---
title: "Sell a preorder in batches"
description: "Release one preorder offer in sequential waves, each with its own quantity limit and ship date, and let STOQ move customers through the schedule."
url: https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/preorder-batches/
product: "Preorders"
section: "Fulfillment and shipping / Holds and splits"
last_updated: 2026-10-22
---

# Sell a preorder in batches

> Release one preorder offer in sequential waves, each with its own quantity limit and ship date, and let STOQ move customers through the schedule.

Batches let you sell a single preorder offer in sequential waves, each with its own quantity limit and ship date. Instead of building a separate offer per tranche and swapping them by hand, you define the whole schedule up front on one offer, and STOQ moves customers through it. A fast-selling variant can be on a later batch while a slow one is still on the first.

## Before you begin

Batches is in beta and needs a **paid plan**.

Turning batches on changes two things about the offer, so it doesn't combine with:

- **Market-specific offers.** You can't turn batches on while the offer targets specific markets.
- **Per-product ship dates.** Batches use one shared shipping schedule, so turning them on switches the offer to a single shipping setting for all its products. Each batch then carries its own ship date instead.

Batches also replace the offer's single quantity limit: each batch sets its own limit, so the standard **Preorder limits** setting doesn't apply while batches are on.

## Set it up

On a phone, this menu is collapsed. In the **Shopify mobile app**, tap the **STOQ** logo at the top of the screen to open it, then choose the section named below. There is no hamburger icon. See [Finding the STOQ menu](https://help.stoqapp.com/general/getting-started-with-stoq/#finding-the-stoq-menu).

1. **Open Batches**

   1. In the left menu bar of the STOQ app, click **Preorders**, then the **Offers** tab.
   2. Click the offer to open its **Overview** tab, then click **Customize**.
   3. In the editor sidebar, click **Batches**.

   [Image: STOQ Preorders Offers tab with markers: 1 Preorders in the left menu, 2 the Offers tab, 3 the Preorder Winter offer row](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-1.png)

   [Image: The Preorder Winter Overview tab with marker 1 on the Customize button](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-2.png)

   [Image: The offer editor with marker 1 on the Batches (Experimental) item in the sidebar](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-3.png)

2. **Choose a selling mode**

   Under **Selling mode**, choose one:
   - **Sell all units at once**: the standard behaviour, using your normal quantity and shipping settings. This is the default.
   - **Sell this offer in sequential batches**: turn batches on. STOQ starts you with two batches.

   [Image: The Batches panel with marker 1 on the Sell this offer in sequential batches selling mode; the preview shows Batch 1 Live and Batch 2 Coming soon](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-4.png)

3. **Set up each batch**

   For each batch, fill in:
   - **Quantity limit per variant**: how many units each variant sells in this batch before moving on. The limit is per variant, not per offer, so a limit of 50 across three variants means each variant sells 50 in that batch. (This field only appears in automatic mode, below.)
   - **Shipping**: the shipping text customers see for this batch, for example "Ships April 30".

   Click **Add batch** to add more, or the delete icon to remove one (you always keep at least two).

   [Image: The Batches panel with Batch 1 expanded, showing its Quantity limit per variant and Shipping (Ships April 30) fields](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-6.png)

   [Image: The Batches panel showing Batch 1 and Batch 2 with marker 1 on the Add batch button](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-7.png)

> **Warning**
>
> Deleting a batch that already has orders keeps those orders' items, but removes the batch and renumbers the rest. It can't be undone.

[Image: The Batches panel with three batches configured (Batch 1 Ships Sept 30, Batch 2 Ships Oct 30, Batch 3 with required-field errors) and marker 1 on the delete icon for Batch 1; the preview shows Batch 1 Sold out, Batch 2 8/19, Batch 3 Coming soon](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-8.png)

## Name your batches

Batches are called **Batch 1**, **Batch 2** by default. In the batch **Settings**, change **Label each batch** to anything you like, using `{{ n }}` where the number goes, for example `Wave {{ n }}` or `Drop {{ n }}`. The new name shows everywhere: the storefront, the admin, POS, and order tags.

