Shopify Auto Collection Feature: Complete Overview

Shopify's auto collection feature lets you create collections that automatically include products based on conditions you set. This guide covers everything you need to know about using this feature effectively.

What Are Auto Collections?

Auto collections (also called smart or automated collections) use rules to determine which products belong:

• Products are automatically added when they match conditions
• Products are removed when they no longer match
• Collections update in real-time as products change
• No manual product assignment required

Auto vs. Manual Collections

Setting Up Auto Collections

1. Navigate: Go to Products > Collections in your Shopify admin
2. Create: Click Create collection
3. Add details: Enter a title and description — the description appears on the storefront and in search results, so include relevant keywords
4. Select type: Under "Collection type," choose Automated
5. Define conditions: Select a product attribute (title, type, vendor, tag, price, compare-at price, inventory, weight, or variant title), choose an operator, and enter a value
6. Set logic: Choose "Products must match all conditions" (AND) or "Products must match any condition" (OR)
7. Save: Click Save — Shopify evaluates your entire catalog and adds matching products within minutes

Condition Options

Build conditions using these product attributes:

• Product title: Text matching options
• Product type: Category matching
• Vendor: Brand filtering
• Product tag: Tag-based grouping
• Price: Price range conditions
• Compare at price: Sale item detection
• Inventory: Stock level filtering
• Weight: Product weight conditions

Time-Saving Benefits

• New products automatically sorted into relevant collections
• No need to manually update collections when inventory changes
• Consistent organization across large catalogs
• Reduced risk of products being miscategorized

Common Use Cases

• New Arrivals: Products created within a time period
• Sale Collections: Items with compare-at prices
• Brand Pages: Products by vendor
• Category Collections: Products by type
• In-Stock Items: Products with inventory

Best Practices

• Establish consistent tagging conventions
• Test conditions before launching collections
• Review collections periodically for accuracy
• Document your condition rules for team reference
• Use analytics to monitor collection performance

Limitations to Consider

• No manual overrides: You cannot manually add or remove individual products from an automated collection — if a product matches the conditions, it's in; if it doesn't, it's out
• Limited attributes: Conditions are restricted to title, type, vendor, tag, price, compare-at price, inventory, weight, and variant title — you cannot use metafields or custom attributes as conditions natively
• No mixed AND/OR logic: You must choose all conditions (AND) or any condition (OR) — you cannot create rules like "Type = Shoes AND (Tag = red OR Tag = blue)" without workarounds like using a single combined tag
• Maximum 60 conditions: Each automated collection supports up to 60 conditions — for more complex grouping, use third-party apps like AWSM Collections

Conclusion

Shopify's auto collection feature significantly reduces the manual work of organizing products. By defining clear conditions and maintaining consistent product data, you can create collections that manage themselves and stay current with your inventory.

Related Resources

• Shopify Help: Automated Collections
• What is a Shopify Collection?
• Using Tags Effectively