5 Ways to Increase Average Order Value (AOV) on Shopify

 

Getting traffic to your store is only half the battle. Once a shopper is ready to buy, the real question is how much they spend in a single visit. That number is your average order value, and improving it is one of the fastest ways to grow revenue without spending more on ads.

This guide breaks down what AOV is and five practical ways to increase average order value on Shopify using tactics that work for stores of every size.

What Is Average Order Value and Why It Matters

Average order value (AOV) is the average amount a customer spends each time they place an order. The formula is simple:

AOV = Total Revenue ÷ Number of Orders

If your store made $20,000 across 400 orders last month, your AOV is $50.

Why does this matter so much? Because raising AOV improves your margins without raising your customer acquisition cost. You already paid to bring that visitor to your store, so every extra dollar they add to the cart is far more profitable than a brand new sale. A higher AOV also gives you more room to absorb shipping costs, discounts, and conversion rate dips while staying profitable.

Here are five proven ways to move the number up.

1. Use Product Recommendations to Upsell and Cross-Sell

The single most effective lever for AOV is showing shoppers relevant products at the right moment. This is where upselling and cross-selling come in. Upselling nudges a customer toward a higher value version of what they are viewing, while cross-selling suggests complementary items that pair well with what is already in the cart.

The trick is relevance. Random "you may also like" blocks rarely convert. Personalized product recommendations powered by browsing and purchase behavior perform far better because they match what the shopper actually wants.

Apps make this easy to set up without touching code. Getwiser is a Shopify upsell app that uses AI to display frequently bought together widgets, related products, cart upsells, and post-purchase recommendations across your store. It learns from shopper behavior and surfaces the products most likely to get added, which directly lifts your AOV. Place recommendation widgets on product pages, in the cart drawer, and on the thank-you page to capture spend at every stage of the journey.

2. Set a Free Shipping Threshold

Shoppers hate paying for shipping, and you can use that to your advantage. A free shipping threshold sets a minimum cart value that unlocks free delivery, which gives customers a clear reason to add one more item.

For example, if your AOV sits around $45, set the free shipping bar at $60. Many shoppers will happily add a small extra product to avoid a shipping fee. The key is to keep the gap reachable. A threshold that is too high feels out of reach and gets ignored.

Add a progress bar in the cart that shows how close the customer is to qualifying. A simple message like "You are $12 away from free shipping" is one of the most reliable AOV boosters in ecommerce, and it costs nothing to implement on Shopify.

3. Create Product Bundles and Bundle Deals

Product bundles group related items together and sell them as a single package, often at a small discount. Bundling works because it increases the number of units per order while making the deal feel like a win for the shopper.

Think about how products are used together. A skincare brand can bundle a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer into a routine kit. An apparel store can pair a jacket with a matching accessory. These curated bundle deals raise AOV and also help customers discover products they might not have found on their own.

You can build bundles directly in Shopify or use bundle apps to handle pricing, inventory, and presentation. Featuring a "build your own bundle" option also adds an interactive element that keeps shoppers engaged and spending.

4. Offer Volume Discounts and Quantity Breaks

Volume discounts, sometimes called quantity breaks, reward customers for buying more. The structure is straightforward: buy two and save 10 percent, buy three and save 15 percent. This encourages shoppers to stock up rather than buying a single unit.

This tactic works especially well for consumable products like supplements, coffee, pet food, and cosmetics, where customers buy repeatedly anyway. Pulling a future purchase forward into today's order raises your AOV and improves cash flow at the same time.

Display the savings clearly on the product page so the value is obvious. When a shopper can see exactly how much they save by adding more, the decision becomes easy.

5. Add Post-Purchase Upsells and Order Bumps

A post-purchase upsell appears right after checkout, on the order confirmation or thank-you page. At this point the customer has already committed and entered their payment details, so adding a one-click offer carries almost no friction.

This is prime real estate for an irresistible add-on. Offer a small accessory, a limited-time discount on a related item, or a sample of a complementary product. Because the sale is already complete, anything extra is pure incremental revenue that lifts your AOV without risking the original purchase.

Order bumps work on the same principle but appear inside the checkout flow as a simple checkbox. "Add gift wrapping for $5" or "Add a 2-year warranty" are classic examples that convert well because they feel low-risk and helpful rather than pushy.

Putting It All Together

You do not need to launch all five tactics at once. Start with product recommendations and a free shipping threshold, since both deliver quick wins, then layer in bundles, volume discounts, and post-purchase upsells over time. Track your AOV before and after each change so you know what is actually moving the number.

Raising your average order value is one of the highest-leverage things you can do for your Shopify store, because it compounds with everything else. Better AOV makes your ad spend more efficient, your margins healthier, and your growth more sustainable.

If you want help turning these tactics into a complete growth and Shopify SEO strategy, the team at Expert Village Media has spent 14+ years helping ecommerce brands build fast, conversion-focused stores. You can explore their Shopify SEO services to drive more qualified traffic, then use the tactics above to make every order worth more.