[Image: The Batches panel Settings with marker 1 on the Label each batch field showing the default batch-name template](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-5.png)

## How batches advance

In the batch **Settings**, under **How batches advance**, choose:

- **Automatically**: a variant moves to the next batch on its own the moment it hits the current batch's quantity limit. Each variant runs its own schedule, so a fast-selling size can be on Batch 3 while a slow one is still on Batch 1.
- **Manually**: quantity limits become optional and batches stay open until you close them. You open the next one yourself from the offer's **Products** section, one variant at a time or several selected together.

[Image: The Batches panel Settings with the How batches advance options highlighted, Automatically selected and Manually below it](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-9.png)

## Choose how batches look

You can show batches on the product page in four styles:

| Style | What it shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| **Roadmap** (default) | A list of every batch with its ship date and a progress bar. | Showing the whole plan. |
| **Stacked** | One full-width row per batch. The current batch fills up as it sells. | Highlighting how full the current batch is. |
| **Compact** | One line for the current batch only. | Tight product pages. |
| **Segmented** | One block per batch, side by side. | Up to four batches. |

1. **Open the display options**

   In the **Batches** section of the editor, find **How batches look** and click **Show**.

   [Image: The Batches panel with marker 1 on the Show button under How batches look (Roadmap layout, Counts shown, Ship dates visible)](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-10.png)

2. **Pick a style**

   Under **Style**, choose **Roadmap**, **Stacked**, **Compact**, or **Segmented**.

   [Image: The How batches look options with marker 1 on the Style choices: Roadmap (selected), Stacked, Compact, Segmented](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-11.png)

3. **Choose how progress reads**

   Under **Progress**, choose **Counts** to show units sold and the limit, like 23 / 100, or **Percent sold** to show a percentage, like 23% sold.

   [Image: The How batches look options with marker 1 on the Progress choices: Counts (selected) and Percent sold](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-12.png)

4. **Set the extra options**

   Depending on the style, you'll also see:
   - **Show ship dates on past and upcoming batches** (Roadmap and Stacked). On by default. The current batch always shows its ship date.
   - **Show batch names** (Stacked and Compact). Off by default. Shows the batch name in small text after its ship date.

   Only the options the chosen style can use are shown.

   [Image: The How batches look options with the Style set to Stacked (marker 1) and marker 2 on the extra options Show ship dates and Show batch names; the preview shows the Stacked style](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-13.png)

5. **Pick the colors**

   Under **Colors**, click the **Text** and **Background** swatches to choose the batch display's colors. These are the same colors as the disclaimer in the offer's **Widget** section, so changing them here changes the disclaimer too, and the other way round.

   [Image: The How batches look options with marker 1 on the Colors Text and Background swatches, noting they are shared with the disclaimer](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-14.png)

6. **Save**

   Save the offer. The preview in the editor uses the same code as your storefront, so what you see there is what customers get.

   [Image: The Batches panel with marker 1 on the Save button at the top right](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-15.png)

When the section is collapsed, its summary line shows your choices, for example "Stacked layout · Percent sold · Ship dates visible".

Existing offers keep the Roadmap style with counts and ship dates shown until you change them.

## What customers see

Every style tracks each batch's status:

- **Finished** batches show your "finished" word (**Sold out** by default).
- The **current** batch shows its progress as counts or a percentage. If it has no quantity limit, it shows your "current" word (**Live** by default).
- **Upcoming** batches show your "upcoming" word (**Coming soon** by default).

You can change the three words in the batch **Settings**, under **What each batch type is called**. Roadmap, Stacked, and Segmented show the whole schedule, so a customer can see the full plan before ordering and knows which batch and ship date they're buying into. Compact shows only the current batch.

## On the order

The batch a customer bought into is recorded on the order line and shown to your team. If **Show fulfillment timeline in cart** is on in the offer's **Advanced** section, the cart line shows only the current batch and its ship date, for example `Batch 2: Ships Oct 30`, not your default shipping text from the **Shipping** section. You can also tag orders by batch: go to **Limits → Order tags** and use `{{ batch }}`, `{{ batch_position }}`, or `{{ batch_ship_text }}`. Selling in person works too: the POS confirmation screen shows staff which batch the item goes into, with its ship date.

