Ways to test a higher average order value include useful bundles, shipping thresholds, volume offers, and relevant recommendations. Choose offers that fit the buyer’s needs and your margins. A larger order is helpful only if the store also earns enough profit.
Check sales and profit together
| Made-up scenario | Orders | AOV | Sales | Profit per order | Total profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current offer | 500 | £60 | £30,000 | £18 | £9,000 |
| Larger discounted offer | 500 | £75 | £37,500 | £15 | £7,500 |
All numbers are made up. Profit per order here means sales minus product, shipping, discount, and other variable order costs. Higher AOV can still produce less profit.
Why Average Order Value Is One of the Most Overlooked Revenue Levers
Here is a made-up example: 500 orders at £60 each produce £30,000 in sales. At the same order count, a £75 average produces £37,500. The £7,500 difference is extra sales, before costs. This is not a client result or forecast.
Keep reviewing the offer after launch. Product costs, shipping prices, and buyer needs can change. A bundle or shipping threshold does not work forever without attention.
The Five Most Effective AOV Strategies for Shopify Stores
1. Free Shipping Threshold
Choose a free shipping threshold using your order sizes, shipping costs, margins, and product prices. A fixed percentage above AOV is only an idea to test, not a rule.
Show the amount left to qualify in the cart, using the actual rules for the buyer’s location. Check that any extra margin covers the shipping subsidy.
2. Product Bundles
Group products that make sense together and show the total and per-unit prices clearly. If you offer a saving, compare it with the real separate prices. Keep individual items easy to buy.
Bundles work best when they solve a real problem: a skincare brand bundling a cleanser, toner, and moisturiser sells a complete routine rather than individual products. The bundle needs to make sense from the buyer’s perspective, not just the store’s.
3. Post-Purchase Upsell Page
A post-purchase offer appears after payment through an eligible app. It may let buyers accept without entering payment details again. Check payment and order limits with the app; not every order is eligible.
Offer a useful item that fits the order. Keep the price, terms, and decline option clear. Choose any discount from your margins rather than using a standard percentage.
4. Cart Cross-Sells
Show a small set of useful products in the cart. Choose items that fit what the buyer selected, and keep checkout easy to reach.
Test whether recommendations increase profit per visitor. A higher order value does not help if fewer people complete a purchase.
5. Volume Discounts
For products buyers use regularly, test quantity options with clear per-unit prices. Any discount should leave enough margin after fulfilment and returns.
Bulk orders can spread some order costs across more units. They may also delay the next purchase. Check repeat orders and profit over time.
What Does Not Work for AOV
Avoid offers that cover the next step or make checkout hard to use. Check errors, completed orders, and buyer feedback after adding an upsell.
Discounts reduce margin, but their full effect depends on buyer behaviour. Compare the extra orders or items they create with the discount cost. Do not assume every discounted order would have happened anyway.
Measuring AOV Impact
Track AOV with a consistent definition and date range. Check orders, purchase rate, returns, shipping cost, and profit alongside it. A before-and-after comparison can be affected by seasonality or campaigns.
In a made-up example, a 25% relative rise in purchase rate and a 15% rise in AOV produce 43.75% more sales at the same traffic. This assumes both changes happen together. The free audit helps identify what to investigate. Our CRO engagement covers testing and measurement.
It depends on your prices, product mix, and margins. Track your own trend and profit rather than using an unsupported category average.
Start with an offer that solves a buyer need and fits your margins. A useful bundle or shipping threshold may be worth testing.
They can, but measure completed orders and profit too. Keep pricing clear and give buyers a useful reason to choose the bundle.
An eligible app shows an offer after payment. Check its plan, payment, and order requirements. This is not exclusively a Shopify Plus feature.
