---
title: "Fixed Discounts: Apply once per item vs once per order"
description: "CartGenie allows a lot of flexibility in how fixed discounts are applied at checkout"
url: https://help.cartgenie.com/en/articles/215-fixed-discounts-apply-once-per-item-vs-once-per-order
collection: "Discounts FAQ"
updated: 2026-06-17
language: en
---

# Fixed Discounts: Apply once per item vs once per order

CartGenie allows a lot of flexibility in how fixed discounts are applied at checkout

When creating a fixed / flat discount in CartGenie (for example, $15 off), you can choose whether the discount is applied **once per item** or **once per order**.

This setting gives you more control over how your promotions work and can significantly impact customer purchasing behavior.

## **Once Per Order (default)**

When a discount is applied **once per order**, the fixed amount is deducted a single time, regardless of how many items are in the cart.

### **Example**

Promotion: **$15 off**

Customer purchases:

-   1 product → $15 off total
    
-   3 products → $15 off total
    
-   10 products → $15 off total
    

### **When to Use It**

Applying a discount once per order is ideal when you want to:

-   Offer a simple promotion without dramatically increasing discount value
    
-   Encourage customers to make a purchase without heavily discounting large orders
    
-   Run storewide promotions with predictable discount costs
    
-   Offer incentives such as “$15 off orders over $100”
    

This option helps protect margins while still providing customers with a meaningful incentive.

## **Once Per Item**

When a discount is applied **once per item**, the fixed amount is deducted for every item in the cart.

### **Example**

Promotion: **$15 off all products**

Customer purchases:

-   1 product → $15 off total
    
-   3 products → $45 off total
    
-   10 products → $150 off total
    

### **When to Use It**

Applying a discount once per item is useful when you want to:

-   Encourage customers to purchase larger quantities
    
-   Increase average order value
    
-   Reward customers for adding more qualifying products
    
-   Create promotions such as “Buy more, save more”
    

This approach can be especially effective for consumable products, accessories, apparel, and other product categories where increasing quantity per order is a primary goal.

## **Restricting to Specific Products**

If you restrict the discount code to specific products, then it will not be applied unless at least one of those items are added to the cart:

-   **Once Per Order:** If at least 1 of the qualifying products is added, the discount is applied to the order
    
-   **Once Per Item:** The discount is applied once for each qualifying item added to the cart (products that are not in the ‘selected products’ list will not have the discount applied)