Draft Order API Not Overriding Variant Default Price with Custom Price

Shopify Apps

Topic summary

A developer is encountering an issue where the Shopify Draft Order API (version 2025-01) fails to apply custom pricing to line items. Despite including both variant_id and price fields in the API request, the created draft order reverts to the variant’s default price instead of using the specified custom price of $50.00.

Request Details:

  • Endpoint: /admin/api/2025-01/draft_orders.json
  • Payload includes: variant ID, quantity (2), custom price ($50.00), and custom properties

Current Status:
The issue remains unresolved with no responses or solutions provided yet. The developer is seeking guidance on why the custom price override is not working as expected.

Summarized with AI on October 31. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

I am experiencing an issue with the Shopify Draft Order API (version 2025-01). I would like to set a custom price by including both the variant_id and price field in a draft order line item, but the created order still uses the variant’s default price.

Below is an request url and payload :

https://startmakemoney.myshopify.com/admin/api/2025-01/draft_orders.json

{
  "draft_order": {
    "line_items": [
      {
        "variant_id": 47407549481273,
        "quantity": 2,
        "price": "50.00",
        "properties": [
          {
            "name": "Custom Option",
            "value": "Blackout 90%"
          },
          {
            "name": "Size",
            "value": "25'' x 13''"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}