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You receive an order for three albums at your online record store: two stocked at different warehouses and one on preorder. You ship the available albums from each location, then send the preorder after its release. This is a split order.
Splitting orders gets available items moving sooner, but each shipment can add postage, packaging, and handling costs. You also have more deliveries to track and explain to customers.
This guide covers how split orders work, why businesses use them, and how to reduce unnecessary shipments and costs.
What is a split order?
A split order is a customer purchase divided into two or more shipments during order fulfillment. Businesses split orders because products are stored at different locations, become available at different times, or require different shipping methods.
Three related terms describe how items ship and arrive:
- Split shipment. Another term for sending items from one order in separate shipments. Those shipments may arrive on the same day or on different dates.
- Partial shipment. Only some of the items or quantities ordered have shipped, with the rest due to ship separately. Shopify lets stores fulfill part of an order when, for example, an item is on preorder.
- Partial delivery. The customer has received only part of the order, with the rest still to arrive.
A split order, two separate orders, and a multipackage shipment differ in how the purchase and shipping are organized:
| Type | Customer orders | Shipping arrangement | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split order | One | Items travel in separate shipments. | Two albums ship now, and a preorder ships later. |
| Two separate orders | Two | Each purchase has its own order record and shipping arrangements. | A customer buys an album today and places another order next week. |
| Multipackage shipment | One in this example | Several boxes are grouped as one carrier shipment to the same recipient. | A large album order leaves one warehouse in three boxes booked together. |
Why are split orders used?
Stock availability, package limits, and customer requests can lead merchants to ship parts of an order separately.
Inventory in more than one location
When no warehouse has every item in an order, you can ship products from the locations that stock them. This can save the time needed to move inventory to one warehouse before shipping. A distributed order management system automatically selects fulfillment locations based on stock availability and delivery requirements.
With split shipping in Shopify Checkout, customers can see separate shipments and their available shipping methods. Shipping charges depend on shipping profiles, location groups, and rate settings.
Back-ordered or pre-ordered items
Send available items first when other products in the order are back-ordered or on preorder. The remaining items ship when inventory arrives, or the scheduled release date comes.
If a supplier produces or dispatches goods in scheduled batches, some products may arrive before others. A quality hold can delay items while your team checks them for defects.
You can ship approved products first and send the held items once they pass inspection. Shopify lets you mark stock undergoing quality control as unavailable.
Large items or quantities
Packing an entire order into one box may exceed a carrier’s size or weight limits, or trigger oversize charges. Dividing the contents between smaller boxes can help avoid those charges.
Package dimensions also decide the price. FedEx, for example, charges based on actual weight or dimensional weight, whichever is greater. Smaller boxes may cost less if they reduce empty space, but each parcel carries shipping charges.
Check the total price of both packing options. Several boxes booked together as one carrier shipment count as a multi-package shipment. A split order involves separate shipments.
Customer requests and custom items
Customers may request separate deliveries to receive ready items sooner or send gifts to different addresses. For example, you might ship standard picture frames immediately and send an engraved frame once the engraving is complete.
In Shopify Checkout, customers can choose available shipping methods for each shipment, but cannot choose how products are grouped. Standard checkout uses one shipping address per order. For multiple destinations, customers can place separate orders, or you can offer an app such as Multiship.
Drawbacks of split shipments
Every additional shipment adds packing, tracking, and delivery work to your shipping operations.
Higher costs
Shipping one order in several parcels can increase fulfillment costs by adding postage, packaging, and labor expenses.
For a hypothetical order, one box costs $8 to ship. Sending the same items in two parcels at $6 each brings postage to $12, an extra $4 before packaging and labor.
Actual prices depend on package dimensions, weight, destination, and shipping service.
More waste
Separate parcels require more boxes, tape, and protective filling. Additional delivery stops can also increase fuel use and emissions.
The environmental impact varies with ecommerce packaging, shipping distance, transport method, and delivery routes. Using appropriately sized boxes and consolidating shipments where practical can reduce waste and transport emissions.
Messier returns
You may need to process ecommerce returns for one shipment while the rest of the order is still in transit. Your team then has to track deliveries, return parcels, refunds, and restocking for different parts of the same order.
Return deadlines can also vary when your policy counts from each item’s arrival. Shopify lets you set the return window from each item’s delivery date or the delivery of the last item in the order. Explain when the window begins and which products each return label covers.
