A backorder happens when you sell something you don't have on the shelf right now and promise to ship it once stock comes in. Done well, it saves a sale you'd otherwise lose. Done badly, it turns into "where is my order?" emails and chargebacks.
Backorder vs preorder
- Backorder: the product normally exists, you ran out, and the customer orders anyway while you wait for a restock. It's unplanned.
- Preorder: the product isn't available yet (a launch, a seasonal run) and you take orders ahead of time on purpose. It's planned.
The setting in Shopify is the same for both, but the messaging is different. A preorder page can say "Ships November 15" from day one. A backorder needs to tell the customer that something went wrong with stock and what you're doing about it. If you make items to order anyway, our made-to-order fulfillment best practices cover how to set expectations on lead times.
How to turn on backorders in Shopify
- Open the product and go to the variant you want to allow on backorder.
- In the Inventory section, make sure "Track quantity" is on. Backorders only make sense when Shopify knows the real count; our guide to tracking inventory per variant explains why.
- Tick "Continue selling when out of stock." The variant stays buyable when the count hits zero, and the count goes negative as orders come in.
- Update the product page text or a badge to say the item is on backorder and give a realistic ship date.
Do this per variant, not for the whole store. If the medium blue hoodie is out but every other size is in stock, only the medium blue should be on backorder.
Communication
Email the customer within 24 hours of the order. Keep it short and give them choices. Something like:
"Thanks for your order. The navy tote in your cart is on backorder, and we expect new stock around November 15. You can wait and we'll ship as soon as it arrives, have us ship the rest of your order now and the tote later, or cancel the tote for a full refund. Just reply to this email."
Then follow up when the date changes, even if the news is bad. A customer who hears "it's slipping a week" rarely complains. A customer who hears nothing for three weeks files a dispute.
Partial ship
Ship the in-stock items now and the backordered items when they arrive. The customer waits on part of the order, not all of it. Shopify supports partial fulfillment natively: on the order page you fulfill only the lines that are ready, and the rest stays unfulfilled until you're ready.
Watch your shipping costs. Two parcels cost more than one, so decide in advance whether you absorb the second shipment or offer partial shipping only on larger orders.
Backorders on personalized products
Personalized items add one more thing to track: the buyer's custom details. If you sell a monogrammed robe or an engraved flask from blanks you keep in stock, the blank can run out while orders keep coming. With Print It My Way, the name, font and any uploaded artwork are saved on the order as line-item properties, so they wait safely on the order until the blank arrives. Nothing gets lost while the item sits on backorder.
Print-on-demand products are different. Your POD partner holds the blanks, so you rarely see a backorder on your side. When a partner runs out of a specific blank color or size, it's usually handled on their end, so check their stock notices and pause the affected variant if needed. Our POD shipping and fulfillment guide covers how partner delays show up on your orders.
When not to allow backorders
- You have no confirmed restock date from your supplier.
- The product is seasonal and the restock would arrive after the occasion, such as Christmas stockings landing in January.
- Your margin can't absorb a second shipment or a refund.
- The item is discontinued. Hide it or mark it sold out instead.
In those cases, turn backorders off and offer a "Notify me when it's back" signup. To catch stock problems before they turn into backorders, set up low-stock alerts for variants.
Apps
Shopify's built-in tools cover the basics: continue selling when out of stock, negative inventory and partial fulfillment. Preorder and back-in-stock apps on the Shopify App Store add extras such as backorder badges on the product page, automatic ship-date messages, deposit payments and restock notifications. Pick one that matches how often you actually run out; a store that backorders twice a year doesn't need a monthly subscription for it.
If you sell from more than one warehouse, a variant can be out at one location and in stock at another, which changes whether it's really a backorder. Our guide to multi-location inventory for variants covers that setup.
Frequently asked questions
How to handle Shopify backorder?
Turn on "Continue selling when out of stock" for the affected variant and show a realistic ship date on the product page. Then email the customer within 24 hours with the restock date and their options: wait, ship the rest now, or cancel.
Partial ship for backorder?
Yes. Fulfill the in-stock items now and the backordered items when stock arrives. Shopify supports partial fulfillment on the order page without any app.
Best backorder app for Shopify?
It depends on what you need. Shopify's built-in settings handle the basics, and preorder or back-in-stock apps add badges, ship-date messages, deposits and restock emails. Choose based on how often you actually run out.
Should I charge customer upfront for backorder?
Charging at the time of order is the standard approach. For long waits, some stores take a partial deposit through a preorder app and charge the rest when the item ships.
Communicate restock ETA?
Yes, up front. Show the expected date on the product page, confirm it by email within 24 hours of the order, and send an update if the date changes.
Cancel backorder if customer changes mind?
Yes. Refund promptly when they ask. A clear, easy cancellation policy keeps trust high and heads off payment disputes.
Does backorder affect POD?
Rarely on your side, because your print-on-demand partner holds the blanks. Backorders mostly apply when you keep physical stock, such as blanks you engrave or embroider yourself.
Backorder vs notify me?
With a backorder, the customer has already ordered and paid and is waiting for stock. With "Notify me," the customer has only signed up for an alert and hasn't ordered yet.
Related reading
Sources & further reading
Primary sources referenced in this article. We link to official platform documentation and standards bodies rather than secondary summaries so you can verify claims directly.
- Shopify Help Center: Product variants
- Shopify.dev: Product variant limits
- Shopify Help Center: Line item properties (customization)
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