[Image: The Limits and terms panel Order tags field (marker 1) with marker 2 on the available batch variables braces batch, braces batch_position, and braces batch_ship_text](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-16.png)

## Show the batch in your preorder text

The same three variables work in the offer's **Disclaimer** (in the editor's **Widget** section), the **Terms text** (in **Limits & terms**), and the **Custom cart attribute** (in **Advanced**). Click **Variables** next to the field's label, then click **Add to field** next to the variable you want:

| Variable | Fills with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| `{{ batch }}` | The open batch's name | Batch 2 |
| `{{ batch_position }}` | The open batch's number | 2 |
| `{{ batch_ship_text }}` | The open batch's shipping text | October 30th |

For example, a disclaimer of `Ships {{ batch_ship_text }}` reads "Ships October 30th" on the product page and updates when the customer switches variant. Preorder emails use the batch the order bought into. The batch variables are only listed while batches are on for the offer, and if batches are turned off they're left out of the text.

## When the last batch fills

- On offers where **STOQ manages the quantity**, a variant stops selling once its final batch reaches its limit.
- On offers that **sell against your Shopify inventory**, your real stock decides when a variant sells out, not the batch limits. Stock the total across every batch, or the later ones are never reachable.

## Track progress

The offer's **Products** section shows each variant's current batch and how far through it is, with a breakdown per batch. If you chose manual advance, that's also where you open the next batch: use **Start next batch** on a variant, or select several variants and advance them together.

[Image: The offer Products section with the Pant new variant's Batches column showing 0/30 to 0/19 progress](https://help.stoqapp.com/images/general/preorder-batches-17.png)

## FAQ

### Is the batch quantity limit per variant or per offer?

Per variant. A limit of 50 on a batch means each variant in the offer sells up to 50 units in that batch, then moves to the next one.

### Do all variants advance together?

Not in automatic mode. Each variant advances on its own when it hits the current batch's limit, so different variants can be on different batches at the same time. In manual mode, you choose which variants to advance and when.

### Which batch style should I pick?

Use **Roadmap** or **Stacked** to show the full schedule with ship dates, **Segmented** for a short run of up to four batches, and **Compact** when space on the product page is tight and customers only need the current batch.

### Will changing the style affect existing orders?

No. The style only changes how batches look on the product page. Orders, batch assignment, and tags stay the same.

### Can I change what the batches are called?

Yes. Set a label format like `Wave {{ n }}` in the batch Settings, and rename the three status words (Sold out, Live, Coming soon) under **What each batch type is called**. The names show on the storefront, in the admin, on POS, and in order tags.

### Why does the cart line show the batch date instead of my shipping text?

On a batch offer, the cart line shows the current batch and its ship date in place of your default shipping text, so customers see one date, not two. This needs **Show fulfillment timeline in cart** to be on in the offer's **Advanced** section. To change the date, edit that batch's **Shipping** field in the **Batches** section.

### I sell against my Shopify inventory. Why aren't later batches selling?

When the offer uses Shopify inventory, your real stock decides when a variant sells out, not the batch limits. If you only stocked enough for the first batch, the later ones are never reachable. Stock the total across every batch.

### What happens to orders if I delete a batch?

Orders already placed in that batch keep their items. The batch is removed and the remaining batches are renumbered. This can't be undone.

### Why can't I turn batches on?

Batches need a paid plan and don't combine with market-specific offers. If the selling mode is greyed out, check your plan, then check that the offer isn't set to specific markets.

## Related guides

- [Set preorder quantity limits](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/set-preorder-quantity-limits/): The single-limit setting batches replace, for offers not sold in waves.
- [Ship a preorder in stages](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/preorder-split-shipping/): Split one order across several ship dates, a different kind of staging.
- [Tag preorder orders](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/tag-preorder-orders/): Set up the order tags that can carry each order's batch.
- [Sell preorders on Shopify POS](https://help.stoqapp.com/preorders/preorders-on-shopify-pos/): How the POS confirmation screen shows the batch to staff.