How to Prevent Double Discounts with Shopify Discount Codes

Can discount codes be blocked from applying to sale items?

Shopify does not offer a native way to prevent discount codes from being applied to products that are already on sale (products with a compare-at price). By default, Shopify will apply discount codes on top of the current product price, which can result in double discounts.

However, there is a reliable workaround using collections.

Recommended Solution: Exclude Sale Products Using a Collection

Step 1: Create a “Not on sale” automated collection

1. Go to Shopify Admin → Products → Collections

2. Click Create collection

   Select Automated as the collection type

   Set the condition:

   • Compare at price → is empty
3. Save the collection and name it something like Not on sale

This collection will automatically include only products that are not discounted.

Step 2: Restrict discount codes to this collection

1. Go to Shopify Admin → Discounts
2. Open the discount code you want to restrict
3. Under Applies to, choose Specific collections
4. Select the Not on sale collection
5. Save the discount

Now, the discount code will only apply to products that do not already have a sale price.

Important Notes About Shopify Discounts

• Shopify always stacks discounts on top of the current product price
• This workaround does not work for order discounts
• There is no way to block discount codes from sale items globally
• Automatic discounts and discount codes can be limited using collections
• Shipping discounts are not affected by product pricing

How this works with apps like Rockit

If an app applies discounts by modifying the product price (using compare-at prices), Shopify will still treat the product as eligible for discount codes unless you explicitly exclude it using the method above.