How to take preorders on Shopify
To take preorders on Shopify, install a preorder app such as EZ Preorder & Back In Stock, turn on its app embed in your theme, add the products you want to sell as preorders, and choose when each one should show a preorder button. Shopify itself has no preorder button: its Continue selling when out of stock setting lets checkout accept orders with no stock, but shoppers still see "Add to cart" and nothing marks the order as a preorder. EZ Preorder adds the preorder button, labels and tags the order, and can take deposits, all on its free plan except deposits.
Available on: All plans, including Free. Deposits, scheduling and collection page buttons need a paid plan.
Where to find it: EZ Preorder & Back In Stock on the Shopify App Store.
What Shopify does and does not do for preorders
Shopify's own settings cover part of a preorder:
- Continue selling when out of stock lets checkout accept an order for a variant whose inventory is 0 or less.
- Purchase options let apps offer deposit-style payment terms at checkout.
Shopify does not change the button text, tell the shopper the item is a preorder, mark the order, limit how many preorders you take, or switch preorders off when stock returns. A preorder app does those parts. In EZ Preorder & Back In Stock, the app also sets Continue selling when out of stock for you based on the rule you choose.
How to take preorders on Shopify with EZ Preorder
- Install the app. Install EZ Preorder & Back In Stock from the Shopify App Store. New stores start on the Free plan; no card is needed.
- Enable the app embed. In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Themes → Customize → App embeds, turn on Pre order theme extension, and click Save. The app's setup flow has a button that opens this screen for you. See How to install EZ Preorder and enable the app embed.
- Add products. In EZ Preorder, open Preorders and click Select products. Pick the products and variants to sell as preorders.
- Choose a preorder rule for each variant (click Edit on a product):
- Always: the preorder button shows whatever the stock. For unreleased and made-to-order products.
- Sold out: the preorder button shows only when inventory is 0 or less. For backorders on products you restock.
- Specific inventory level: you set how many preorder units are available, and the preorder button shows until they run out. For limited drops.
- Add a note (optional). Write an estimated ship date in Custom Note; it shows above the preorder button.
- Check your store. Open the product in your store. The add to cart button should now read "Pre-order". If it doesn't, see The preorder button is not showing on my product page.
The detailed walkthrough is How to set up your first preorder.
What happens after a shopper preorders
When a shopper clicks the preorder button, EZ Preorder adds the item to the cart with the line item property type: preorder. The shopper pays at your normal Shopify checkout. EZ Preorder then tags the order preorder, and can put it On hold and send a preorder confirmation email. When stock arrives, filter your Shopify Orders by the preorder tag and fulfill them. See How preorders work in EZ Preorder.
Choosing the right preorder setup
| Situation | Rule | Useful extras |
|---|---|---|
| A product that is not released yet | Always | Scheduled end date (Growth), deposit (Professional) |
| A product that sold out and is being restocked | Sold out | Shipment update email if the date slips |
| A limited run or drop of a set size | Specific inventory level | Collection page badges (Growth) |
| Made-to-order or custom items | Always | Deposit with balance due N days after checkout (Professional) |
| You only want a waitlist, not orders | No preorder; use restock alerts | Notify Me button and back in stock emails |
For the difference between these, see Preorder vs backorder vs back in stock.
Ways to sell more preorders
- Show preorders on collection pages with a badge and a preorder button on product cards (Growth plan and above). See How to show preorder badges on collection pages.
- List every preorder on one page with the Custom Pre-Order Page (Growth). See How to set up a custom page that lists all your preorder products.
- Take a deposit so shoppers commit with less money up front (Professional). See How to take deposits and partial payments on preorders.
- Reward early buyers with a preorder discount or a free gift (Professional). See How to give a discount on preorder products.
Limitations
- EZ Preorder shows its preorder button on your Online Store theme. It does not add a preorder button to Shopify POS or other sales channels.
- Turning a preorder off in EZ Preorder does not turn off Continue selling when out of stock. Check that setting when a preorder ends, or the product keeps selling as normal orders. See Why a product still sells after its preorder is turned off or ends.
- The Free plan covers your first 10 preorders or $400 in preorder revenue. After that, preorders switch off until you choose a paid plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify have a built-in preorder feature?
No. Shopify has no preorder button. Its Continue selling when out of stock setting lets checkout accept orders with no stock, but the button still says "Add to cart" and the order is not marked as a preorder. An app such as EZ Preorder & Back In Stock adds those parts.
Can I take preorders on Shopify for free?
Yes. EZ Preorder & Back In Stock's Free plan includes the preorder button, all three preorder rules, custom notes, translations and confirmation emails for your first 10 preorders or $400 in preorder revenue.
Can I take a deposit on Shopify preorders?
Yes. EZ Preorder's partial payments, on the Professional and Scale plans, take a percentage or fixed deposit at checkout and charge the balance automatically later. They work with Shopify Payments and PayPal Express.
How do I stop taking preorders on Shopify?
In EZ Preorder, disable the product or remove it from the Preorder List, then check that Continue selling when out of stock is off for its variants in Shopify. On the Growth plan and above you can schedule an end date instead.
Will preorders work with my Shopify theme?
EZ Preorder works with most themes and has presets for 358 of them. See What Shopify themes work with EZ Preorder.
Related articles
- How to set up your first preorder: the detailed first-time setup.
- How preorders work in EZ Preorder: from button to fulfilled order.
- What the preorder rules do: choose between Always, Sold out and Specific inventory level.
- What is EZ Preorder & Back In Stock?: every feature and plan.
- Preorder vs backorder vs back in stock: which approach fits.
- Launch a new product with preorders: a launch checklist.