How to Set Up Bulk Discounts in WooCommerce

From Wall Street to your local flea market, the siren song of bulk discounts rings true. It’s in our DNA!

We’re hardwired to buy more for less. It’s why Costco exists, it’s why street vendors offer “buy two, get one-half price,” and it’s why your grandma hoards those coupons.

It’s a beautiful, slightly obsessive human trait. And if you’re running an online store with WooCommerce, you need to tap into this primal desire.

Offering WooCommerce bulk discounts is a powerful way to boost sales and reward loyal customers. Whether you’re aiming to clear out inventory or encourage larger purchases, understanding how to offer bulk discounts is essential for any WooCommerce store owner.

This guide will show you how to effectively implement bulk discounts for WooCommerce, covering key strategies like setting up different pricing tiers and leveraging plugins to simplify the process.

Without further ado, let’s jump directly into setting up a WooCommerce bulk discount rule. Since the WooCommerce coupon tool doesn’t offer a direct bulk discount option, we will use a free plugin called Disco.

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Bulk Discount Plugin

Disco is by far the best free WooCommerce bulk discount plugin in the market. You can install it from the WordPress repository.

Login to your Woo site admin panel and go to Plugins >> Add New. Search, install, and activate the plugin.

The plugin generates its own dedicated menu at the left from where you can access its dashboard.

Step 2: Create a New Bulk Discount

Click the Create a Discount button to get started. Here’s what the initial window looks like.

Give your WooCommerce bulk discounts rule a name.

Step 3: Configure Bulk Discount Rules

Here’s our WooCommerce bulk discount pricing strategy – Offer $50 off on 10 or more items.

This means if a customer adds at least 10 quantities of a product, they will get a $50 discount on the total. Let’s configure this strategy.

• Select the Bulk option from the Discount Intent section.
• From the Discount section, select All Products as we are offering bulk order discounts WooCommerce on all products.

• In the Bulk Rules section, input 10 in the Minimum Quantity box and leave the Maximum field empty for unlimited entries. This practically means the discount is valid for 10+ products.

• From the Discount Type dropdown, select the Fixed Discount option and enter 50 in the value box.

Step 4: Save and Test

Save the rule from the following button.

Test the WooCommerce simple bulk discounts rule by adding 10 or more products to the cart. It should automatically deduct $50 from the total.

There you have it! A WooCommerce automatic bulk discounts tutorial with easy WooCommerce bulk discount configuration.

Note: If the “Fixed Discount Per Cart Item” option is selected, the discount will be applied to each product in the cart individually. For example, if you are offering $5 off per product when a minimum of 10 products are added to the cart, the discount will be calculated as follows:

• Discount per item: $5
• Number of items: 10
• Total discount: 10 × $5 = $50

This means the total discount will be proportional to the number of products in the cart that meet the rule’s criteria.

Creative WooCommerce Bulk Discounts: Advanced Bulk Pricing Strategies

Let’s face it: one-size-fits-all rarely works, especially when it comes to discounts.

That’s why we will cover a collection of tailored savings strategies designed to fit different scenarios in your WooCommerce store. Let’s dive in.

1. WooCommerce Tiered Bulk Discounts: The Reward Climber

• Example:
  • Buy 3-5 items: Get 10% off
  • Buy 6-10 items: Get 15% off
  • Buy 11+ items: Get 20% off

WooCommerce tiered discounts are like a built-in rewards program – the more they buy, the more they save!

Best Use Cases:

• Great for stores with diverse product ranges and price points.
• Encourages customers to add more items to reach the next discount tier.
• Effective for increasing average order value.

How to Create Tiered-Based WooCommerce Bulk Discounts?

Let us walk you through the steps to WooCommerce tiered bulk discounts setup for the example scenario we mentioned above.

1. Select the Bulk option and select All Products.
2. Insert 3 in the Minimum Quantity and 5 in the Maximum Quantity box. Select the Percentage option and enter your value.

3. Click the Add More button to add a new row.

4. Enter your 2^nd set of values to the new row and add another row.

5. Insert your final set of values, as you can see below.

6. Save and test the rule.

Add products between the 3-5 ranges, and here’s how Disco automatically applies the discount.

