When adding a pricing rule, you must choose a Price Type. This tells the plugin how to calculate the discount. There are four types – each works differently. This chapter explains all four with real-world examples.
Quick Comparison
| Price Type | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Percentage Discount |
Reduces the product price by a percentage |
Standard bulk discounts (e.g. 10% off for 5+) |
Price Discount |
Reduces the product price by a fixed amount |
Precise fixed discounts (e.g. $5 off per item) |
Cart Line Discount |
Reduces the total line total in cart by a percentage |
Volume discounts on the cart total for that product |
Selling Price |
Sets an exact price per item, overriding the original |
Wholesale pricing with a specific agreed price |
Type 1: Percentage Discount
This is the most common type. The plugin takes the product’s regular price and reduces it by the percentage you set. If the product is on sale, the discount is applied to the sale price, not the regular price.
Formula: Final Price = Original Price × (1 – Percentage / 100)
Example
| Product Price | Qty Ordered | Discount | Price Per Item | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$50 |
10 |
10% off |
$45 |
$450 |
$50 |
25 |
20% off |
$40 |
$1,000 |
$50 |
50 |
30% off |
$35 |
$1,750 |
When to use it: When you want to give bulk buyers a percentage-based reward that feels natural (“Buy 10+, get 10% off”).
Type 2: Price Discount (Fixed Amount Off)
Instead of a percentage, this type deducts a fixed dollar amount from each item’s price. If you enter 5, the plugin subtracts $5 from the product price for every item in the qualifying quantity range.
Formula: Final Price = Original Price − Discount Amount
Example
| Product Price | Qty Ordered | Discount | Price Per Item | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$50 |
5 |
$5 off |
$45 |
$225 |
$50 |
20 |
10% off |
$40 |
$800 |
When to use it: When you want precise control over the discount amount – useful when you know exactly how much margin you can give away per unit.
Type 3: Cart Line Discount
This works on the cart line total rather than the per-item price. The plugin takes the total price of all units of that product in the cart and reduces it by the percentage you set. The display on the product page may show a different-looking calculation because it’s a cart-level discount.
Formula: Discount applied to (Quantity × Product Price) as a whole
Example
A customer buys 10 units of a $50 product = $500 cart line. With a 10% Cart Line Discount, the total becomes $450 (saving $50 on the whole order).
When to use it: When you want to show savings on the total order amount rather than per-item price. This can feel more impactful for large orders.
Type 4: Selling Price (Fixed Price Override)
This sets an exact price per item, regardless of the original product price. The number you enter in the “Price” field becomes the new price for that quantity range. The original product price is completely ignored.
Formula: Final Price = The exact value you enter
Example
| Original Price | Qty Range | Selling Price Set | Customer Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
$50 |
1–9 |
$48 |
$48 each |
$50 |
10–49 |
$42 |
$42 each |
$50 |
50+ |
$35 |
$35 each |
When to use it: Perfect for wholesale pricing or pre-agreed customer prices. You know exactly what to charge, so you just enter the final price directly.
Which Type Should I Choose?
Retail Store
Use Percentage Discount. Customers understand “10% off” easily.
Wholesale / B2B
Use Selling Price. You have agreed prices with each buyer type.
Print / Production
Use Selling Price. Cost per unit is fixed by your production pricing.
Promotions
Use Price Discount. A fixed “$X off” promotion is very clear and compelling.