# Coupon codes and limits

Marketing and promotions

A discount can work automatically or only after the customer types a **coupon code** in the cart. Codes let you target a newsletter, an influencer or a single customer, and measure which channel worked.

### Require a coupon code

1. Open the discount and tick **Requires coupon code** on the **Discount info** tab. Save.
2. A **Coupon Codes** tab appears. Click **Add new record** and enter a code, or generate one.
3. Add as many codes as you need. Each row shows whether that code has been **Used**.

![The Coupon Codes tab of Welcome 10 percent with the code WELCOME10, not used](https://grandnode.com/Plugins/Theme.GrandNodeCom/Content/kb/marketing/discount-coupon-codes.webp)

The Coupon Codes tab: one code, not used yet.

Customers enter the code in **Enter your coupon here** on the cart page. Several codes can be entered in one cart when the discounts are cumulative.

### Limit usage

| Discount limitation | Effect |
|---|---|
| No limits | The discount can be used any number of times. |
| N times only | The discount stops working after N uses in total - "the first 100 orders". |
| N times per customer | Each customer can use it N times - "once per customer". |

Uses are counted from the discount's **Usage history**. When you cancel an order that used a discount, delete the usage entry to give the use back.

### Many single-use codes

For personal codes - one per newsletter subscriber, for example - add one code per person and use **N times only** with N = 1 on a discount with many codes; the **Used** column shows which were redeemed.

### Tips and common mistakes

- Avoid look-alike characters (0/O, 1/I) in printed codes.
- A code with an end date in the past or on a disabled discount is rejected with a message in the cart - check both when a customer complains.

### Related

- [Creating a discount](https://grandnode.com/marketing-discounts)
- [Discount rules](https://grandnode.com/marketing-discount-rules)

- [Web page](https://grandnode.com/marketing-coupon-codes-and-limits)