Increasing AOV (average order value)is one of the most effective ways to boost revenue for your Shopify store—without needing more traffic.
By encouraging customers to spend more per order, you can maximize the value of each sale and improve profitability. In this post, we’ll explore proven strategies to increase AOV, helping you get more from your existing customers and marketing efforts.
Ready to learn how small tweaks can lead to big revenue growth? Let’s dive in!
How to Increase AOV for Shopify Store?
The Average Order Value (AOV) is the metric that tracks the average amount customers spend per order in your Shopify store. It plays a crucial role in boosting your overall revenue.
By focusing on increasing AOV, you can generate more revenue without relying on more traffic.
To increase AOV for your Shopify store, you should try these proven strategies:
- upselling and cross-selling,
- offer product bundles & volume discounts,
- set a free shipping threshold,
- limited-time offers on minimum order value,
- loyalty & rewards program,
- gift with purchase (GWP),
- personalized product recommendations,
- one-click upsells at checkout,
- subscription & refill offers, and
- post-purchase upsells.
Upselling & Cross-Selling
Upselling and cross-selling are effective strategies to increase AOV by encouraging customers to purchase more expensive or complementary products.
- Upselling: This strategy involves recommending a higher-priced version of the product the customer is already considering. For example, if a customer is adding a $50 backpack to their cart, you can show them a $70 version that has additional features, such as better durability or extra compartments, encouraging them to upgrade.
- Cross-selling: This strategy involves suggesting products that complement the one the customer is buying, increasing the total value of their cart. For example, if a customer buys a pair of running shoes, you could suggest running socks, a water bottle, or other accessories that go hand-in-hand with their purchase.
How to implement upselling and cross-selling in Shopify?
Offer Product Bundles & Volume Discounts
Product bundles and volume discounts are great ways to encourage customers to purchase more items at once, increasing the overall value of their order.
Bundle Deals: Bundling involves grouping related products together and offering them at a discounted price. This encourages customers to buy more items at once. For example, you could offer a deal like, “Buy a Shampoo + Conditioner + Hair Mask and save 15%.” This approach not only increases the AOV but also makes it easier for customers to purchase complementary products they may not have considered otherwise.
Volume Discounts: This strategy offers customers a discount when they purchase more units of a single product. For example, you could offer promotions like “Buy 2, Get 10% Off” or “Buy 3, Get 1 Free.” This works well for items like skincare products, supplements, or fashion items, where customers might need more than one item or want to stock up.
How to implement product bundles and volume discounts in Shopify?
To implement bundle options, you can use apps like Bundler or PickyStory to easily create product bundles and offer volume discounts on your Shopify store.
Set a Free Shipping Threshold
Offering free shipping on orders above a certain amount can encourage customers to increase their order size to qualify for the promotion, thus boosting your AOV.
If your current AOV is $50, you could offer “Free shipping on orders over $75.”
This motivates customers to add more items to their cart in order to reach the threshold and get the free shipping benefit.
For example, a customer might add a $25 product just to qualify for the free shipping, raising your AOV in the process.
How to set free shipping threshold in Shopify?
To set the free shipping threshold in Shopify, you need to:
- Go to Shopify Admin → Settings → Shipping & Delivery.
- Click on Manage Rates.
- Set a minimum order value for free shipping.
By setting a free shipping threshold, you create an incentive for customers to spend more, which can directly increase your AOV while providing a positive shopping experience.
Limited-Time Offers on Minimum Order Value
Limited-time offers create a sense of urgency, encouraging customers to make larger purchases in order to take advantage of a time-sensitive discount or incentive. These promotions can effectively push customers to increase their cart size.
You could offer deals like “Spend $100 today and get $15 off your next order” or “Order in the next 2 hours to get a free gift.”
These limited-time offers motivate customers to spend more to unlock the discount or bonus, which in turn increases the AOV.
How to implement limited-time offers on minimum order in Shopify?
Use apps like Hurrify or Ultimate Sales Boost to add countdown timers and create a sense of urgency for your limited-time offers.
This encourages customers to act quickly and make larger purchases to qualify for the promotion.
By offering limited-time promotions based on a minimum order value, you can effectively drive customers to spend more while creating excitement and urgency around your products.
Loyalty and Rewards Program
A loyalty and rewards program encourages customers to spend more by offering them points for every purchase, which can later be redeemed for discounts or other perks.
This not only boosts AOV but also fosters repeat business and customer retention.
A common loyalty structure could be “Earn 1 point per $1 spent – Get $10 off when you reach 100 points.”
Customers will be motivated to spend more in order to accumulate points and redeem them for discounts, increasing their average order value.
How to set loyalty program on Shopify?
Gift With Purchase (GWP)
A Gift With Purchase (GWP) strategy incentivizes customers to spend more by offering a free item when they reach a certain order value. This makes the purchase feel more rewarding and encourages larger cart sizes without relying on direct discounts.
For example, you can create your offer like this:
- “Spend $75+ and get a free tote bag.”
- “Order 2+ skincare products and receive a free face mask.”
This strategy works particularly well in industries like cosmetics, fashion, and lifestyle, where customers value exclusive or limited-edition items.
How to implement gift with purchase strategy in Shopify?
For this strategy, you can also use Shopify apps.
You can automate free gift offers with apps like Free Gift with Purchase. Make sure that the offer is highlighted on product pages, in the cart, and at checkout to maximize visibility.
