A Shopify draft order is an unpaid order that merchants create manually in the admin panel. It allows you to build custom orders with special pricing, apply discounts, and send payment links to customers—perfect for phone orders, wholesale pricing, and custom requests.

Key features: Fully editable, custom pricing, manual discounts, and no inventory impact until paid.

Table of Contents

1. What is a Draft Order in Shopify?

2. When to Use Draft Orders

3. How to Create a Draft Order

4. Draft Orders vs Regular Orders

5. Where to Find Draft Orders in Shopify

6. How to Edit Draft Orders

7. Converting Draft Orders to Orders

8. Common Draft Order Use Cases

9. Draft Order Limitations

10. FAQ

What is a Draft Order in Shopify?

A draft order is an unpaid order that you create manually in your Shopify admin. Think of it as a "shopping cart" you build for a customer on the backend, which they can then pay for later.

Key Characteristics:

• Created by merchants, not customers

• Not paid until converted to a regular order

• Fully editable (add items, change prices, apply discounts)

• Can be sent to customers via email with a payment link

• Don't affect inventory until paid and fulfilled

Simple Example:

Imagine a customer calls you asking for a custom order with 3 specific items plus a discount. Instead of having them add items to their cart online, you:

1. Create a draft order with those 3 items

2. Apply the discount you promised

3. Send them an invoice/payment link

4. They pay → Draft order becomes a regular order

What's New in 2025?

Shopify's Winter 2025 Edition brought several improvements to draft orders:

• Price locking: Lock product prices so they don't change even if catalog prices fluctuate

• Better bundle support: Draft orders can now include both fixed and customized bundles

• Checkout customizations: App extensions and customizations now apply to draft orders

• Vaulted card charging: B2B merchants can charge saved credit cards directly

• Auto-deletion: Draft orders created after April 1, 2025 are automatically deleted after 1 year of inactivity

When to Use Draft Orders

Draft orders are perfect for these scenarios:

1. Phone Orders

Scenario: Customer calls to place an order

Solution: Create draft order while on the phone, send payment link

Benefits:

• No need for customer to navigate your website

• You control the order details

• Faster checkout for customer

2. Custom Pricing

Scenario: Wholesale customer gets 20% off

Solution: Create draft order with custom pricing

Example:

• Regular price: $100

• Wholesale price: $80

• Create draft order → Edit price to $80 → Send invoice

3. Manual Discounts

Scenario: Customer has a unique discount code issue

Solution: Create draft order with manual discount applied

Why use draft orders:

• Apply discounts that don't exist in your system

• Combine multiple discounts

• Override discount code limitations

4. Abandoned Cart Recovery

Scenario: Customer abandoned cart, you want to help them complete purchase

Solution: Create draft order from abandoned cart

Process:

1. View abandoned cart

2. Create draft order from it

3. Send payment link to customer

4. They complete payment in one click

5. In-Person Sales

Scenario: Pop-up shop or trade show sales

Solution: Create draft orders on the spot

Benefits:

• Customer doesn't need to be on your website

• Collect payment later if needed

• Track all sales in Shopify

6. Custom Bundles

Scenario: Customer wants items not available as a bundle

Solution: Create draft order with custom bundle pricing

Example:

• Item A: $50

• Item B: $60

• Item C: $40

• Bundle deal: $120 (instead of $150)

• Create draft order → Edit total to $120

7. Order Editing

Scenario: Customer wants to add items to existing order

Solution: Create draft order with new items, they pay the difference

Note: Some order management/ order editing apps let customers edit orders themselves. Draft orders are the manual way to achieve this.

How to Create a Draft Order (Step-by-Step)

Follow these steps to create a Shopify draft order:

Step 1: Navigate to Draft Orders

1. Log into Shopify admin

2. Click Orders in left sidebar

3. Click Drafts tab at the top
   
   

Alternative route: Some Shopify admin versions have Draft orders as a separate menu item under Orders

Step 2: Click "Create Order"

1. Click the "Create order" button (top right)

2. Draft order creation page opens
   
   

Step 3: Add Customer

1. In Customer section, click "Find or create customer"

2. Search by name or email

3. Select existing customer OR

4. Click "Create new customer" and enter details
   
   

💡 Tip: You can create draft orders without a customer (for walk-in sales), but having a customer makes tracking easier.

Step 4: Add Products

1. In Products section, click "Browse"

2. Search for products or browse categories

3. Click products to add them

4. Adjust quantities if needed
   
   

To add custom items:

1. Click "Add custom item"

2. Enter item name and price

3. Add to order
   
   

Step 5: Apply Discounts (Optional)

1. In Payment section, click "Add discount"

2. Choose discount type:

   • Percentage (e.g., 20% off)

   • Fixed amount (e.g., $10 off)

   • Shipping discount

3. Enter discount value

4. Add reason/note for your records
   
   

Step 6: Adjust Taxes and Shipping

Taxes:

• Auto-calculated based on customer address

• Can override by unchecking "Charge taxes"

Shipping:

1. Enter shipping address (if different from billing)

2. Select shipping method

3. Shopify calculates shipping cost

4. Can add custom shipping cost
   
   

