How to use a discount code, step by step
A discount code is a string of letters and numbers the shop recognises at checkout. That sounds simple, but where you enter it differs from site to site, and entering it at the wrong moment is the most common reason a discount "does not work".
Updated August 22, 2026
The four steps
The process is almost always the same, whatever the shop:
- Copy the code before you leave this page: once you are on the shop site you will not find it again.
- Add what you want to buy to the basket, without rushing to check out.
- Look in the basket for a field labelled "Discount code", "Voucher", "Coupon" or "Promo code". It is often hidden behind a small link like "Have a code?".
- Paste, confirm, and check the total has changed before entering any payment details.
The right moment
The code field almost always appears on the basket page or at the first checkout step. On some sites it only shows up at the very end, on the summary screen, just before the confirm button.
The practical rule: never enter your card details until you have seen the discounted total. Once you have paid, applying a code afterwards is not possible — you would have to cancel the order and start again.
How to tell it worked
An accepted code always produces a visible effect: an extra line in the summary showing the discount, or a changed total. If the shop shows a green message but the total is identical, the discount has not really applied — usually because the basket fails a condition, such as a minimum spend.
Deals without a code
Not every promotion has a code. Many are discounts already live on the catalogue: in that case you just need to reach the site through the right link and prices are already reduced. On this site you can spot them by the button, which says "Get deal" rather than "Show code".