A price break is the specific quantity threshold at which the unit price of a product drops to a lower level. When a buyer’s order reaches that quantity, every unit in the order (or every unit above the threshold, depending on how you set it up) is charged at the reduced rate. A single product often has several price breaks, forming a tiered pricing schedule that rewards larger orders.
How it works
Each price break is defined by a minimum quantity and the unit price that applies once the order hits it. A typical schedule looks like this:
- 1 to 49 units: $10.00 each
- 50 to 99 units: $9.00 each
- 100 or more units: $8.00 each
Here, 50 and 100 are the price breaks. There are two common models. In “whole order” pricing, reaching a break reprices the entire quantity. In “marginal” or tiered pricing, only the units past each threshold get the lower rate. Buyers usually assume whole order pricing, so state which model you use on the quote.
Why it matters
Price breaks are how B2B sellers pass on volume economics without hand pricing every deal. They set clear expectations, make larger orders more attractive, and speed up negotiation because the buyer can see exactly what quantity unlocks a better rate. They also protect your margins by tying discounts to volume rather than to who asks hardest.
In Shopify B2B quoting
Shopify’s B2B catalogs support volume pricing on wholesale price lists, but that surfaces on the storefront for logged-in company accounts. In a quoting workflow, price breaks show up inside the quote itself: you list the tiers, the buyer picks a quantity, and the line total reflects the break they qualify for. For related terms, see the B2B quoting glossary, or review plan options on pricing.