Shopify Admin API: Create Orders & Fulfillments

Automate order creation and fulfillment 40% faster using the GraphQL API. Simplify backend processes, minimize manual errors, and enhance overall performance efficiency.

Key Points

Achieve 40% faster order processing with automated GraphQL API workflows.
Cut manual fulfillment errors by 55% through effective automation tools.
Boost operational efficiency by 35% through streamlined fulfillment processes.

This comprehensive guide explains how to create orders and manage fulfillments using the Shopify Admin GraphQL API. It’s designed for developers and businesses focusing on Shopify web development, enabling seamless backend automation within custom Shopify apps.

Whether you're working on custom Shopify web development projects or building automation tools for clients, this guide helps you understand how to handle order creation and fulfillment efficiently.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure that you have:

A Shopify Partner account and development store.
A private or custom app with the following Admin API permissions:

write_orders
write_fulfillments

Your Admin API access token (from your app’s API credentials).
The store domain (e.g., your-store.myshopify.com).

Tip: If you’re new to Shopify website development, creating a development store is a great way to test and experiment with the Admin API safely.

API Endpoint

GraphQL Admin API URL

                                        https://{shop}.myshopify.com/admin/api/2025-01/graphql.json

Headers:

                                        Content-Type: application/json
X-Shopify-Access-Token: <your-access-token>

These configurations are essential for any backend integration related to Shopify web development services, ensuring your app can communicate securely with the Shopify platform.

1. Create an Order

Mutation: orderCreate

This mutation lets you create a custom order (for manual or app-created purchases). It’s especially useful for custom Shopify web development where orders are generated via third-party systems or backend automation tools.

Example Query

                                        mutation CreateOrder {
  orderCreate(
    input: {
      email: "customer@example.com"
      financialStatus: PAID
      lineItems: [
        {
          variantId: "gid://shopify/ProductVariant/1234567890"
          quantity: 1
        }
      ]
      shippingAddress: {
        address1: "123 Main St"
        city: "Los Angeles"
        province: "CA"
        country: "United States"
        zip: "90001"
      }
      billingAddress: {
        address1: "123 Main St"
        city: "Los Angeles"
        province: "CA"
        country: "United States"
        zip: "90001"
      }
      transactions: [
        {
          amount: "49.99"
          kind: SALE
          status: SUCCESS
        }
      ]
    }
  ) {
    order {
      id
      name
      email
      totalPriceSet {
        shopMoney {
          amount
          currencyCode
        }
      }
      lineItems(first: 5) {
        edges {
          node {
            title
            quantity
          }
        }
      }
    }
    userErrors {
      field
      message
    }
  }
}

Variables (optional)

If you prefer using variables, structure them like this:

                                        {
  "input": {
    "email": "customer@example.com",
    "financialStatus": "PAID",
    "lineItems": [
      {
        "variantId": "gid://shopify/ProductVariant/1234567890",
        "quantity": 1
      }
    ]
  }
}

This flexible structure is perfect for developers working on Shopify website development projects that need dynamic order data handling.

Response Example

                                        {
  "data": {
    "orderCreate": {
      "order": {
        "id": "gid://shopify/Order/1234567890",
        "name": "#1001",
        "email": "customer@example.com",
        "totalPriceSet": {
          "shopMoney": {
            "amount": "49.99",
            "currencyCode": "USD"
          }
        },
        "lineItems": {
          "edges": [
            {
              "node": {
                "title": "Product Title",
                "quantity": 1
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "userErrors": []
    }
  }
}

This output confirms successful order creation, an important process for automating workflows in Shopify web development services.

2. Create a Fulfillment

Once an order is created, you can fulfill it using the fulfillmentCreateV2 mutation. This step is vital for stores and apps that automate inventory management or delivery tracking, a common feature in advanced custom Shopify web development.

Example Query

                                        mutation CreateFulfillment {
  fulfillmentCreateV2(
    fulfillment: {
      lineItemsByFulfillmentOrder: [
        {
          fulfillmentOrderId: "gid://shopify/FulfillmentOrder/9876543210"
          fulfillmentOrderLineItems: [
            { id: "gid://shopify/FulfillmentOrderLineItem/111222333" }
          ]
        }
      ]
      trackingInfo: {
        company: "FedEx"
        number: "123456789"
        url: "https://www.fedex.com/apps/fedextrack/?tracknumbers=123456789"
      }
      notifyCustomer: true
    }
  ) {
    fulfillment {
      id
      status
      trackingInfo {
        company
        number
        url
      }
    }
    userErrors {
      field
      message
    }
  }
}

Automating fulfillment creation is a huge time-saver for merchants — and a valuable capability for those looking to hire Shopify developers to streamline logistics.

3. Retrieve Fulfillment Orders

Use the following query to retrieve fulfillment orders associated with a specific order.
This is commonly implemented in Shopify web development projects for inventory tracking, reporting, or custom dashboards.

notifyCustomer: true

                                        name
    fulfillmentOrders(first: 5) {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          status
          lineItems(first: 10) {
            edges {
              node {
                id
                lineItem {
                  id
                  name
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

4. Example Workflow Summary

The typical workflow for automating orders and fulfillments in Shopify using the Admin GraphQL API involves four main steps.

Step 1: Create a new order using the orderCreate mutation.
Step 2: Retrieve the fulfillment orders associated with that order using the order → fulfillmentOrders query.
Step 3: Create a fulfillment for the order using the fulfillmentCreateV2 mutation.
Step 4 (Optional): Notify the customer via email by setting notifyCustomer: true in the fulfillment creation process.

This simple sequence ensures smooth order processing, making it ideal for developers working on Shopify web development and custom Shopify web development projects.

Error Handling

Use the userErrors field in GraphQL responses to handle validation or permission issues.

Example:

                                        {
  "userErrors": [
    {
      "field": ["input", "lineItems"],
      "message": "Line item quantity must be greater than zero."
    }
  ]
}

Proper error handling ensures stability in large-scale Shopify website development and automation systems.

Final Words

With the Shopify Admin GraphQL API, you can automate end-to-end processes — from creating orders to managing shipments and notifying customers.

For businesses seeking scalability and seamless eCommerce automation, Shopify web development using the GraphQL API provides powerful capabilities.

Whether you need help building an automation tool or a full-featured eCommerce platform, you can hire Shopify developers to customize and extend your Shopify store for better performance and efficiency.

Tech Stack & Version

Frontend

React.js or Next.js
Shopify Polaris
Tailwind CSS

Backend

Node.js
Shopify Admin GraphQL API
PostgreSQL

Deployment

Vercel
AWS
Heroku

1.1K

441

Shopify Admin API (GraphQL): Create Orders & Fulfillments

Prerequisites

API Endpoint

GraphQL Admin API URL

Headers:

1. Create an Order

Mutation: orderCreate

Example Query

Variables (optional)

Response Example

2. Create a Fulfillment

Example Query

3. Retrieve Fulfillment Orders

4. Example Workflow Summary

Error Handling

Example:

Final Words

Tech Stack & Version

Frontend

Backend

Deployment

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