Basic Shopify includes essential discount and shipping configuration features. However, advanced Shopify discount strategies like automatic bundling, sophisticated upselling, and detailed analytics often require third-party apps that work across all Shopify plans. Shopify Plus offers additional checkout customization options.
ECOMMERCE TIPS
How to increase average order value Shopify: 10 proven strategies (2025)
by Tide
Wondering how to increase average order value Shopify to make your marketing spend finally profitable? Your store is getting traffic and making sales, but there's a nagging problem: customers aren't spending enough per order to justify your customer acquisition costs, and it's quietly killing your profitability.
If you're spending $25 to acquire a customer who only buys $30 worth of products, you're barely breaking even—and that's before factoring in your cost of goods, fulfillment, and overhead. Meanwhile, your competitors with higher AOVs can afford to outbid you on ads and still maintain healthy profit margins.
This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to increase average order value Shopify using 10 proven strategies. You'll learn the psychology behind why customers buy more, get step-by-step implementation instructions for each tactic, and discover the specific Shopify apps that automate the entire process.
By the end of this article, you'll be able to:
Master 10 core AOV strategies including upselling, cross-selling, product bundling, and strategic discounting
Set up free shipping thresholds that motivate customers to add more items without hurting conversions
Choose and implement the right Shopify apps for automated upselling, bundling, and cross-selling
Track your results using Shopify Analytics and set up proper A/B testing for continuous optimization
Avoid the 5 critical mistakes that kill AOV growth before it starts
Ready to transform your customer acquisition economics and boost your profitability? Let's dive into the strategies that deliver the fastest results.
1. Before you start: Calculate your current AOV opportunity
1.1 Boost profitability: Higher margins per order
When you increase Shopify sales through higher AOV, you're not just generating more revenue—you're improving your profit margins. Fixed costs like payment processing, packaging, and customer service remain relatively constant whether someone buys one item or five. By encouraging larger orders, you spread these costs across more revenue, directly improving your bottom line.
Consider this: if your current AOV is $50 with a 25% profit margin, you earn $12.50 per order. Increase that AOV to $75, and you're earning $18.75 per order—a 50% profit increase from the same customer.
1.2 Improve marketing efficiency: Better ROI on ad spend
Higher AOV makes your customer acquisition cost (CAC) more sustainable and increases customer lifetime value (LTV). If you're spending $25 to acquire a customer who typically spends $50, your return on ad spend is 2:1. But if you can boost Shopify revenue by increasing their AOV to $75, that same $25 acquisition cost now delivers a 3:1 return.
This improved efficiency means you can:
Bid more aggressively on profitable keywords
Expand to new marketing channels
Outcompete rivals who haven't optimized their AOV
1.3 Accelerate growth: Reinvestment opportunities
The extra revenue from higher AOV provides capital for reinvestment in product development, inventory, marketing, and team expansion. This creates a virtuous cycle where improved eCommerce profitability funds further growth initiatives, leading to even more revenue and higher order values.
2. 10 strategies to increase average order value Shopify
2.1 Upselling: Encouraging customers to upgrade
Shopify upselling involves suggesting more expensive or premium versions of products customers are already considering. This strategy works because customers have already shown purchase intent—you're simply helping them discover better options.
Psychology: Customers often anchor on the first price they see. When presented with a premium alternative that offers clear additional value, many will upgrade, especially if the price difference seems reasonable.
Implementation on Shopify:
Product page recommendations: Use apps or theme customization to display "Customers who viewed this also considered" sections
Cart page offers: Install apps that trigger upgrade suggestions when items are added to cart
Post-purchase upsells: Implement specialized apps that show upgrade offers after checkout but before order confirmation
Example: A customer adds a $30 basic skincare set to their cart. An upsell popup suggests upgrading to the $45 deluxe set with additional products, highlighting the $20 value they'd receive for just $15 more.
Example of upgrading offer as upselling in product page
2.2. Cross-selling: Suggesting complementary products
Shopify cross-selling recommends related items that complement the customer's primary purchase. This strategy leverages the psychology of completion—customers want everything they need for their intended use case.
