Key takeaways
- Shopify shows “Sale” and “Sold Out” badges automatically. All others require setup.
- Most themes use product tags to trigger custom badges - tag a product “new” to show a “New” label.
- For badge types your theme doesn’t support, build a custom version with Fudge.
- Badges work best on collection grids where buyers are comparing multiple products at once.
A “New” badge on a recently launched product catches the eye of returning customers who already know your range. A “Limited Edition” label creates urgency. The mechanism is simple - the setup depends on your theme.
Why you can trust us
We’ve built storefronts for hundreds of Shopify brands and understand what converts. We also built Fudge — an AI storefront editor with a 5.0 rating on the Shopify App Store.
What are product badges in Shopify?
Product badges are small labels that appear on product images or cards - on collection pages and product pages - to highlight a product’s status or characteristic.
Native Shopify badges:
- Sale - automatic when compare-at price is set
- Sold Out - automatic when inventory reaches zero
Common custom badges:
- New
- Best Seller
- Limited Edition
- Staff Pick
- Trending
- Back in Stock
- Vegan / Organic / Handmade (trust labels)
Custom badges require your theme to support them or a custom implementation.
How to add a “New” badge using product tags
The most reliable no-code method across most themes:
Step 1. Open the product you want to badge.
Step 2. Find the Tags field in the right sidebar.
Step 3. Add the tag new (lowercase).
Step 4. Save the product.
Step 5. Check a collection page. If your theme recognises “new” as a badge trigger, the label appears automatically.
If nothing shows, the theme doesn’t have this built in. Check Theme Editor settings next.
Checking Theme Editor badge settings
Step 1. Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize.
Step 2. Navigate to a collection page.
Step 3. Click on the collection section or a product card.
Step 4. Look for a Badges, Labels, or Product stickers option in the settings panel.
Step 5. Some themes let you map specific tags to specific badge labels. Configure the tag “new” to display the text “New” and choose your badge colour.
If this option exists in your theme, you now have a tag-driven badge system for any badge type you need.
Adding custom badge types (“Limited Edition”, “Staff Pick”, etc.)
For badge types beyond what your theme natively supports:
Option A - A badge app. Search the Shopify App Store for “product badges” or “product labels”. Several free and paid apps add flexible badge systems without code.
Option B - Fudge. Describe the badge you need and Fudge builds it as native Liquid code in your theme.
Example prompt: “Add a ‘Limited Edition’ badge to the top-right of product images for any product tagged ‘limited-edition’. Use a red ribbon style with white text.”
Or: “Add a ‘Staff Pick’ badge below the product title on collection cards, for products tagged ‘staff-pick’. Style it as a small underlined label in the brand’s accent colour.”
Fudge creates a draft for your review - nothing changes until you approve it.
How long should a “New” badge stay on a product?
There is no automatic expiry for custom badges in Shopify. You’ll need to remove the “new” tag manually or on a schedule.
A common approach: add the “new” tag when you publish the product, and remove it after 30-60 days. Some merchants do this monthly as part of a routine admin review.
For larger catalogues, you can use Shopify Flow (if on a paid plan) to automate tag removal after a set number of days.
Badge design principles
- Keep it small. Badges should complement the product image, not obscure it.
- One badge per product. Multiple overlapping badges look cluttered.
- Consistent positioning. All badges in the same corner across the collection grid looks intentional.
- High contrast. Dark text on light background or vice versa - badges need to be legible at small sizes.
- Match your brand. A badge in your brand’s accent colour integrates better than a generic red pill.
