The fastest way to increase AOV on Shopify is to show shoppers a relevant second product at the moment they're already deciding to buy. Not after they've checked out. Not in a follow-up email. Right now, while their wallet is already open.
This sounds obvious, but most stores either don't do it at all or do it badly — mismatched recommendations, popup modals that feel like ads, or widgets that don't match the store's design. Let's fix that.
Why AOV matters more than traffic
Getting a new visitor to your store costs money — Google ads, Meta ads, influencer partnerships. Getting an existing visitor to add a second item costs almost nothing. If your average order is $45 and you get it to $60, that's 33% more revenue from the exact same traffic.
For a store doing $20,000/month, that's an extra $6,600 without spending a dollar more on ads. That math is why AOV is often the fastest lever in a Shopify store.
Method 1: Cross-sell widget on the product page
A cross-sell widget shows a complementary product below the add-to-cart button. When someone is reading about your hiking boots, they see a recommendation for hiking socks. The product is relevant, the timing is perfect, and they're already in buying mode.
The key word is relevant. Random recommendations ("you might also like") don't convert nearly as well as intentional pairings ("customers who bought this also bought"). You want to manually curate your pairings, at least for your top 20 products.
Dropr handles this with a product page widget that automatically matches your store's typography, button styles, and color scheme. Setup takes about 3 minutes. You pick which products to pair, and the widget handles the rest.
Method 2: Cart drawer recommendation
When a shopper clicks "Add to Cart," the cart drawer slides open. This is a high-intent moment — they've already made a buying decision. Showing one more relevant product here can add 8–15% to your revenue without any friction.
Most stores don't use this space at all. The ones that do often show generic "bestsellers" instead of products related to what's already in the cart. The conversion difference is significant.
Dropr places a recommendation directly inside the cart drawer and tracks which clicks actually lead to purchases — not just which recommendations get clicked.
Method 3: Bundle pricing
Create a product bundle that includes two or three items at a slight discount — say, a skincare trio for $68 instead of $79 separately. Shoppers feel like they're getting a deal, and you increase AOV in the same transaction.
The most effective bundles have a clear theme ("Morning Routine Kit," "Trail Running Pack"). The grouping should make intuitive sense, not just look like a random discount.
Method 4: Free shipping threshold
Set your free shipping threshold $10–15 above your average order value. If your AOV is $45, offer free shipping at $60. Then show a cart message: "Add $15 more to get free shipping."
This is one of the oldest tricks in ecommerce and it still works. Shoppers actively look for another item to add rather than pay for shipping. It feels like their choice, not a sales pitch.
Method 5: Product bundles on the product page
Instead of (or in addition to) a cross-sell widget, show a "frequently bought together" section with a single-click add. The customer sees "Shirt + Belt + Socks" with a combined price and an "Add all 3 to cart" button.
This works especially well for fashion, outdoor gear, and kitchen products where shoppers naturally think about complete setups. The friction is nearly zero — one click adds multiple items.
Which method should you start with?
If you're starting from zero, implement the cross-sell widget first. It's the highest-impact, lowest-effort change you can make. Then add the cart drawer recommendation. Together, these two can increase AOV by 10–20% in the first 30 days.
Methods 3–5 take more setup (product photography, bundle pricing decisions, Shopify theme work), so they're better as phase two.
What to measure
Once you've added cross-sell widgets, track three numbers:
- Revenue from recommendations — not just clicks, but completed purchases
- AOV before and after — compare a 30-day window
- Recommendation click rate — 3–8% is typical for a well-targeted widget
Dropr's dashboard shows revenue attribution directly, so you can see exactly how much each recommendation earns per month.
Related reading
- How Shopify Clothing Stores Can Increase AOV (Practical Guide)
- Skincare Shopify Stores: How to Increase AOV With Smart Recommendations
- What Is Average Order Value on Shopify? (And Why It Matters More Than Traffic)
- Does a Free Shipping Threshold Actually Increase Shopify AOV? (With Real Data)
FAQ
What is a good AOV for a Shopify store?
It depends heavily on your category. Fashion stores often see $55–90, skincare $60–110, and home goods $75–150. The more useful benchmark is your own AOV trend over time — aim to increase it 10–20% in 90 days.
Does showing recommendations annoy shoppers?
Irrelevant recommendations do. Relevant ones actually improve the shopping experience — shoppers discover products they didn't know they needed. The trick is pairing products that genuinely go together, not just showing whatever happens to have high inventory.
How long does it take to see AOV results?
Most stores see measurable lift within 2–4 weeks of adding cross-sell widgets. You need enough orders to see statistical significance — if you're doing 100+ orders a month, 30 days is usually enough data.