> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usecharlie.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Capacity
> Set daily order limits per location
Capacity lets you limit how many orders a location can fulfill per day. This prevents locations from being overwhelmed and helps balance workload across your network.
## How capacity works
Each location can have a **daily order limit**. When the limit is reached:
* The counter resets at midnight (store timezone)
* Remaining capacity = Daily limit − Orders fulfilled today
## Seeing capacity and backlog at a glance
Once a location has a daily order limit or a backlog limit, Charlie surfaces its live workload in two places.
On the **locations list** (Charlie → Locations):
* A **Daily orders** column showing today's count against the limit (for example, `12 / 20`)
* A **Backlog orders** column showing pending orders against the threshold (for example, `8 / 100`)
* **At capacity** and **At backlog** tabs to filter straight to the locations that have hit a limit
* Locations with no limit set show **Not set**
On a location's **detail page**, the **Order workload** card summarizes how many orders it has today and how many are still pending.
The backlog number reflects the statuses chosen in **Settings → Backlog**. See [Backlog routing](/order-routing/backlog-routing#what-counts-toward-backlog) to choose what counts toward it.
## How to configure capacity
Navigate to **Charlie → Locations** and select a location.
In the **Fulfillment settings** card, click **Shipping**.
Toggle on **Daily order limit** and set the maximum number of orders per day.
Select how Charlie should behave when capacity is reached.
## Capacity modes
| Mode | Behavior |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Prefer other locations** | Deprioritize the location but allow overflow if needed. Orders can still be fulfilled if no other option exists. |
| **Block orders** | Exclude the location entirely when capacity is reached. Hard block—no orders assigned. |
Use **Prefer other locations** for a soft approach that maximizes fulfillment. Use **Block orders** when you absolutely need to cap volume (e.g., limited staff, operational constraints).
## Capacity as constraint vs routing rule
Capacity can work in two ways depending on your setup:
When set to **Block orders**, capacity acts as a hard constraint.
* Location is excluded from fulfillment when at capacity
* If it's the only location that can fulfill, the order is blocked at checkout
* Use for strict operational limits
When set to **Prefer other locations**, capacity acts as a routing preference.
* Location is deprioritized when at capacity
* Orders route to other locations first
* If no other option, the location can still fulfill
* Use for load balancing without blocking orders
To use capacity in order routing, you need to enable a **Capacity routing rule** in Shopify's order routing settings. Charlie will prompt you if this isn't configured.
## Examples
A store can only process 10 ship-from-store orders per day.
**Setup:**
* Daily order limit: 10
* Mode: Prefer other locations
**Result:** After 10 orders, the store is deprioritized. Warehouses handle overflow.
A 3PL charges extra for orders beyond their daily SLA.
**Setup:**
* Daily order limit: 500
* Mode: Block orders
**Result:** After 500 orders, the warehouse is excluded. Orders route elsewhere or are blocked if no alternative.
A store has more staff on weekdays than weekends.
**Setup:**
* Use Charlie's **Automations** to schedule capacity changes
* Weekdays: 50 orders
* Weekends: 20 orders
**Result:** Capacity adjusts automatically based on the day.
## Related
How capacity affects order routing
Schedule capacity changes by day