Set preorder quantity limits
Use this guide to cap how many units of a preorder variant can be sold across all customers, for example when you have limited stock to allocate or want a fixed-size preorder run. By the end, the variant stops accepting preorders on its own once the cap is reached.
When a variant reaches its quantity limit, STOQ automatically turns off Continue selling when out of stock for that variant. That's how it stops further preorders, so no more sell once the cap is hit. STOQ does not turn Continue selling back on by itself when you later raise or clear the limit; you re-enable it yourself (see When the limit is reached).
Before you begin
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Active preorder offer | You need at least one offer. See Set up preorders. |
| Products added to the offer | The limit is set per variant on the offer's Products tab. See Add products to an offer. |
| Inventory setting | Quantity limits only work when the offer's Inventory setting is Show 'Preorder' when product is out of stock. The Limit field is disabled under Show 'Preorder' for in-stock products. See Preorder inventory settings. |
| Paid plan (progress bar) | Showing the limit as a counter/progress bar needs a paid plan. Showing it as a disclaimer line works on all plans. |
How the limit works
- The limit is set per variant, per offer. It's the total units that can be preordered for that variant across all customers.
- Counts don't add up across offers. If the same variant is on two offers, each has its own independent limit.
- When the sold count reaches the limit, STOQ turns off Continue selling when out of stock for that variant, so the Preorder button stops accepting new orders. STOQ doesn't show a "sold out" message of its own; the product falls back to your theme's normal out-of-stock state.
What customers will see
| Element | When it appears | What the customer sees |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity remaining text | Show preorder limit in disclaimer is selected | A text line below the preorder button, for example "12 left for preorder", using your template |
| Progress/counter bar | Show as counter/progress bar is selected | A visual bar of sold vs. total. See Preorder progress bar |
| Preorder button stops | The variant's limit is reached | The Preorder button no longer accepts orders, since Continue selling is turned off for that variant |
Set it up
Open Limits & terms
- In the left menu bar of the STOQ app, click Preorders, then the Offers tab.
- Click the offer to open its Overview tab, then click Customize.
- In the editor sidebar, click Limits & terms.
Choose how the limit is shown
Under Total preorder limit, choose:
- No preorder limits: no cap.
- Show preorder limit in disclaimer: a text line below the button (all plans). Click Customize to edit the message, using
{{ quantity }}(units remaining),{{ sold }}, and{{ total }}. - Show as counter/progress bar: a visual bar (paid plan). See Preorder progress bar.
Open the offer's Products tab
Save your changes, then open the offer's Products tab. This lists every product and variant on the offer in a table, with a Units sold column and a Limit column.
Set each variant's limit
Each row in the products table has a Limit field, shown next to its Units sold count. That field holds the cap, and it's always set per variant. Type the maximum number of units for each variant you want to cap:
- Single-variant product: enter the number in the Limit field on the product's row.
- Multi-variant product: click the product to expand its variants, then set a Limit on each one. There's no single limit for the whole product.
- Leave a Limit blank for no cap on that variant. STOQ won't accept 0, so use blank instead of zero.
Save
Save your changes on the Products tab. STOQ starts counting preordered units against each limit from now on.
Don't see the Limit column? Turn it on with the columns control above the products table, or scroll the table sideways on a narrow screen.
The Limit field is greyed out while the offer's Inventory setting is Show 'Preorder' for in-stock products. Switch it to Show 'Preorder' when product is out of stock (Customize -> Inventory in the sidebar) to make it editable.
When the limit is reached
Once a variant's sold count reaches its limit:
- STOQ automatically turns off Continue selling when out of stock for that variant, which stops the Preorder button from taking new orders.
- On the offer's Products tab, that variant shows a package icon whose tooltip reads "Quantity limit reached ({count}/{limit} sold). 'Continue selling' was automatically disabled."
- No notification is sent to you or the customer.
To sell more of that variant after it hits the limit:
- On the Products tab, raise that variant's Limit to a higher number, or clear it for unlimited.
- Re-enable Continue selling when out of stock for that variant, in Shopify or with the bulk toggle on STOQ's Products tab. STOQ doesn't turn it back on automatically when you raise the limit.
Reset the units-sold count
Each variant tracks how many units have been preordered toward its limit. To start that count over for a variant, go to the offer's Products tab, find the variant's row, and in the Actions column click the Reset icon (a circular replay arrow). Its tooltip reads "Reset: This will restart the count of units sold towards the quantity limit." The icon only appears once a variant has preorders counted. If the variant had already hit its limit, resetting the count alone doesn't reopen it; re-enable Continue selling when out of stock for that variant afterward.
There is no bulk reset. The Reset icon works one variant at a time, and CSV import can't reset counts, it only adds or removes products from the offer. The only way to clear counts for many variants at once is to remove them from the offer and add them back, which also clears their limits and any per-variant settings, so treat it as a last resort.
Check your setup
- Visit a product page for the offer and confirm your limit display (disclaimer or progress bar) shows below the Preorder button.
- Add the limit quantity plus one to the cart and confirm the button stops accepting orders once the limit is reached.
- On the Products tab, confirm variants at their limit show the package icon and the "Continue selling was automatically disabled" tooltip.
Troubleshooting
The Limit field is greyed out for a variant
The offer's Inventory setting is Show 'Preorder' for in-stock products. Quantity limits only work when the offer shows the Preorder button for out-of-stock products. Open Customize -> Inventory and switch to Show 'Preorder' when product is out of stock.
I can't see the Limit column on the Products tab
It may be switched off in your column settings or scrolled out of view. Use the columns control above the products table to turn on Limit, or scroll the table sideways on a narrow screen.
A variant stopped accepting preorders unexpectedly
It most likely reached its preorder limit, which automatically turns off Continue selling when out of stock for that variant. Check the Products tab for the package icon tooltip, then raise or clear that variant's Limit and re-enable Continue selling to reopen it.
I raised the limit but the variant still won't sell
Raising the limit doesn't turn Continue selling when out of stock back on by itself. Re-enable it for that variant in Shopify, or with the bulk toggle on STOQ's Products tab.
FAQ
Can I reset the sold count for many variants at once?
No. Resetting the units-sold count is a per-variant action, done with the Reset icon on each row, and there's no bulk reset. CSV import doesn't reset counts either; it only adds or removes products from the offer. Removing variants and re-adding them does clear their counts, but it also clears their limits and other per-variant settings, so use that only as a last resort.
Does the limit reset if I remove and re-add a variant?
Yes. Removing a variant from an offer clears its preorder count and limit; re-adding it starts counting from zero.
If the same variant is on two offers, do the limits add up?
No. The limit is per offer. Each offer counts and caps that variant independently.
Does changing the limit affect orders already placed?
No. It only controls what happens going forward. Orders already placed keep their quantities.
Does STOQ notify me when a variant hits its limit?
No. There's no email or SMS. You can see which variants have reached their limit on the offer's Products tab, marked with the package icon.
Related guides
Set order limits
Per-order minimums and maximums, terms acceptance, and mixed-cart rules.
Preorder progress bar
Show the quantity limit as a visual counter or progress bar.
Preorder inventory settings
The inventory setting the quantity limit depends on.
Add products to an offer
Attach variants and set their per-variant quantity limits.