Psychology: Once customers commit to solving a problem or achieving a goal, they're more receptive to purchasing everything needed for success. Cross-selling feels helpful rather than pushy when done right.
Implementation on Shopify:
“Related products” sections: Use native theme features or apps to show "Frequently Bought Together" items
Cart page recommendations: Display complementary products with one-click add buttons
Checkout page suggestions: Use Shopify Checkout App extensions for last-minute additions
Post-purchase emails: Include personalized product recommendations in order confirmation emails
Example: A customer purchases a coffee maker. Cross-sell opportunities include coffee beans, filters, cleaning supplies, and thermal mugs—everything needed for the complete coffee experience.
2.3. Product bundling: offering packages at a discount
Product bundling groups multiple items together at a price lower than purchasing individually. This strategy increases customer lifetime value while providing convenience and perceived savings.
Psychology: Shopify product bundles simplify decision-making and create the perception of getting a deal. Customers feel smart for choosing the "value option" even when spending more than originally intended.
Implementation on Shopify:
Manual bundle creation: Create new products that represent bundles, though this requires careful inventory management
Bundle apps: Use specialized apps that automatically adjust inventory and create dynamic bundle pricing
"Buy X, Get Y" offers: Set up automatic discounts for purchasing multiple items
Popular Shopify bundle apps: Bold Bundles, Fast Bundle, and Bundle Builder offer various bundling capabilities with different pricing models.
2.4. Free shipping thresholds: Motivating extra purchases
Setting a free shipping threshold encourages customers to add items to reach the minimum order value. This strategy leverages loss aversion—customers hate paying for shipping and will often spend more to avoid it.
Psychology: Shipping costs feel like a penalty rather than value-added service. Customers will frequently add low-cost items to their cart to "earn" free shipping, even when the total spent exceeds the shipping cost they're avoiding.
Implementation on Shopify:
Calculate optimal threshold: Set it 20-30% above your current AOV for maximum effectiveness
Configure shipping rates: Use Shopify Admin > Settings > Shipping to set up price-based shipping rules
Add progress bars: Install apps that show customers how much more they need to spend for free shipping
Promote prominently: Display free shipping offers in your header, product pages, and cart
Best practice: If your AOV is $60, consider setting free shipping at $75-80 rather than $100, making it feel achievable to more customers.
Use free shipping threshold to encourage customers spending more
2.5. Volume and tiered discounts: Rewarding bulk purchases
Volume discounts incentivize customers to buy multiple units of the same product or reach higher spending tiers. This strategy works particularly well for consumable products or items with high repeat purchase rates.
Psychology: Customers love feeling like they're getting a deal and hate the idea of "missing out" on savings. Volume discounts also tap into the desire to stock up on items they'll eventually need anyway.
Implementation on Shopify:
Shopify's Discount Functions: Use the native app to create automatic volume-based discounts
Quantity break apps: Install apps that display tiered pricing clearly on product pages
Cart-based discounts: Set up automatic discounts that apply when cart value reaches certain thresholds
Example: "Buy 2 for $50, Buy 3 for $70, Buy 5 for $100" clearly shows increasing value for larger purchases.
2.6. Loyalty and rewards programs
A well-designed Shopify rewards program encourages customers to spend more per order to reach higher reward tiers faster. This strategy builds long-term customer relationships while increasing immediate AOV.
Psychology: Gamification elements like points, tiers, and exclusive rewards trigger the same psychological responses as games—customers want to "level up" and unlock better benefits.
Implementation on Shopify:
Choose a loyalty app: Popular options include Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, and Yotpo
Design spending tiers: Create clear benefits for reaching higher order values
Promote program benefits: Display point values and tier benefits throughout the shopping experience
Integrate with email marketing: Send targeted campaigns based on loyalty status
2.7. Gift with purchase (GWP): Adding perceived value
Gift with purchase offers provide free items when customers reach specific spending thresholds. This strategy increases perceived value without significantly impacting profit margins when executed correctly.
Psychology: Receiving a "gift" feels different from receiving a discount—it's more personal and creates positive emotional associations with your brand.
