What Is Subtotal? Subtotal vs Total

How a Subtotal Is Added Up

Multiply each item's price by its quantity. Then add the lines together.

Subtotal = sum of (item price × quantity)

Add shipping and tax, and you get the order total.

Example: a candle shop order

Soy candle: 2 × $18 = $36
Wick trimmer: 1 × $14 = $14
Subtotal: $36 + $14 = $50
Shipping: $6
Sales tax (7% of the $50 in items): $3.50

Order total = $50 + $6 + $3.50 = $59.50.

So the cart showed $50, and checkout asked for $59.50. If your cart doesn't mention shipping or tax, checkout is where the shopper first sees that extra $9.50.

Where Shopify Shows the Subtotal

Shoppers first see it on your cart page or in your cart drawer. Your theme picks the label, such as "Subtotal" or "Estimated total."

At checkout, the subtotal sits under the list of items, with shipping, taxes and the final total below it. The order page in your Shopify admin shows the same lines after the sale.

If your prices include tax, as is common in the UK and EU, the subtotal already has tax inside it. So checkout doesn't add tax on top.

Why Spend-Based Offers Watch the Subtotal

Many offers start once a shopper spends a set amount, like free shipping over $60 or a free gift over $75. The rule checks the shopper's spend against your line, and that spend is usually the subtotal.

In the candle order, free shipping at $60 leaves the $50 subtotal $10 short. A second $14 wick trimmer clears it. Before tax, the shopper pays $64 instead of $56 and gets one more item. You get $14 more in product sales, but you give up the $6 shipping fee.

For choosing that line, see our guide to subtotal minimums for Shopify discounts and our free shipping threshold strategy guide.

One Order Can Show Two Subtotals

Don't assume the subtotal is one fixed number. When a discount is applied, some screens take it off before the subtotal. Others show the full-price subtotal and list the discount below it.

If the candle shopper uses a 10% code, the subtotal could read $50 or $45. Add a free gift at $50, and this shopper qualifies on one number but is $5 short on the other. When two reports disagree, or an offer won't apply, check which subtotal each one uses.