Getting customers to add a product to their cart is an important step. However, the sale does not need to stop with that first product.
If your cart upsell strategy is good and well-thought-out, apart from assisting your client to see and choose useful additional items, it also enables them to finish their transaction more quickly and get more value out of their order. You are not going to be the only one gaining in this process since Shopify stores can increase their average order value as well without even having to spend more money to bring in new people.
The best cart upsell examples are not aggressive. They are relevant, easy to understand, and simple to accept. Here are 15 practical cart upsell ideas you can use in your Shopify store.
What Is a Cart Upsell?
A cart upsell is an add-on offer that displays a customer a chance to purchase more products when they put something in their cart.
This opportunity to add more products can be presented through a message that states things like: the customer might select the deluxe edition which is the better version;
- They could take along a related product;
- They may purchase one of the bigger sizes;
- They will be able to get all the products in the set;
- They can get free shipping by spending more;
They will have the chance to either get a freebie or get their money back if they spend over a certain amount, etc.
The term ‘cross-selling’ refers to the practice of selling different products that go together well, ‘upselling’ however refers to offering the customer higher value products to encourage more spending while purchasing. But most of the digital commerce businesses combine these two practices as one term which is ‘cart upsell’ when they present both kinds of offers.
As Shopify’s description states, upselling is the strategy of offering a product that is an upgrade version, but cross-selling is the method of recommending an item that is your match or closely related.
What Are the Best Cart Upsell Examples?
The right upsell depends on the product, price, customer need, and shopping stage. These 15 examples can be adapted for different ecommerce industries.
1. Add a Related Low-Cost Product
Recommend a small product that improves the main purchase. For example:
- Protein powder with a shaker
- Mobile phone with a case
- Face wash with a cleansing headband
- Shoes with socks
Customers are more likely to accept low-priced add-ons that barely increase their total amount on the cart.
You should connect the recommendation to the item currently in the cart for it to be effective. Making customers’ attention shift by random product recommendations is a bad idea that might result in losing their trust too.
2. Show Frequently Bought Together Products
A frequently bought together section shows products that customers commonly purchase as a group. For example, a skincare customer buying a cleanser could see:
- Cleanser
- Serum
- Moisturizer
Let customers add the whole set in one click without them having to choose each item individually. Just show the customer a couple of other items closely related to the main product. It only works if the feature helps the customers to create a full set with all the products needed, without having them go through the whole store again.
3. Offer a Better Product Version
Present to your customers a new, enhanced product (either in quality or value) that closely resembles the one originally chosen. For example:
- Basic plan to premium plan
- Standard bottle to insulated bottle
- Regular fabric to premium fabric
- Basic skincare kit to complete skincare kit
Make sure to elaborate what the extra cost goes for. A statement like “Upgrade for longer-lasting protection” carries more impact than “Buy the premium version.”
4. Recommend a Larger Size
Encourage customers to choose a larger product size when it gives them better value. For example:
- 200 ml shampoo instead of 100 ml
- 1 kg protein pack instead of 500 g
- Family-size snack pack instead of a regular pack
- Large refill pack instead of a single bottle
Show the savings clearly: Upgrade to 1 kg and save 12% per serving. This is especially effective for products customers use regularly.
5. Use Quantity Breaks
Quantity pricing lets you give shoppers more discounts the more items they take. For example:
- Buy one for $20
- Buy two for $36
- Buy three for $48
This kind of product upsell is usually a hit with shoppers who frequently buy items like food, toiletries, supplements, home goods, baby supplies, etc. Only list a couple of quantity options. Having too many pricing tiers might not be in your customer’s best interests and may result in confusion on your part.
6. Help Customers Complete a Bundle
When a customer adds one product from a known set, recommend the remaining products needed to complete the bundle. For example:
Complete your haircare routine
- Shampoo already added
- Add conditioner
- Add hair serum
- Save 10% on the complete routine
The offer should explain why the products work well together, not only focus on the discount.
7. Add a Free-Shipping Progress Bar
A free-shipping progress bar shows customers how much more they need to spend to unlock free delivery. For example: You are $12 away from free shipping.
After the notification, suggest one or two items that have a similar price. To create a sense of success, let consumers feel like they are close to a goal. If shoppers are very near the next level, adding a useful product may be more pleasing than paying for delivery. Shopify is one of the ways to encourage a higher average order value through the use of free shipping minimums it brings.
8. Unlock a Free Gift
Offer a free product when the customer reaches a specific cart value. For example: Spend $60 and receive a free travel-size moisturizer.
After the notification, suggest one or two items that have a similar price. To create a sense of success, let consumers feel like they are close to a goal. If shoppers are very near the next level, adding a useful product may be more pleasing than paying for delivery.