Implementation on Shopify:
Choose appropriate gifts: Select items with high perceived value but low cost to you
Set strategic thresholds: Place gift levels slightly above your current AOV
Automate delivery: Use apps to automatically add gifts to qualifying orders
Promote effectively: Feature GWP offers prominently on product and cart pages
Offering customers free gifts with purchases
2.8. Limited-time offers and urgency
Creating urgency through limited-time offers can motivate customers to add more items to their cart to take advantage of temporary deals. This strategy leverages FOMO (fear of missing out) psychology.
Psychology: Scarcity and time pressure activate the brain's loss aversion mechanisms, making the potential of missing out feel more painful than the cost of purchasing.
Implementation on Shopify:
Use Shopify's scheduling: Set up automatic discount activation and deactivation
Install countdown apps: Display ticking timers showing offer expiration
Create flash sales: Promote 24-48 hour deals through email and social media
Show inventory levels: Display "Only X left in stock" messages for popular items
2.9. Optimize product descriptions and merchandising
Compelling Shopify product page optimization can encourage customers to add complementary items or upgrade to premium versions. Well-written descriptions highlight cross-sell opportunities naturally within the content.
Psychology: When customers can envision using products together or understand the complete solution you're offering, they're more likely to purchase everything needed for success.
Implementation on Shopify:
Focus on benefits: Explain how products work together to solve customer problems
Use storytelling: Create scenarios where multiple products enhance the experience
Include social proof: Feature reviews mentioning complementary purchases
Optimize for mobile: Ensure descriptions display well on mobile devices where most browsing occurs
2.10. Post-purchase engagement and upsells
Post-purchase upsell strategies target customers immediately after they complete checkout, when they're still in a buying mindset and have their payment information readily available.
Psychology: The buying decision has already been made, removing much of the friction for additional purchases. Customers are also experiencing positive emotions from their successful purchase.
Implementation on Shopify:
Install post-purchase apps: Use apps like ReConvert or CartHook for native Shopify integration
Offer complementary items: Suggest products that enhance their original purchase
Provide exclusive discounts: Offer special pricing available only immediately after purchase
Include in transactional emails: Add personalized recommendations to order confirmation emails
3. The role of Shopify apps in boosting AOV
Most advanced Shopify AOV optimization strategies require specialized apps because Shopify's native features have limitations for complex upselling and cross-selling scenarios.
Shopify App Store provides various app categories for AOV growth
Key app categories for AOV growth:
Upsell and cross-sell apps: These apps display product recommendations throughout the customer journey, from product pages to post-purchase. Popular options include Qikify Upsell BOGO & Gift, Bold Upsell, and Frequently Bought Together.
Bundling apps: Create dynamic product bundles with automatic inventory management and pricing. Consider Bundle Builder, Bold Bundles, or Mix & Match for various bundling needs.
Discount and volume apps: Manage complex pricing rules and quantity breaks. Apps like Wholesale Pricing and Quantity Breaks make it easy to set up tiered discounts.
Free shipping bar apps: Display progress toward free shipping thresholds with visual bars and messaging. Free Shipping Bar and Shipping Rates Calculator are popular choices.
Loyalty and rewards apps: Build comprehensive loyalty programs with points, tiers, and referral systems. Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, and Yotpo offer different feature sets and pricing models.
Post-purchase upsell apps: Capture additional sales after checkout with native Shopify integration. ReConvert, CartHook, and Ultimate Special Offers provide various post-purchase capabilities.
When selecting apps, consider factors like your Shopify plan requirements, integration complexity, ongoing costs, and customer support quality.
4. How to track and evaluate your AOV growth on Shopify
Start with realistic expectations: Most successful Shopify AOV optimization campaigns see 10-25% increases within 60-90 days. Quick-win strategies like free shipping thresholds show results in 1-2 weeks, while loyalty programs take 2-3 months to show full impact.
