-User-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/maximum-products-per-user-for-woocommerce/)