Step 7: Add Tags and Notes (Optional)

Tags: Add tags for organization

• Examples: "phone-order", "wholesale", "custom-pricing"

• Note: Draft orders have a limit of 250 tags

Notes: Add internal notes

• Won't be visible to customer

• Useful for tracking special instructions

Step 8: Lock Prices (New 2025 Feature)

Price locking: If you want to guarantee prices won't change even if your catalog prices update:

1. Toggle "Lock prices" option when creating the draft

2. Prices remain fixed regardless of catalog changes

3. Useful for quotes that need to stay valid for weeks/months

Step 9: Save Draft Order

1. Click "Save" (top right)

2. Draft order is created but not yet sent to customer

Step 10: Send Invoice to Customer

After saving, you have options:

Option A: Email Invoice

1. Click "Send invoice"

2. Customize email message

3. Click "Review invoice" → "Send invoice"

4. Customer receives email with payment link

Option B: Share Payment Link

1. Click "Share link"

2. Copy the payment link

3. Share via text, chat, or other channel

Option C: Accept Payment in Person

1. Click "Collect payment"

2. Select payment method

3. Process payment on the spot

4. Draft order converts to regular order

Draft Orders vs Regular Orders

Key Difference: Flexibility

Draft orders = Fully flexible (you control everything)

Regular orders = Fixed (once placed, hard to change)

Where Are Draft Orders in Shopify?

Desktop Admin:

Method 1:

1. Click Orders (left sidebar)

2. Click Drafts tab (top of page)

Method 2:

1. Some Shopify versions have Draft orders as separate menu item under Orders

Mobile Admin (Shopify App):

1. Open Shopify app

2. Tap Orders (bottom navigation)

3. Tap Drafts filter (top)

Finding Specific Draft Orders:

Search by:

• Customer name

• Order number

• Email address

• Tags

Filter by:

• Date created

• Status (Open, Invoice sent, Completed)

• Tags

How to Edit Draft Orders

One of the best features of draft orders: they're fully editable until paid.

What You Can Edit:

• ✔️ Products: Add, remove, or change quantities

• ✔️ Prices: Adjust item prices or total

• ✔️ Discounts: Add, remove, or modify discounts

• ✔️ Shipping: Change address or shipping method

• ✔️ Taxes: Override tax calculations

• ✔️ Customer: Change or add customer information

• ✔️ Custom items: Add one-off items not in your catalog

• ✔️ Price lock: Toggle price locking on/off

How to Edit:

1. Go to Orders → Drafts

2. Click on the draft order

3. Click "Edit" or click directly on sections to modify

4. Make your changes

5. Click "Save"

💡 Pro Tip: If the customer already received the invoice, send them an updated invoice after editing.

Converting Draft Orders to Orders

Draft orders become regular orders when payment is received.

Method 1: Customer Pays via Link

1. Customer clicks payment link in email

2. Enters payment information

3. Completes payment

4. Draft order automatically converts to regular order

Status progression: Draft → Invoice sent → Paid → Order created

Method 2: Collect Payment in Person

1. Open draft order in admin

2. Click "Collect payment"

3. Select payment method:

   • Cash

   • Credit card (requires card reader)

   • Other

4. Click "Mark as paid"

5. Draft order converts to order immediately

Method 3: Mark as Paid (Manual)

Use this when: Customer paid outside Shopify (bank transfer, check, etc.)

1. Open draft order

2. Click "Mark as paid"

3. Select payment method

4. Add note about payment details

5. Click "Mark as paid"

⚠️ Warning: This doesn't actually charge the customer. Only use when you've already received payment externally.

Method 4: Charge Vaulted Card (B2B - New 2025)

Use this when: B2B customer has a saved credit card on file

1. Open draft order

2. Click "Charge vaulted card"

3. Confirm the card details

4. Process payment

5. Draft order converts instantly

Benefits: Faster for both you and the customer—no need for them to re-enter card details.

Common Draft Order Use Cases

Use Case 1: Wholesale Orders

Problem: Wholesale customers need special pricing

Solution: Create draft orders with wholesale prices

Process:

1. Receive wholesale order via email/phone

2. Create draft order in Shopify

3. Apply wholesale discount (20-50% off)

4. Send invoice

5. Customer pays net-30 or net-60 terms

Use Case 2: Trade Show Sales

Problem: Selling at events without reliable internet

Solution: Create draft orders offline, send invoices later

Process:

1. Take orders at booth (write down or use form)

2. Create draft orders in Shopify when back online

3. Send payment links to customers

4. Ship once paid

Use Case 3: Social Media Sales

Problem: Customer DMs you wanting to buy

Solution: Create draft order, send payment link via DM

Process:

1. Customer messages: "I want product X and Y"

2. You create draft order

3. Copy payment link

4. Send link via Instagram/Facebook DM

5. Customer pays, you ship

Use Case 4: Subscription Box Variations

Problem: Customer wants custom subscription box contents

Solution: Create draft order with their custom selection

Process:

1. Customer emails custom preferences

2. You create draft order with those specific items

3. Apply subscription discount

4. Set up recurring draft orders (manually or with app)

5. Send monthly invoices

Use Case 5: Emergency Order Changes

Problem: Customer just ordered but needs to add items

Solution: Create draft order for additional items

Process:

1. Customer contacts you: "I need to add 2 more items"

2. You create draft order with those 2 items

3. Send payment link for the difference

4. Ship everything together

If a customer needs to return items from their order instead of adding more, check out our guide on how to process partial refunds in Shopify for step-by-step instructions.

