Create a WooCommerce coupon with restrictions that match the intended offer, then test both eligible and ineligible carts. A memorable code alone does not limit who can use it or how much discount the store gives.
IN THIS ARTICLE
01 Define the promotion
Record the discount type, amount, eligible products or categories, start communication and expiry. Decide whether sale items qualify, whether other coupons may be combined and whether usage is limited overall or per customer. Confirm how the campaign should interact with shipping and tax.
02 Configure the coupon
- Ensure coupons are enabled in WooCommerce's general settings.
- Open the Coupons area, commonly under Marketing, and add a new code with a useful internal description.
- Choose the discount type and amount, then set the expiry and any free-shipping eligibility.
- Review minimum or maximum spend, product and category restrictions, sale-item exclusions and permitted email addresses where appropriate.
- Set overall usage limits, per-user limits and any applicable item limit.
- Publish and test the exact offer on staging or through a controlled non-charge checkout test.
Does a free-shipping coupon create a shipping method?
No. The relevant shipping zone must have a Free shipping method configured to accept the required coupon condition. Test the customer's actual zone and address rather than assuming the coupon checkbox alone removes delivery charges.
Does a per-user limit guarantee one use per person?
It operates through the store's customer and email matching behaviour, not a universal identity verification system. Consider guest checkout and account creation when designing a tightly restricted promotion. Do not promise stronger identity controls than the store actually implements.
03 Verify the total and restrictions
Test an eligible cart, an excluded product, a sale item, the spend boundary and a second coupon if combinations matter. Check the final tax and shipping result, not just the coupon acceptance message. Confirm the expiry uses the intended store time.
04 Monitor and retire the offer
Review usage and unexpected discount patterns during the campaign. Avoid editing historical order amounts to retroactively apply a changed coupon policy. When the offer ends, disable or expire it and update promotional pages and emails where possible. Keep the original terms available privately for resolving customer questions about orders placed during the campaign.