Shopify Automated Collection Rules: Setup Guide

Automated collection rules in Shopify determine which products are included in your collections. This guide explains how to create effective rules that keep your store organized automatically.

Understanding Collection Rules

Collection rules are conditions that products must meet to be included:

• Each rule consists of a product attribute, operator, and value
• Multiple rules can be combined with AND or OR logic
• Products are evaluated against rules when added or updated
• Rules apply consistently across your entire catalog

Available Rule Types

Product Title Rules

• Contains: Title includes specific text
• Equals: Exact title match
• Starts with: Title begins with text
• Ends with: Title ends with text

Product Type and Vendor

• Filter by product category
• Filter by brand or supplier

Tag Rules

Using tags for collection rules:

• Product tag equals: Exact tag match
• Most flexible rule type
• Requires consistent tagging practices

Price and Inventory Rules

• Price: Greater than, less than, equal to
• Compare at price: Identify sale items
• Inventory: Stock level thresholds

Rule Logic: All vs. Any

All Conditions (AND)

Products must match every rule:

• Creates more specific collections
• Example: Type = "Shirts" AND Tag = "summer"
• Only summer shirts would be included

Any Condition (OR)

Products matching any rule are included:

• Creates broader collections
• Example: Tag = "featured" OR Tag = "bestseller"
• Products with either tag would be included

Creating Effective Rules

1. Define the collection purpose: Decide what this collection should contain — "All Nike running shoes under $150" is specific enough to translate into conditions
2. Choose attributes: Go to Products > Collections > Create collection > Automated and select the product attributes that best match your goal — tags are the most flexible, while product type and vendor are the most reliable
3. Set precise conditions: Use the operator dropdown (equals, contains, starts with, greater than, less than) and enter exact values — "contains" is forgiving but may catch unintended matches, while "equals" requires exact text
4. Test with known products: After saving, check that specific products you expect to see are included — search for a product you know should match and verify it appears
5. Adjust and iterate: If too many or too few products appear, refine your conditions — add more rules with AND logic to narrow results, or switch to OR logic to broaden them

Common Rule Patterns

• New Arrivals: Created date within last 30 days
• Sale Collection: Compare at price greater than price
• Low Stock: Inventory less than 10
• Premium Items: Price greater than $100
• Brand Page: Vendor equals specific name

Best Practices

• Keep rules simple when possible
• Use consistent product data for reliable matching
• Avoid overly complex rule combinations
• Document your rules for team reference
• Review rules periodically as inventory changes

Troubleshooting Rules

• Products not appearing: Check that attributes match exactly
• Too many products: Add more restrictive rules
• Unexpected products: Review all vs. any logic

Conclusion

Well-designed collection rules reduce manual work and ensure consistent product organization. Focus on clear, simple rules that match your product data, and your collections will maintain themselves automatically.

Related Resources

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