---
title: "Coupons"
description: "Coupons allow you to create promotional codes that customers can apply at checkout for discounts."
url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6/sales/coupons"
markdown_url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6/sales/coupons.md"
last_updated: "2026-10-23T02:33:38+00:00"
version: "J2Commerce 6"
breadcrumbs:
  - title: "Home"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/"
  - title: "J2Commerce 6"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6"
  - title: "Sales"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6/sales"
  - title: "Coupons"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6/sales/coupons"
---

# Coupons

Coupons allow you to create promotional codes that customers can apply at checkout for discounts. Create percentage discounts, fixed amount discounts, or free shipping offers with flexible restrictions.

## Requirements

- PHP 8.3.0+
- Joomla 6.x
- J2Commerce 6.x

## Locating Coupons

Coupons are managed from the J2Commerce Dashboard.

There are **two** ways you can access the coupons.

**Option A:** Go to the **J2Commerce** icon at the top right corner **-> Sales -> Coupons**

**Option B:** Go to **Components** on the left sidebar **-> J2Commerce -> Dashboard -> Sales -> Coupons**

![Joomla admin navigation to Coupons: Components, J2Commerce, Dashboard, then the J2Commerce menu button with Sales and Coupons highlighted, above the Coupons list](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/coupons3.webp)

## Coupons List View

![Coupons list view with the table header highlighted (Status, Coupon Name, Code, Value, Value Type, Expiration, Valid From, Valid To, ID), showing Black Friday and Easter Bunny](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/coupons-title.webp)

The coupons list displays all configured discount codes:

**Status:** Published (green) or Unpublished (gray)

**Coupon Name:** Internal name for the coupon

**Coupon Code:** Coupon code customers enter at checkout

**Value:** Discount amount or percentage

**Value Type:** Discount type (Fixed Cart, Percentage, etc.)

**Expiration:** Displays if the coupon is active or expired.

**Valid From:** Start date of validity period

**Valid To:** End date of validity period

**ID:** Internal coupon ID

### Filter Options

![Coupons list with Filter Options open: Select Status, Select Value Type and Select Free Shipping dropdowns highlighted above the table listing Black Friday and Easter Bunny](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/coupons-filter.webp)

**Search:** Search by coupon name or code

**Status:** Filter by published/unpublished

**Type:** Filter by discount type (percentage/fixed)

**Free Shipping:** Filter by free shipping status

## Creating a Coupon

1. Click **New** in the toolbar.
2. Configure the coupon settings (see fields below).

## Coupon Fields

### Basic Settings Tab

![Coupon edit screen, Basic tab highlighted: Name Black Friday, Code BLACKFRIDAY20, Type Percentage of Cart Total, Value 20, Free Shipping Never, valid dates, Status Published](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/coupons-basic2.webp)

| Field | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Coupon Name** | Internal name for identification | `Summer Sale 20%` |
| **Coupon Code** | Code customers enter at checkout | `SUMMER20` |
| **Coupon Type** | Type of discount | Fixed Cart, Percentage, etc. |
| **Value** | Discount amount or percentage | `20` (for 20% or \[dollar\]20) |
| **Free Shipping** | Enable free shipping with coupon | Yes/No |
| **Valid From** | Start date for coupon validity | `2026-06-01` |
| **Valid To** | End date for coupon validity | `2026-06-30` |

### Coupon Types

| Type | Description | Value Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Fixed Cart** | Fixed amount off entire cart | \[dollar\]20 off total |
| **Fixed Product** | Fixed amount off each product | \[dollar\]5 per item |
| **Percentage Cart** | Percentage off entire cart | 20% off total |
| **Percentage Product** | Percentage off each product | 10% per item |

### Advanced Settings tab

![Coupon edit screen, Advanced Settings tab highlighted, with the Product Categories (Merch, Chocolate Balls, Gifts selected) and Products fields highlighted above other restrictions](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/coupons-basic1.webp)