9. Offer a Discounted Add-On
Recommend a complementary product at a special cart-only price. For example: Add a shaker for only $5 with your protein order. Other examples include:
- Add conditioner for 15% off
- Add a matching belt for $10
- Add a travel pouch at a special price
- Add a second snack pack for 20% off
Show the original price and discounted price clearly. Avoid using heavy discounts that remove too much profit.
10. Upgrade to a Subscription
For products customers need regularly, offer a subscription option inside the cart. For example: Save 10% when you receive this every month. Subscriptions can work for:
- Coffee
- Supplements
- Skincare
- Pet food
- Baby essentials
- Household products
Clearly mention the delivery frequency, savings, and cancellation terms. Customers should understand exactly what they are choosing.
11. Add Product Protection
For electronics, furniture, appliances, jewellery, or expensive products, offer additional protection. For example:
- One-year extended protection
- Accidental damage cover
- Shipping protection
- Easy replacement service
Explain what the protection covers in simple words. Do not hide important conditions. This offer works when it reduces a genuine concern connected to the purchase.
12. Offer Gift Wrapping or Personalization
Gift wrapping and personalization are useful cart upsells during festivals, birthdays, weddings, and holiday seasons. Examples include:
- Premium gift box
- Personalized name
- Greeting card
- Handwritten note
- Special festival packaging
This type of upsell increases order value while also improving the customer experience. Make it easy for customers to enter their message or personalization details without leaving the cart.
13. Recommend a Refill
When customers buy a reusable product, recommend the refill or replacement component. For example:
- Reusable cleaning bottle with refill liquid
- Cloth diaper with additional insert
- Water filter with replacement cartridge
- Razor with replacement blades
- Diffuser with fragrance refill
This recommendation is useful because customers may need the refill later but forget to purchase it during the first order.
14. Add a Trial-Size Product
Use the cart to introduce customers to another product through a smaller, lower-priced version. For example: Try our bestselling serum for $4.
Oftentimes, a small trial size reduces the fear of experimenting with something new for a person. It may introduce customers to a whole new range of products that might appeal to them, mainly for a large full-size version of the product. This marketing tactic is proven to be most effective when selling beauty, personal care, food, beverages, fragrances, and wellness products.
15. Show Personalized AI Recommendations
Go one step further and display offers based on product relationships and content of your customers’ carts, rather than a uniform deal offered to all. For example:
- A customer buying oily-skin face wash sees an oil-free moisturizer.
- A customer buying a blue dress sees matching accessories.
- A customer buying coffee beans sees a suitable grinder.
- A customer buying baby diapers sees compatible inserts.
In case customers are given only recommendations related to purchase history or their current cart content, the shopping cart will be perceived as an even more helpful interface. As the current leading e-commerce relevance approach, it is the limited interactions and minimal efforts that make upselling really work.
What Makes a Cart Upsell Convert?
A cart upsell is more likely to convert when it follows a few basic principles.
Keep the Offer Relevant
The additional product should improve, complete, protect, or extend the main purchase.
Keep the Price Reasonable
A small add-on is normally easier to accept than another high-priced product. The upsell should feel like a simple addition rather than a second major buying decision.
Explain the Benefit
Tell customers why they need the recommended product. Instead of saying “You may also like this,” use “Complete your skincare routine and prevent dryness after cleansing.”
Make It Easy to Add
Customers should be able to accept the offer with one click. Avoid sending them to another page or asking them to repeat product selections.
Avoid Too Many Offers
Showing several rewards, pop-ups, discounts, bundles, and recommendations at the same time can make the cart feel crowded. One strong offer is often better than five unrelated offers.
How Can Shopify Stores Add Cart Upsells?
Publishing offers isn’t enough if customers aren’t shown the right way and made comfortable in viewing those products, but also purchasing them.
It’s possible to set up cart upsells on Shopify, but a more effective and faster way would be to employ a cart upsell app. That app will show customers the right time to offer them the add-on product or product combinations and then take care of the whole sales process for them.
It should be your responsibility to ensure that whatever you are presenting to your customers is displayed in a clear and attractive way on both desktop and mobile: the product picture, the price, the features, the discount, and the purchase button. That way, you can be sure your customers can quickly understand the product that is being offered and can make their purchasing decision without any hassle.
How Should You Measure Cart Upsell Performance?
Track the performance of every upsell instead of looking only at total revenue. Important metrics include:
- Upsell views
- Upsell clicks
- Add-on acceptance rate
- Revenue generated from upsells
- Average order value
- Conversion rate
- Revenue per visitor
- Profit margin
- Cart abandonment rate
Test one change at a time. You can compare different products, messages, discounts, placements, and reward targets.
Conclusion
The best shopping cart upsell examples succeed mainly because they make the original purchase more valuable or complete. Think through a relevant suggestion, facilitate its addition, and keep using the right data to better the upselling.