By offering a perceived extra value, you encourage customers to increase their spending while maintaining strong profit margins.
So, by strategically offering gifts with purchases, you can effectively increase AOV for your Shopify store, as customers are incentivized to spend more to receive something of value in return.
Personalized Product Recommendations
Using AI-driven recommendations, you can suggest products tailored to each customer’s browsing and purchase history, making it easier for them to find relevant items and increase their order value.
This is how AI-driven recommendations work:
- Based on browsing behavior: If a customer views multiple skincare products, recommend related serums or moisturizers.
- Based on purchase history: If a customer previously bought running shoes, suggest performance socks or a water bottle.
- Cart & checkout upsells: Show “Others Also Bought” pop-ups at checkout to encourage last-minute add-ons.
You can communicate this strategy like:
- “Complete Your Look” section features matching accessories for a clothing item.
- “You May Also Like” carousel with complementary products.
- “Others Also Bought” pop-up at checkout to encourage bundle purchases.
How to implement product recommendations in Shopify?
You can add AI-powered product recommendations to your Shopify store using built-in features or third-party apps.
Shopify automatically suggests related products based on customer behavior. To enable this:
- Go to Shopify Admin → Online Store → Themes
- Click Customize → Add a Product Recommendations section to product pages
If you like to use third-party apps for more personalized suggestions based on browsing and purchase history, you can try LimeSpot, ReConvert, or Wiser.
One-Click Upsells at Checkout
One-click upsells let you offer additional products right before checkout, making it easy for customers to add more to their order with a single click.
This is a high-converting strategy because customers have already committed to buying.
Here are some examples of one-click upsells:
- Complementary products: A customer adds a coffee machine → Offer a coffee bean subscription before they check out.
- Discounted add-ons: A customer buys a phone case → Offer a screen protector for 30% off.
- Upgraded versions: A customer chooses a basic plan or product → Suggest a premium version with added benefits.
How to implement one-click upsells in Shopify?
Shopify doesn’t have built-in one-click upsells, so you’ll need an app.
Popular options include:
- Zipify OneClickUpsell – Adds upsell offers at checkout or post-purchase.
- ReConvert – Offers upsells on the thank-you page.
- Honeycomb Upsell & Cross-Sell – Creates in-cart and post-purchase upsells.
Subscription and Refill Offers
Subscription models encourage repeat purchases by offering a discount on automatic deliveries.
This is especially effective for consumable products like skincare, supplements, coffee, or pet food, where customers need regular refills.
So, with subscription and refill offers, you can:
- Boost AOV & LTV: Customers commit to larger purchases upfront or ongoing orders.
- Increase customer retention: Subscribers are less likely to switch to competitors.
- Improve cash flow predictability: Helps you forecast revenue more accurately.
How to implement subscription and refill in Shopify?
For this strategy, you’ll also need an app because Shopify doesn’t have a built-in subscription system.
Popular choices for subscription and refill offers are:
- Recharge – Best for managing recurring orders and customer subscriptions.
- Bold Subscriptions – Offers flexibility with customizable billing cycles and discounts.
- Appstle Subscriptions – A more affordable option with advanced automation.
Post-Purchase Upsell
Post-purchase upsells are special offers presented to customers after they complete a purchase but before their order ships. Unlike pre-checkout upsells, these don’t interrupt the buying process, making them a low-risk way to increase AOV.
Once a customer places an order, you can immediately show them a limited-time deal, such as:
- Discounted add-ons – “Wait! Add a matching phone stand for 20% off.”
- Digital downloads – “Get an exclusive styling guide for just $5.”
- Extended warranties – “Protect your purchase with a 2-year warranty for only $9.99.”
This works particularly well for accessories, digital products, and protection plans because customers are still engaged after buying.
How to implement post-purchase upsells in Shopify?
Post-purchase upsells should be shown immediately after checkout but before the order confirmation page.
- Avoid overwhelming customers with too many choices—offer just one or two relevant products.
- Test different discount levels to find what converts best (e.g., 10% vs. 20% off).
Some key tips for effective post-purchase upsells are:
Which AOV Strategies Should You Try First?
If you’re looking for a quick and effective way to increase AOV, start with these three proven strategies:
- Set a free shipping threshold
- Offer bundles and volume discounts
- Use post-purchase upsells
These strategies are easy to implement, require minimal changes to your store, and drive immediate results.
Tracking AOV changes
To know which AOV strategies are working for your Shopify store, you need to track and analyze the results.
Here’s how you can measure the effectiveness of each strategy:
- Before & After Comparison: Track your AOV before implementing each strategy and compare it after the strategy is live. If you notice an increase in AOV, it’s a sign that the strategy is working.
You’ll find your AOV in Shopify Admin.
Go to Analytics → Reports → Sales by Order Value to see how your AOV changes over time.
You can also check the Lebesgue: AI CMO Business Report for a more detailed breakdown.
One important thing to check here is customer behavior. You need to review customer feedback and behavior on your site.
Are they adding more items to their cart after seeing a bundle or volume discount?
Are they opting for upsells after checkout?
If customers are engaging with the offers, it’s a positive sign.
And don’t forget to regularly review reports in Google Analytics (if connected), Shopify’s Analytics dashboard, or Lebesgue: AI CMO to track how these changes are impacting your AOV and overall store performance.
Keep an eye on metrics like conversion rate, average cart size, and revenue per visit to understand the full impact.
