---
title: "Return numbers"
description: "Choose the pattern your return numbers follow and whether they count across the store or per order."
url: "https://docs.poltura.com/en/returns/return-numbers/"
lang: en
alternates:
  en: "https://docs.poltura.com/en/returns/return-numbers/"
  hu: "https://docs.poltura.com/hu/returns/return-numbers/"
---

# Return numbers

Choose the pattern your return numbers follow and whether they count across the store or per order.

- Where: Settings → Store settings → Return numbers

Every return has a number that you and the customer use to refer to it. By default it is a plain number that starts with `R-`. On the **Return numbers** page you can choose your own pattern, for example `RET-2026-0042`, or tie the number to the order, for example `1055-R1`.

The number appears in the returns list, on the return and in the emails the customer gets.

![The Return numbers settings page with the Use custom return numbers switch, the Pattern field with a preview, Padding, Start, Step and Time zone, and the Sequence choice](https://docs.poltura.com/screenshots/en/returns/return-numbers.webp)

## Set up custom return numbers

1. Open **Settings** and choose **Return numbers** under **Store settings**.
2. Switch on **Use custom return numbers**.
3. Enter the **Pattern**, for example `RET-{yyyy}-{number}`. See the tokens below.
4. Under **Sequence**, choose **One sequence for the store** or **Count per order**.
5. Set **Padding**: the minimum number of digits of the number. With 4, the number 42 is written as 0042.
6. Set **Start**, the first value of a fresh sequence, and **Step**, how much the number grows with each return.
7. For a store-wide sequence choose **Reset**: **Never**, **Yearly**, **Monthly** or **Daily**.
8. Choose the **Time zone** that the date tokens and the reset follow.
9. Check the **Preview**. It shows the number of the next return.
10. Select **Save**. The page confirms with **Return numbers saved**.

## Pattern tokens

| Token            | Replaced with                                                 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `{number}`       | The running number. It has to be in the pattern exactly once. |
| `{order}`        | The number of the order the return belongs to.                |
| `{yyyy}`, `{yy}` | The year with four or two digits.                             |
| `{mm}`, `{dd}`   | The month and the day with two digits.                        |

## One sequence or a count per order

- **One sequence for the store**: every return takes the next number, like `RET-2026-0042`. You can set the next number and a reset.
- **Count per order**: each order numbers its own returns from **Start**. The pattern has to contain `{order}`, like `{order}-R{number}`. The first return of order 1055 is then `1055-R1`. There is no store-wide counter and no reset.

## Set the next number

This works with a store-wide sequence.

1. Under **Next number**, find the current **Period**.
2. Enter the number the next return should get.
3. Select **Set**. The page confirms with **Next number set**.

## Good to know

- Returns opened before you switched custom numbers on keep their `R-` number. Search in the returns list finds both kinds.
- When **Use custom return numbers** is off, new returns get the plain `R-` number.
- A number that is already in use is skipped, so two returns never share one.
- If a number cannot be given for any reason, the return is still created and shows its `R-` number.
- A sequence that resets needs the date tokens of its period in the pattern: `{yyyy}` for yearly, the year and `{mm}` for monthly, and the day as well for daily.
- A pattern can be at most 64 characters long. **Padding** is a whole number from 0 to 12, **Start** at least 1, **Step** from 1 to 1000.
- A store that never saved a pattern is offered the store's own time zone. See [time zone](https://docs.poltura.com/en/settings/store/#time-zone).
- Orders have their own numbering. See [Order numbers](https://docs.poltura.com/en/orders/order-numbers/).

## If something goes wrong

- **"The pattern must contain {number} exactly once."** Add `{number}`, or remove the second one.
- **"A per-order sequence needs {order} in the pattern."** Add `{order}` to the pattern or choose **One sequence for the store**.
- **"A sequence that resets needs its period's date tokens."** Add the date token, for example `{yyyy}`, or set **Reset** to **Never**.
- **"That token is not recognised."** Only the tokens in the table work. Check the spelling and the brackets.
- **"Fix the pattern to see a preview."** The pattern has an error. The message under the field says which.

## Related

- [Returns](https://docs.poltura.com/en/returns/)
- [Return settings](https://docs.poltura.com/en/returns/settings/)
- [Handle a return](https://docs.poltura.com/en/returns/handle-a-return/)
- [Order numbers](https://docs.poltura.com/en/orders/order-numbers/)
- [Store details](https://docs.poltura.com/en/settings/store/)