How to split an order in Shopify
In Shopify, a fulfillment order groups items for shipping. You can divide unfulfilled items into separate fulfillments or merge eligible groups before dispatch.
When Shopify splits an order automatically
Shopify can split orders containing preorders, subscriptions, or Buy with Prime products. Products assigned to different fulfillment locations or shipping profiles can also prompt separate shipments.
At checkout, split shipping shows the number of shipments, their shipping methods, rates, and delivery estimates. Where available, customers can select “More shipping options” to choose a method for each shipment.
Charges depend on your location groups and rate settings. Shipments from locations in one group can share a flat shipping rate. Different groups can add separate charges.
With shipping options by market, eligible flat rates for the same shipping option are charged once at the highest applicable rate.
Split or merge a fulfillment in the Shopify admin
Open Shopify in a desktop or mobile browser. The split and merge controls are unavailable in the Shopify mobile app.
- Go to Orders and open the order.
- Open the three-dot menu in the relevant Unfulfilled section and select Split fulfillment.
- Select the items and quantities to separate, then confirm with Split fulfillment.
Shopify creates another fulfillment for the selected items. You can process it separately when those items are ready to ship.
To merge eligible fulfillments:
- Open the order and find the relevant Unfulfilled section.
- Open its three-dot menu and select Merge fulfillment.
- Select the items to combine, then confirm with Merge fulfillment.
How to tell customers their order is shipping in multiple packages
Send a shipping confirmation for each fulfillment and add its order tracking number. Keep customer notifications selected when completing the fulfillment. Shopify can also send a shipping update when you add or change tracking details.
For each partial shipment, list the products dispatched and note anything still awaiting shipment. Explain why those items are shipping separately and give their expected shipping dates. Include a tracking link for each package, then send another confirmation when the remaining items ship.
For US orders, the FTC’s rule requires shipment within the promised time, or within 30 days of receiving a completed order if you gave no shipping time frame. If any unshipped items will miss that deadline, notify the customer before it expires.
Give a revised shipping date, or explain why you cannot provide one, and offer the choice of waiting or canceling the unshipped items for a prompt refund. Obtain consent to delay shipment or promptly refund the unshipped merchandise.
Tips for avoiding split orders
Follow these three tips to reduce split orders in your store.
Forecast customer demand
Track stock across locations from your Shopify admin. In Shopify Analytics, inventory reports show sales quantities and sell-through rates. Use custom data explorations to examine sales by product and period, or review inventory adjustments by location.
Use supply chain forecasting methods to estimate demand and plan stock levels based on recent sales, seasonal patterns, and planned promotions. Check order history for products customers frequently buy together, then stock those combinations at the same warehouses.
Keep your warehouses stocked
Reorder early enough to cover each warehouse’s expected sales during the supplier’s delivery time. Keep extra stock for supplier delays or unexpected demand.
Transfer stock between locations before shortages force you to split orders. Count inventory regularly and correct discrepancies in your inventory management system so your records reflect what each warehouse can ship. You can manage transfers and stock counts from the Shopify admin.
Optimize for single package delivery
For stores with two or more active locations, Shopify’s smart order routing includes Minimize split fulfillments as the first default rule. It prioritizes locations that stock every item in an order.
When no location has everything, it prioritizes locations that require the fewest packages. Keep this rule first if reducing split shipments is your priority.
Pack compatible items together in a box that protects them and meets the carrier’s size and weight limits.
Split order FAQ
What does “split shipping” mean?
Split shipping means sending items from one customer order in two or more separate shipments. For example, a store might ship available products immediately and ship a preorder after it’s released.
Why is an order split?
An order may be split because its items are stored in different warehouses, become available at different times, or need different shipping methods. Preorders and personalized products may ship later than other items in the purchase.
What’s the difference between a split order and two separate orders?
A split order is one purchase shipped in multiple shipments under the same order number. Two separate orders are two purchases, each with its own order number. You can combine separate orders for the same customer and address into a joint shipment when the items are ready to ship together.
What does “partially shipped” mean?
“Partially shipped” means some items or quantities in an order have been sent, while others are still awaiting shipment. The shipping confirmation identifies the products that were dispatched. The store can provide an expected shipping date for the rest.
Why can’t some orders be split?
In Shopify Checkout, split shipping is unavailable for draft orders with a shipping rate already set. All units of the same line item must also ship from one location. Eligible unfulfilled items can still be split manually in the admin.
