How to Change Shopify Order Numbers Format [Updated-2026]

Shopify order numbers are unique identifiers assigned to every order in your store. They help you to track and manage orders, customers, and sales. But sometimes, the Shopify native order sequence may not meet your specific business needs. That’s where you need to customize or edit the Shopify order number format.

Unfortunately, you can’t directly change the native order number on Shopify. Don’t worry, you can modify the order number from Settings >> General >> Order ID format by adding a prefix and a suffix.

However, if you aren’t satisfied with modifying the order number, you need to use a third-party app like Cleverific or custom code to change the entire order number format on Shopify.

Let’s explore the benefits of smart order numbers and how you can change them on Shopify to increase the efficiency of order management!

5 Benefits of Changing Shopify Order Numbers ID & Formats

Changing Shopify order numbers can improve your store experience in many ways. It helps with branding, makes management easier, and provides a better experience for customers. Here are 5 potential benefits of modifying your Shopify order number:

1. Improve Brand Identity with Unique Order Formats

Custom order numbers give your store a professional look and make it memorable for customers. When customers see your order number, they’ll instantly recognize your business style.

2. Easier Order Management

Unique formats help you organize orders better and make tracking inventory simpler. Create smart order codes that tell you about the product type, warehouse, or shipping location. This makes sorting and managing orders much simpler.

3. Improved Customer Experience

Clear and professional order numbers make customers feel confident. Easy-to-read numbers mean less confusion and smoother customer support interactions.

4. Advanced Security

Unique order number formats make it harder for scammers to guess or fake orders, improving your store security. This protects both your business and your customers from potential fraud or hackers.

5. Faster Shipping Process

Clear order numbers reduce mistakes in packing and shipping, speeding up deliveries. If you create a smart order number, your staff can understand and process orders faster without any confusion.

How to Change Order Numbers on Shopify (2 Methods)

Shopify does not natively allow you to change or customize your Shopify order number. But you can do this job by following the 2 different methods I have provided below:

Method 1. Change Order ID Format on Shopify by Adding Prefix and Suffix

Here are 4 easy steps that you can follow to change your Shopify order number format.

Step 1: Log into Your Shopify Admin

• Ensure you have admin-level access to settings.
• Open your Shopify admin dashboard and go to the “Setting”.

Step 2: Navigate to Order Number Settings

• Now you are at the ‘General Setting’.
• Scroll down to the “Order ID” section.

Here you can see two fields to add prefixes and suffixes to the Shopify order number.

Step 3: Modify the Order Number Prefix & Suffix

• You can change the order format by adding prefixes & suffixes.

For example, you can add a shortcode of your store like ‘SDA’ for the store name ‘ShopiDevs Apps’, or/and add a current year like ‘2025.

• Then click on the ‘Save’ button to update your Shopify order number.

Step 4: Place a ‘Test Order’ to Check the Order ID Format Has Updated

• Now place a test order to confirm that your updated test order is working perfectly.
• Testing is very important because if anything goes wrong, it will affect the customer experience directly.
• So, be careful about it. If you don’t know how to test an order, then you can check the article “How to Do a Test Order on Shopify“

If you follow these 4 steps perfectly, I hope you have changed the order number format easily.

Method 2. Customize Order Numbers on Shopify Using 3rd-Party Apps

Shopify’s default order numbers are sequential, though this is very simple and easy to use, but it is not customizable. Third-party apps solve this problem by letting you create unique and professional order numbers.

There are many Shopify apps like ‘Cleverific Order Editor’ or ‘Order Editing | Upsell’ that offer basic to advanced-level editing options. By using these apps, you can add your brand name, a year, or specific codes to the order number to match your business needs.

These features help you improve your store’s branding, simplify order management, and provide a better experience for customers.

Best Practices for Changing the Order Number Format on Shopify

If you want to change Shopify order numbers, careful planning is required to organize and manage products better. Following best practices ensures smooth operations, prevents errors, and enhances customer experience. Here are key tips for successful customization:

• Use a Simple and Clear Format: Create order numbers that are easy to read and understandable for your team and customers. Pick a format that follows the same pattern for all orders (e.g., SDA_1003_25) to prevent confusion.
• Always Test Before Using: Before you start using the new Shopify order number format, test it before going live. Make several test orders to check if everything works correctly. Also, look at how the numbers appear on receipts and emails.
• Check App Compatibility: Make sure your new order numbers work with all your other business apps. Some apps for shipping or accounting might not like certain number styles. Test all your tools to prevent any problems with tracking or processing orders.
• Communicate with Team: Inform your staff about the updated Shopify order number format. Also, tell them the meaning of the order code so that they can work more efficiently.

