Why do my figures not match Shopify?
The usual reasons a sales figure in Fabrik Analytics differs from Shopify Analytics: filters, returns, tax, gift cards, time zone and sync timing.
3 min readUpdated 7 October 2026
Fabrik Analytics builds every sales figure from your Shopify orders using Shopify's own definitions, so the same measure for the same days should agree with Shopify Analytics. When it does not, one of the reasons below almost always explains it.
Check like for like first
- Use Shopify Analytics (the sales report), not the Orders list. The Orders list does not take returns, tax or gift cards out the same way.
- Pick the same dates in both.
- Compare the same measure. Shopify defines them as follows, and Fabrik Analytics uses the same:
| Measure | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gross sales | Product price times quantity, before discounts, returns, tax and shipping |
| Discounts | Discounts on products (shipping discounts are already taken off shipping) |
| Returns | Value of goods refunded, on the day of the refund |
| Net sales | Gross sales minus discounts minus returns |
| Total sales | Net sales plus shipping, duties, taxes and any additional fees |
The usual reasons
1. Order filters
If the brand has filters set (for example online store only, or no wholesale), those orders are left out on purpose. Open Settings, Integrations, the Shopify row, Data filters to see them. An excluded order's own page shows Excluded by data filter.
2. Returns land on the day they are made
A refund made today for last month's order lowers today's net sales, not last month's. This is Shopify's rule too. Shipping refunds come off shipping on the refund's day.
3. Tax
Tax is taken out exactly as Shopify charged it. If your brand uses Manually calculate tax (prices include VAT but Shopify records no tax) in Settings, Financial, Fabrik Analytics removes VAT at your rate, so net sales sits below Shopify's while total sales still agrees. After switching this on, a Shopify re-sync is needed for past days.
4. Gift cards and test orders
Gift card sales are not sales in either system, and test orders are excluded.
5. Time zone
Days follow your Shopify store's time zone. If you are looking at Shopify from another time zone, or comparing against a report in UTC, late-evening orders can sit on different days.
6. Sync timing
New orders usually arrive within moments, but a missed notification is picked up by a regular check, which can be a few hours later. If today's figure is lower than Shopify's, wait and compare again.
7. History still loading
If you connected recently, older months may still be loading. See "How is my history loaded?"
8. Order edits and exchanges
Shopify records an edit or exchange on the day it was made. Fabrik Analytics books these on the right days too, but a very recent edit may only appear after the next sync.
Before you contact us
Note the brand, the date range, the measure, Fabrik's figure and Shopify's figure, and whether order filters are set. Email support@fabrik.ae and we will reconcile it order by order.