---
title: "How rules work"
description: "Conditions, rule groups (AND/OR) and delivery discounts explained."
url: https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/5-how-rules-work
collection: "Building rules"
updated: 2026-10-21
language: en
---

# How rules work

Conditions, rule groups (AND/OR) and delivery discounts explained.

A shipping discount answers two questions: **when** does it apply, and **what** gets discounted?

## Conditions: when it applies

Conditions sit inside a **rule group**.

-   **Every condition in a rule group must be true (AND).** For example, "Cart total is at least $100" AND "Shipping country is one of Australia" means a $120 order to Australia qualifies, but a $120 order to New Zealand doesn't.
    
-   **No conditions means the discount applies to every order.**
    

## Rule groups: alternative ways to qualify (OR)

To add another way to qualify, open the **⋯** menu on the Conditions card and choose **Add rule group**. The groups are joined with **OR**: **any one group** being true triggers the discount.

Example:

-   **Rule group 1**: Customer tag contains VIP
    
-   **OR Rule group 2**: Cart total is at least $100 AND Shipping country is one of Australia
    

VIP customers get free shipping on any order, and everyone else gets it on orders over $100 shipped to Australia.

![The Conditions card with two rule groups: AND joins conditions inside a group, OR joins the groups](https://staticfiles.us.gleap.ai/p6ad4251a43e13d5e6030fd91/FSWDFjYo36xoDgQ0riXrYI33e3sMznUTgScipcX6Jbn4TyHaG4QJJF8hHegQdBPZ3QycyD107eq.png)

**All rule groups share the same delivery discounts.** If you want different rewards (for example free shipping over $100 but $10 off over $50), create separate discounts. When a customer qualifies for several, Shopify gives them the one that saves the most.

## Delivery discounts: what gets discounted

In **Discount setup**, each **delivery discount** sets:

-   **Delivery type**: Shipping or Local delivery.
    
-   **Which rates**: all, the cheapest, or specific rates. See [Choose which rates to discount](https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/6-choose-which-rates-to-discount.md).
    
-   **Discount value**: Free, Percentage, Fixed Amount Off or Fixed Price. See [Discount types](https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/7-discount-types.md).
    

To discount different rates differently in one discount, use the **⋯** menu on Discount setup and choose **Add delivery discount**. For example, make Standard free and take $10 off Express. Every delivery discount uses the same conditions.

Don't point two delivery discounts at the same rate. Only one discount can apply to a rate, and you can't control which one wins.

## Tips

-   **"Product A and Product B"** fits in one condition: use **Product in cart** with **Contains (all)**.
    
-   **Location conditions need the shipping address**, so they're checked once the customer has entered it.