I hope you can change the Shopify order ID format to manage all orders more effectively by following these tips.

Difference Between Shopify Order Numbers & Order ID

Shopify uses both Order Numbers and Order IDs to track purchases. The Order Number is customer-facing and appears on invoices, emails, and order pages. The Order ID is a unique internal system identifier used by Shopify for database management and API integrations.

Feature	Shopify Order Number	Shopify Order ID
Visibility	Visible to customers	Not visible to customers
Purpose	Used for invoices, emails, and tracking	Used internally by Shopify
Format	Sequential (e.g., #1001, #1002)	Long numeric unique value
Editable	Customize with prefix/suffix	Cannot be edited
API Usage	Limited use	Used in API calls and integrations
Business Impact	Reflects the order sequence	Purely technical reference

Shopify Order Numbers and Custom Invoice Numbers

Besides the Shopify order number, Shopify does not assign any other number such as an invoice number. Internally, every Shopify order has an ID made up of numbers. However, Shopify also offers to send a customer invoice without the invoice number.

So, How Do You Get an Invoice Number?

Of course, you can generate an invoice number, even a professional and complete invoice, by using the Free Invoice Generator by Shopify. With 3 easy steps, you can create the Shopify invoice including the custom invoice number.

• Step 1: Provide your company information and address.
• Step 2: Enter customer and invoice information.
• Step 3: Enter the ordered items to the bill and memo.

Then click on the “Submit” button to download the invoice containing the custom invoice numbers for Shopify.

Consecutive Invoice Numbers

Many Shopify merchants think they must use consecutive invoice numbers without gaps. However, Shopify assigns order numbers to all orders, including test orders. These test orders create unavoidable gaps since test orders aren’t part of accounting records. So, what can you do?

First, consult a tax advisor for specific tax advice. It’s important to know that consecutive invoice numbers aren’t always required. What matters is that each invoice number is unique and doesn’t repeat in your accounting system.

Want to Keep Shopify Orders, Customers, and All Data Safe?

Your Shopify store is your business asset. It holds your products, orders, customers, shipping info, themes, blogs, and important files. If something goes wrong — like an app conflict, accidental delete, or theme error — you could lose valuable data.

What if you could protect everything automatically?

At ShopiDevs, we created Syncora: Backup & Restore to keep your store data safe and secure. It helps you back up your store and restore it at any time with just a few clicks.

What You Can Do with Syncora:

• Automatic Backups: Save your products, orders, themes, pages, and more with ease, without any manual effort.
• Quick Restore: Made a mistake? Restore your store data easily in minutes.
• Google Drive Backup: Keep a copy of your store data safely in your own Google Drive.
• Safe Store Migration: Move or duplicate your store data without stress.
• Simple Dashboard: Easy to use. No technical knowledge needed.
• Many Shopify merchants trust Syncora to protect their business data every day.

Ready to protect your store data?

Conclusion

Shopify has designed the order number format to be simple and efficient. But customizing this order number ID format can bring added benefits for your store. It helps to improve your brand identity, customer experience, and order management.

In this blog post, I have explained 5 major benefits of changing the Shopify order ID format. Besides that, you have learned how to change the order number on Shopify using the built-in Shopify features.

Remember that, if you want to replace the default order number format on Shopify, then you need to use Shopify Plus, or custom code based on your Shopify theme, or use a third-party app.

Always ensure your changes align with tax regulations and work smoothly with your business systems.

FAQs

Is It Possible to Change the Order Number on Shopify?

No, you can’t change the order number, but you can modify the format by using a prefix and a suffix with the existing order number. But if you want to replace the default order number with a new custom one, then you can use Shopify Plus, custom scripts, and third-party apps.

Are Shopify Order Numbers Sequential?

Yes, Shopify uses sequential order numbers by default. However, you can modify the order format by adding a prefix and a suffix without changing the main order number. However, if you want advanced customization options to change the format, you can use apps or custom code.

How to Add a Prefix to Order Numbers

1. Go to Shopify admin
2. Click “Settings”.
3. Then go to the “General>Order ID”
4. Add a Suffix as you want, like ‘SDA’ for the “ShopiDevs App” Shopify store.
5. “Save” changes.

Example: Order number “1001” into “SDA-1001”.

What Is the Order Number System for Shopify?

Shopify automatically generates order numbers for each order. By default, these numbers are sequential and unique to each store. It starts at 1001 and goes up with each new sale (including test orders).