Here’s the result for 6-10 products added to the cart.

Finally, the result for 11+ products. This is also an example of how to offer percentage-based bulk discounts in WooCommerce.

2. Category-Specific Bulk Deals: The Party Favor

• Example: Offer 20% off on “Summer Collection” when buying 5 or more items.

Got a specific category you want to highlight? WooCommerce category discounts are your go-to for targeted promotions.

Best Use Cases:

• Ideal for seasonal or niche product categories.
• Helps clear out inventory or promote specific product lines.
• Effective for cross-selling related items.

How to Create Category-Based WooCommerce Bulk Discounts?

This time, we will use condition filters. Disco conditions allow you to customize and personalize your discount rules further.

You can apply multiple conditions to a single discount, adding flexibility and the power of dynamic pricing to your WooCommerce store.

Here’s how to set these WooCommerce bulk discounts –

1. Start by selecting the Bulk intent and All Products to offer discounts on all products under your target category.

2. Insert 5 in the Minimum Quantity box and keep the maximum field empty. Set your discount percentage.

3. Click the Add Condition button.
4. Add the Categories filter.

5. Type in or search and select the target category, “Summer Collection.”

6. Finally, save the rule and test by adding five or more products from the target category to the cart.

3. Minimum Order Value Discounts: The Big Spender

• Example: Get 10% off on orders over $100.

Quantity-based bulk discounts aren’t the only volume-based discounts you can offer in your Woo store. You can also use WooCommerce cart discounts to encourage bigger spending sprees.

With these discounts, you can set conditions like cart total, item count, or even cart weight to unlock special savings. It’s a simple yet effective strategy to reward larger purchases and motivate customers to add that extra item to their cart.

Best Use Cases:

• Boosts average order value.
• Incentivizes customers to add more items to reach the discount threshold.
• Can be combined with other discount strategies.

How to Set Up Cart Discounts in WooCommerce?

You can offer a WooCommerce bulk discount based on the quantity in the cart or based on the cart subtotal, regardless of the quantity. For this example, we will set up a discount on the cart subtotal when it reaches a certain threshold.

1. Select the Cart intent this time, and we will go with the All Products option.

2. Set the value from the Cart Rules section and hit the Add Condition button.

3. Select the filter called Cart Subtotal.
4. If you want the offer to be valid for orders of $100 or more, select the Greater Than or Equal option and set the value to 100.

5. Save the rule and add $100 worth of products to the cart to test the result.

4. WooCommerce Bulk Discounts for Loyal Customers: The VIP Treatment

• Example: ‘Wholesale’ members get 30% off when purchasing 15+ products.

Want to reward your most valuable customers? Offering exclusive discounts to loyal members is a fantastic way to show appreciation and encourage repeat business.

Disco allows you to create discount rules for specific customers as well as customers with specific user roles. If you have a WooCommerce membership site where you offer different subscription tiers, user role discounts are your golden tickets to boost sales and motivate members to upgrade to higher-tier plans.

Best Use Cases:

• Rewards loyal customers and encourages repeat purchases.
• Incentivizes customers to become members of a loyalty program or wholesale group.
• Can be used to build stronger customer relationships.
• Effective for increasing order volume from wholesale partners.
• Can be combined with other perks for members, like early access to sales or exclusive product previews.
• Can create a sense of exclusivity and community among members.

How to Create WooCommerce Bulk Discounts Based on User Role?

Here’s how you can set up WooCommerce bulk discount based on user role.

1. Select Bulk and All Products from the top.
2. Set 15 as the minimum quantity and set your percentage value in the Bulk Rules section.
3. Add the condition User Roles.
4. Type in or scroll and select your target user role. Save the rule, and now your wholesale members can enjoy the discount at your store.

5. Product-Specific WooCommerce Bulk Discounts: The Twin Pack

• Example: Buy 2 T-shirts and get 10% off each.

Need to move more of a particular product? Product-specific bulk deals are perfect for encouraging multi-item purchases.

