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Create Manual Coupons in WooCommerce (Discount Rules Plugin)

Learn how to create powerful manual coupons in WooCommerce using the Discount Rules and Dynamic Pricing for WooCommerce plugin. This complete guide covers storewide manual coupons and targeted discounts on specific products, categories, or variations. Give your customers coupon codes they can enter at checkout for exclusive savings.

📋 Table of Contents​

🚀 Before You Begin: Enable WooCommerce Coupons​

The Discount Rules and Dynamic Pricing for WooCommerce plugin works with WooCommerce's built-in coupon system. Please ensure it is enabled first:

  1. Go to your WordPress Admin Dashboard
  2. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings
  3. Click on the General tab
  4. Check the box for Enable coupons
  5. Save your changes

Now you're ready to create manual coupon rules under the Woo Pricing & Discounts > Discounts tab. This powerful plugin (available in a free version) offers advanced cart discount rules that help you create manual coupons, discount codes, and promotional coupons that customers can enter at checkout.

Option 1: Storewide Manual Coupon​

Best for: Offering a storewide discount code that customers can enter at checkout. Perfect for email marketing campaigns, social media promotions, and general storewide sales.

Scenario: Give a 20% off storewide discount using a manual coupon code. The customer must enter the coupon code at checkout to receive the discount on their entire cart.

Step 1: Access Discounts and Choose a Template​

  1. In your WordPress admin, go to the Woo Pricing & Discounts menu
  2. Open the Discounts tab
  3. Click on the Add from Template button to quickly start a new rule

Add from Template button

  1. In the "Choose your desired campaign" modal, search for templates
  2. Under Manual Coupons, find and select "Coupon: Storewide 20% Off"
  3. Click "Add Campaign"

Manual Coupon Storewide template

Step 2: Configure the Discount​

Manual coupon configuration

  1. Name: Generate a unique coupon code using the "Generate coupon code" button or enter a custom name like "SUMMER20" (customizable)
  2. Private Note: Add internal notes for your reference
  3. Status: Ensure Enable is checked
  4. Manual Coupon: Enable this switch - This is the key to making it a manual coupon. When enabled, customers must enter the coupon code manually at checkout.
  5. Apply Mode: Choose how this rule interacts with other discounts
    • Apply with other applicable rules (Non-Exclusive): Works alongside other discounts
    • Apply this rule and disregard other rules - Exclusive: Disregards all other applicable rules
    • Apply if other rules are not applicable: Acts as a fallback
  6. Discount Type: Select the discount type that best fits your promotion strategy:
    • Percentage discount - Applies a percentage off the entire cart. Best for percentage-based promotions. Example: 20% off entire cart.
    • Price discount - Applies a fixed dollar amount off the entire cart. Best for fixed savings. Example: $20 off entire cart.
  7. Discount Amount: Enter the discount amount. e.g: 20
  8. Usage Limit: Leave blank for unlimited uses

Step 3: Schedule the Coupon (Optional)​

By default, the campaign is unscheduled and runs immediately:

Unscheduled discount

For scheduled promotions, under the "Date Time" section to configure:

  • Date Range - Run a promotion over a period (e.g., 2026-07-20 to 2026-07-31 for a summer sale)
  • Date Time Range - Precise start and end date/time for flash sales
  • Specific Date - Single date activation (e.g., 2026-11-27 for Black Friday)
  • Days - Recurring weekly promotions (e.g., Saturday & Sunday)
  • Time - Daily time ranges (e.g., "happy hour" between 14:00-16:00)

Schedule for a date period

Use "+ And New Rule" to combine conditions (e.g., weekends AND specific time) or "+ OR New Group" for alternative schedules.

tip

For a deep dive into timezone setup, recurring schedules, and multi-tier scheduling logic, read our comprehensive Scheduling & Date-Time Guide.

Step 4: Save and Test​

Click Save and test by adding the coupon code at checkout.

Result Example​

Cart items before applying coupon:

  • Shirt - Cream: $25.00 × 2
  • Shirt - Green: $25.00 × 1
  • Jacket: $25.00 × 1

Subtotal: $100.00

Customer enters coupon code "6HUSB9VM" at checkout:

Enter manual coupon code

Discount Calculation: 20% × $100 = $20.00 discount

Result: The manual coupon applies to the entire cart when the customer enters the coupon code, saving them $20.00.

Storewide manual coupon applied

Option 2: Manual Coupon on Selected Items​

Best for: Offering a discount code for specific products, categories, or variations. Perfect for targeted promotions, clearing inventory, or rewarding customers with exclusive product deals.

Scenario: Give a 20% off discount on selected categories (Shirts) using a manual coupon code. The discount applies only to the selected items when the customer enters the coupon code.