**Product Categories:** Restrict to selected categories

**Products:** Restrict to selected products

**Brand/Manufacturer:** Restrict to selected brands

**Logged-in Users Only:** Restrict to registered customers

**Customer Groups:** Restrict to user groups

**Users:** Restrict to specific users

**Minimum Spending:** Minimum order subtotal required

### Usage Limit Tab

![Coupon edit screen, Usage Limits tab highlighted: Uses Per Coupon 1, Uses Per Customer 1, and an empty Maximum Discount Value field](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/coupons-usage.webp)

**Uses Per Coupon:** Maximum total uses (0 = unlimited)

**Uses Per Customer:** Max uses per customer (0 = unlimited)

**Maximum Discount Value:** Max discount for percentage coupons

## How Coupons Work

### Discount Calculation

1. **Fixed Cart**: Subtract the value from the order subtotal
   - Example: \[dollar\]20 off a \[dollar\]100 order = \[dollar\]80 total
2. **Percentage Cart**: Apply percentage to subtotal
   - Example: 20% off \[dollar\]100 = \[dollar\]20 discount = \[dollar\]80 total
3. **Fixed Product**: Subtract value from each matching product
   - Example: \[dollar\]5 off each item × 3 items = \[dollar\]15 total discount
4. **Percentage Product**: Apply percentage to each matching product
   - Example: 10% off \[dollar\]50 item × 2 items = \[dollar\]10 total discount

### Validation Process

When a customer applies a coupon, J2Commerce validates:

1. **A coupon exists and is published**
2. **Date validity** — Current date is within the Valid From/To range
3. **Usage limits** — Total uses haven't exceeded the limit
4. **Customer usage** — Customer hasn't exceeded their personal limit
5. **Login requirement** — Customer is logged in (if required)
6. **Minimum spending** — Order subtotal meets minimum
7. **Product/category restrictions** — Order contains qualifying items
8. **User/group restrictions** — Customer is in the allowed group

### Free Shipping Coupons

When **Free Shipping** is enabled:

1. The shipping cost is set to zero
2. Requires the Free Shipping plugin to be enabled
3. Configure the Free Shipping plugin to require a valid coupon

## Tips

- **Use descriptive names** — "Summer Sale 20%" is easier to identify than "Coupon 1"
- **Set expiration dates** — Prevent old coupons from being used unexpectedly
- **Test your coupons** — Create a test order to verify discount calculations
- **Use usage limits** — Prevent unlimited use of high-value discounts
- **Restrict by category** — Target promotions to specific product lines
- **Monitor coupon usage** — Check order history for coupon usage patterns

## Troubleshooting

### Coupon Not Working at Checkout

**Cause:** One or more validation rules are failing.

**Solution:**

1. Check if the coupon is **Published**.
2. Verify the current date is within **Valid From** and **Valid To**.
3. Ensure **Uses Per Coupon** hasn't been reached.
4. Check if **Logged-in Users Only** is enabled — the customer must be logged in.
5. Verify the order subtotal meets **the minimum spending**.
6. Check product restrictions — order must contain qualifying products.

### Percentage Discount Exceeds Expected Amount

**Cause:** Maximum discount value not set.

**Solution:**

1. Edit the coupon.
2. Set the **Maximum Discount Value** to cap the discount.
3. Example: 20% off with max \[dollar\]50 means even a \[dollar\]500 order only gets \[dollar\]50 off.

### Free Shipping Not Applying

**Cause:** Free Shipping plugin not configured correctly.

**Solution:**

1. Go to **J2Commerce** → **Setup**→ **Shipping Methods**.
2. Ensure the **Free Shipping** plugin is published.
3. Edit the Free Shipping plugin and check **Require Valid Coupon**.
4. Set **Minimum Order Amount** if needed.
5. Save the plugin settings.

### Coupon Code Input Shows Error

**Cause:** Invalid coupon format or already applied.

**Solution:**

1. Coupon codes are case-insensitive.
2. Check if the coupon is already applied to the cart.
3. Verify the code matches exactly — no extra spaces.
4. Clear the cart and try again.

### Coupon Restricted to Products Not Working

**Cause:** Products not properly associated or save required.

**Solution:**

1. Edit the coupon.
2. In the **Products** field, select the products.
3. **Important:** Click **Save** after selecting products before leaving the page.
4. The note in the interface reminds you: "If you add or delete product(s), you must click the save button before leaving."