Best Use Cases:

• Increases sales of specific products.
• Helps clear out excess stock.
• Promotes product bundles or related items.

How to Create WooCommerce Bulk Discounts For Specific Products?

Here are the steps to generate WooCommerce product discounts.

1. Select the Bulk option at the top.
2. This time, select the Few Products option for selecting specific products.

3. Search and select your target products.

4. Set bulk values as per your strategy. This time, we need to select the Fixed Discount Per Cart Item option.

5. Save and test the rule from the front.

How to Set Up WooCommerce Bulk Discounts Without a Plugin? (Using Custom Codes)

Creating bulk discounts in WooCommerce without a plugin involves adding custom code to your site. Below is a step-by-step guide to achieve this.

• Example: 10% off when buying 5 or more items.

Step 1: Prepare a Backup

Before adding custom code, always back up your website to avoid issues.

Step 2: Access Your Theme File

1. Navigate to your WordPress admin panel.
2. Go to Appearance >> Theme Editor.

3. Access the funcitons.php file and create some space at the bottom to insert code.

Step 3: Add the Custom Code

Insert the following code into your functions.php file:

add_action('woocommerce_cart_calculate_fees', 'custom_bulk_discount');

function custom_bulk_discount() {

// Get the cart object

$cart = WC()->cart;

// Set the bulk discount condition

$min_quantity = 5; // Minimum quantity to apply the discount

$discount_amount = 10; // Discount amount in percentage

// Calculate the total quantity in the cart

$total_quantity = 0;

foreach ($cart->get_cart() as $cart_item) {

     $total_quantity += $cart_item['quantity'];

}

// Apply the discount if the condition is met

if ($total_quantity >= $min_quantity) {

     $discount = $cart->subtotal * ($discount_amount / 100); // Discount value

     $cart->add_fee('Bulk Discount (' . $discount_amount . '%)', -$discount); // Add fee (negative for discount)
}

}

}

Step 4: Adjust the Code for Your Needs

• $min_quantity: Set the minimum cart quantity required to trigger the discount.
• $discount_amount: Define the discount percentage.
• Customize the text in add_fee() to display a clear message for the discount.

Step 5: Test the Code

Save the functions.php file and jump to your front end. Add 5 or more products to the cart and check if the discount is applied correctly.

Best Practices and Tips for WooCommerce Bulk Discounts

Implementing WooCommerce bulk discounts is just the first step. To truly maximize their impact, consider these best practices:

Make Discounts Crystal Clear

Don’t make customers hunt for discount information. Clearly display the discount details on product pages, in the cart, and at checkout.

Use clear and concise language, like “Buy 3, Get 10% Off” or “Bulk Discount Applied.” Visual cues, like badges or banners, can also be helpful.

Use Compelling Language

Ditch the dry, technical jargon. Use exciting and persuasive language to promote your bulk discounts.

Words like “Save Big,” “Exclusive Deal,” or “Limited-Time Offer” can create a sense of urgency and encourage purchases.

Sweeten the Deal with Free Shipping

Offering free shipping on bulk orders can be a powerful incentive, especially for larger purchases. Consider setting a minimum order value for free shipping to further encourage bulk buying.

Track Your Results

Don’t just set it and forget it! Monitor your sales data closely to track the effectiveness of your bulk discounts.

Analyze which discounts are performing best, which products are selling in bulk, and how your average order value is changing. This data will help you refine your discount strategies and optimize your results.

Consider Bundling

Combine bulk discounts with product bundling for an even more significant impact. Offer a discount on a bundle of related products, further incentivizing customers to buy more.

Promote Your Discounts

Don’t keep your awesome deals a secret! Promote your bulk discounts through email marketing, social media, and on your website. Use eye-catching visuals and compelling copy to grab attention.

Wrap Up

You now have a solid foundation for implementing effective WooCommerce bulk discounts. While these strategies can be powerful drivers of sales and customer loyalty, it’s crucial to approach them strategically.

Continuously analyze your data, understand your profit margins, and tailor your offers to avoid devaluing your products. With careful planning and consistent monitoring, you can leverage the power of bulk discounts to achieve sustainable growth for your WooCommerce store.