Step 1: Access Discounts and Choose a Template​

  1. In your WordPress admin, go to the Woo Pricing & Discounts menu
  2. Open the Discounts tab
  3. Click on the Add from Template button
  4. Under Manual Coupons, find and select "Coupon: Category Sale (20% Off)" or "Coupon: Product Special (10% Off)" based on your requirement
  5. Click "Add Campaign"

Manual Coupon targeted templates

Step 2: Configure the Discount​

Manual coupon on products configuration

  1. Name: Generate a unique coupon code using the "Generate coupon code" button or enter a custom name like "SHIRT20" (customizable)
  2. Private Note: Add internal notes for your reference
  3. Status: Ensure Enable is checked
  4. Manual Coupon: Enable this switch - Customers must enter the coupon code at checkout.
  5. Apply Mode: Choose how this rule interacts with other discounts
    • Apply with other applicable rules (Non-Exclusive): Works alongside other discounts
    • Apply this rule and disregard other rules - Exclusive: Disregards all other applicable rules
    • Apply if other rules are not applicable: Acts as a fallback
  6. Discount Type: Select the discount type that best fits your promotion strategy:
    • Percentage discount per item - Applies a percentage off each eligible item. Best for percentage-based promotions on selected items. Example: 20% off each selected product.
    • Price discount per item - Applies a fixed dollar amount off each eligible item. Best for fixed savings that multiply with quantity purchased. Example: $5 off each selected product.
    • Fixed price discount - Applies a maximum discount cap for selected items. Best for controlling your maximum discount exposure. Example: $20 max off selected items.
  7. Discount Amount: Enter the discount amount. e.g: 20
  8. Usage Limit: Leave blank for unlimited uses

Step 3: Select Products, Categories, or Variations​

Under the Items section, you define which products, categories, or variations receive the manual coupon discount:

For Products:

  1. Select the "Products in list" condition
  2. Search for and select your desired products
  3. You can add multiple products into the search field

Select products for manual coupon

For Variations:

  1. Select the "Product variations in list" condition
  2. Search for and select your desired product variations
  3. You can add multiple variations into the search field

Select variations for manual coupon

For Categories:

  1. Select the "Categories in list" condition
  2. Search for and select your desired categories
  3. You can add multiple categories into the search field

Select categories for manual coupon

Combination of items: You can add combination of items like Products, Product Variations & Categories under items by using multiple conditions via the "+ OR New Group" button.

Combine items for manual coupon

Example: In our tutorial, we'll select the Shirts and Accessories categories.

tip

For detailed information on filtering products by categories, variations, attributes, stock status, or dynamic segments, check out our Product Selection Guide.

Step 4: Exclude Products (Optional)​

The Excluded Products section allows you to exclude specific products from the manual coupon:

  1. Under the Excluded Products section, select the "Products in list" condition
  2. Search for and select the products you want to exclude from the discount
  3. Add multiple excluded products to the search field

Step 5: Schedule the Coupon (Optional)​

By default, the campaign is unscheduled and runs immediately. For scheduled promotions, follow the scheduling steps described in Option 1.

Step 6: Add Conditions (Optional)​

Under the Conditions section, you can add conditions to control who can use the manual coupon:

  • User Roles - Restrict the coupon to specific user roles (e.g., Wholesale, VIP)
  • Is logged in - Require users to be logged in
  • Number of orders - Limit to customers with specific order history
  • And many more conditions
tip

For full details on all 14 condition groups, AND/OR logic, and available comparison operators, check out our Complete Rule Conditions Guide.

Step 7: Save and Test​

Click Save and test by adding the coupon code at checkout.

Save manual coupon for selected items

Result Example​

Cart items before applying coupon:

  • Shirt - Cream: $25.00 × 2 (In Shirts category - gets discount)
  • Shirt - Green: $25.00 × 1 (In Shirts category - gets discount)
  • Jacket: $25.00 × 1 (Not in Shirts category - no discount)

Subtotal of selected category items: $75.00

Customer enters coupon code "xdfh7wcy" at checkout:

Enter manual coupon code for selected items

Discount Calculation: 20% × $75 = $15.00 discount

Result: The manual coupon applies to the selected category items only when the customer enters the coupon code, saving them $15.00. The Jacket (not in the Shirts category) receives no discount.

Manual coupon on selected items applied

Quick Comparison Table​

FeatureStorewide Manual CouponTargeted Manual Coupon
Template"Coupon: Storewide 20% Off""Coupon: Category Sale (20% Off)" or "Coupon: Product Special (10% Off)"
Discount TypePercentage discount or Price discountPercentage discount per item, Price discount per item, or Fixed price discount
Eligible ItemsAll products in the cartSelected products, categories, or variations
Best ForGeneral promotions, email campaignsTargeted promotions, inventory clearance
Example Rate20% off entire cart20% off selected categories only
Cart (Mixed items)20% × $100 = $20.0020% × $75 = $15.00 (selected items only)
Discount Applied ToEntire cart subtotalSubtotal of selected items only
Customer ActionEnter coupon code at checkoutEnter coupon code at checkout

🎉 Success!​

You've learned how to create two types of manual coupons using the Discount Rules and Dynamic Pricing plugin for WooCommerce. Each coupon type serves different promotional goals:

  • Storewide Manual Coupon - Best for general promotions, email marketing campaigns, and storewide sales
  • Targeted Manual Coupon - Best for specific product promotions, inventory clearance, and targeted marketing campaigns

Both coupon types require customers to enter the coupon code at checkout, giving you full control over your promotional campaigns.

Try it Live & Explore PRO

Experience all discount rules and pricing strategies in action on our Live Demo Website.

Upgrade to Discount Rules and Dynamic Pricing for WooCommerce PRO to unlock advanced conditions, user role pricing, recurring schedules, tiered variations, and priority support.

📚 Next Steps​

Now that you've mastered manual coupons, explore automatic cart discounts and catalog pricing:

🔍 SEO Keywords​

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