The key to successful AOV tracking is monitoring both your primary success metrics and the health indicators that ensure your strategies aren't creating unintended problems:
Month-over-month AOV percentage change: Your main success metric
Total revenue increase: Ensure AOV growth translates to actual profit gains
Conversion rate stability: Confirm AOV strategies aren't hurting overall sales
Beyond these core metrics, pay attention to strategy-specific performance indicators such as the free shipping threshold effectiveness or upsell acceptance rate.
Supporting health metrics help you understand the broader impact of your AOV strategies. Watch your cart abandonment rate for any increases that might signal too much friction in the buying process. Track whether customers with higher AOV return more frequently, as this indicates your strategies are attracting genuinely valuable customers rather than one-time buyers. Most importantly, calculate profit margins per order to ensure increased AOV actually improves profitability rather than just revenue.
Find your AOV data in Shopify Admin > Analytics > Reports > Overview Dashboard for basic metrics, or use the analytics dashboards of third-party apps like upselling and bundling tools for strategy-specific performance data. Many AOV apps provide detailed reporting on acceptance rates, revenue attribution, and customer behavior patterns that complement Shopify's native analytics.
Access the Reports in Shopify Analytics for basic metrics
5. Common pitfalls to avoid when increasing AOV
5.1 Aggressive or irrelevant recommendations
Pushing products that don't make sense for the customer's purchase creates distrust and can actually decrease conversion rates. Always prioritize relevance over potential revenue when suggesting additional items.
Solution: Use customer purchase history and behavioral data to make intelligent recommendations. If someone buys winter coats, suggest gloves and scarves, not swimwear.
5.2 Making the purchasing process too complex
Adding too many upsell offers or decision points can overwhelm customers and lead to cart abandonment. Keep the path to purchase clear and straightforward.
Solution: Limit upsell offers to 2-3 relevant suggestions and use clear, benefit-focused copy that doesn't feel pushy.
5.3 Not clearly communicating offers
Customers should immediately understand your bundle pricing, volume discounts, or free shipping thresholds without having to calculate savings themselves.
Solution: Display savings clearly with phrases like "You save $15!" and use progress bars or visual indicators for threshold-based offers.
5.4 Ignoring mobile experience
Many Shopify discount strategies fail because they're not optimized for mobile devices, where most ecommerce browsing now occurs.
Solution: Test all AOV strategies on mobile devices and ensure popup offers, recommendation widgets, and discount displays work seamlessly on smaller screens.
5.5 Not tracking results and iterating
Implementing AOV strategies without measuring their impact leads to missed opportunities and potentially unprofitable promotions.
Solution: Set up proper tracking from day one and review performance weekly. Be prepared to adjust thresholds, offers, and strategies based on actual data rather than assumptions.
6. Conclusion
Learning how to increase average order value Shopify is one of the most effective ways to grow your ecommerce revenue without increasing customer acquisition costs. The strategies covered in this guide—from Shopify upselling and cross-selling to strategic bundling and loyalty programs—can significantly impact your bottom line when implemented correctly.
Remember that successful AOV optimization focuses on providing genuine value to customers, not just extracting more money from each transaction. The best Shopify apps to increase AOV and strategies help customers discover products they actually need and want, creating win-win scenarios for both your business and your customers.
Start by analyzing your current AOV, then implement 2-3 strategies that align best with your products and customer behavior. Test different approaches, measure results consistently, and refine your tactics based on real performance data.
Ready to boost your Shopify store's average order value? Begin with free shipping thresholds and product bundling—these strategies typically show results quickly and require minimal setup. Then gradually expand to more sophisticated upselling and loyalty programs as you build confidence and see positive results.
Your journey to higher AOV and increased profitability starts today. Analyze your current AOV, choose your first strategy, and start implementing these proven tactics to grow your Shopify revenue!
7. FAQs
Tide Dang
Content Creator | Qikify
With over seven years of experience in strategic marketing and content creation, I specialize in helping eCommerce brands craft high-impact campaigns that drive sales and customer engagement. My expertise in content strategy, social media, and data-driven marketing allows me to translate industry trends into actionable insights for Shopify merchants—helping them optimize their marketing efforts, attract the right customers, and boost conversions. My passion lies in empowering online businesses with the strategies they need to stand out and scale successfully in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
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