Alternative: Use an order editing app for self-service changes.

Draft Order Limitations

1. No Automatic Discount Codes

Limitation: Can't apply automatic discount codes from your store

Workaround: Apply manual discount with same value

2. Payment Link Expiration

Limitation: Payment links can expire

Default: 30 days (configurable)

Workaround: Resend invoice with new link if expired

3. No Abandoned Cart Recovery

Limitation: If customer doesn't pay draft order, it just sits there

Workaround: Follow up manually or use draft order reminder apps

4. Limited Automation

Limitation: Must create manually for each order

Workaround: Use Shopify Flow or third-party apps for automation

5. No Gift Cards as Payment

Limitation: Customers can't use gift cards on draft order payment links

Workaround: Apply gift card value as discount on draft order

6. Inventory Not Reserved

Limitation: Items in draft orders aren't reserved

Workaround: Manually adjust inventory or use inventory management apps

7. Auto-Deletion After 1 Year (2025+)

Limitation: Draft orders created after April 1, 2025 are automatically deleted after 1 year of inactivity

Workaround: Any edit resets the timer. Set reminders to follow up on old drafts

FAQ: Shopify Draft Orders

What are draft orders in Shopify?

Draft orders are unpaid orders created manually by merchants in Shopify admin. They allow you to build custom orders, apply special pricing, and send payment links to customers.

Where are draft orders in Shopify?

Draft orders are located under Orders → Drafts in your Shopify admin. Click "Orders" in the left sidebar, then click the "Drafts" tab at the top.

Can customers create draft orders?

No, only merchants can create draft orders. Customers create regular orders by going through your online checkout. However, you can create a draft order on behalf of a customer.

Do draft orders reduce inventory?

No, draft orders don't affect inventory until they're paid and converted to regular orders. Inventory is only reduced after payment is received.

How long do draft orders last?

Draft orders created before April 1, 2025 never expire in Shopify (but payment links expire after 30 days by default). Draft orders created after April 1, 2025 are automatically deleted after 1 year of inactivity. You can always resend a new payment link for an existing draft order.

Can I edit a draft order after sending it?

Yes! Draft orders can be edited at any time before payment. After editing, send an updated invoice to the customer with the new details.

What happens when a draft order is paid?

When paid, a draft order automatically converts to a regular order. It moves from "Drafts" to "All orders" and follows your normal fulfillment workflow.

Can I import draft orders into Shopify?

Yes, you can import draft orders using:

1. Shopify CSV import (limited)

2. Third-party apps (Matrixify)

3. Shopify API (for developers)

Can I automate draft orders?

Partially. You can:

• Use Shopify Flow to trigger draft order creation based on events

• Use apps to automate recurring draft orders

• Use API to programmatically create draft orders

However, you can't fully automate the entire process natively.

What's the difference between a draft order and an abandoned cart?

Draft order:

• Created by merchant

• Intentional

• Sent to customer via invoice

• No time limit (except 1 year for 2025+ orders)

Abandoned cart:

• Created by customer

• Unintentional (customer left checkout)

• Recovered via email automation

• Usually expires after 30 days

Can I create a draft order from an abandoned cart?

Yes! In Shopify:

1. Go to Orders → Abandoned checkouts

2. Click on the abandoned checkout

3. Click "Create order" to convert it to a draft order

4. Edit if needed

5. Send invoice to customer

Can draft orders use discount codes?

Not directly. Draft orders don't support discount codes from your store. Instead, you apply manual discounts when creating the draft order. The effect is the same, but it's not an actual discount code.

What is price locking in draft orders?

Price locking is a new 2025 feature that allows you to lock product prices in a draft order. This means even if your catalog prices change, the prices in the draft order remain the same. It's useful for long-term quotes or wholesale agreements.

Final Thoughts

Draft orders in Shopify are a powerful tool for creating custom orders, applying special pricing, and providing flexible payment options. They're perfect for:

• Phone orders

• Wholesale customers

• Custom pricing

• In-person sales

• Order modifications

The key benefits:

1. ✔️ Fully editable until paid

2. ✔️ Custom pricing and discounts

3. ✔️ Send payment links via email

4. ✔️ No inventory impact until paid

5. ✔️ Great for special orders

6. ✔️ Price locking feature (2025)

7. ✔️ Bundle support improvements (2025)

For stores handling many custom orders or order changes, consider using an order management app to streamline the process further. Apps can automate draft order creation, allow customer self-service editing, and integrate with your existing workflows.

Need better order management? Revize Order Editing & Upsell offers automated order editing, self-service changes, and seamless draft order integration for Shopify stores. Try it free →

Last updated: October 2025