How to Create the Best Cart Drawer for Your Shopify Store?

Cart drawers are slide-out panels that appear when customers click your cart icon, allowing them to review and modify their cart without leaving the current page. They provide a seamless shopping experience that keeps customers engaged while offering strategic opportunities to increase conversions and average order value.

The key to creating an effective cart drawer lies in what you include and display within it. By strategically adding conversion-focused elements like progress bars, upsells, and trust signals, you can transform a simple cart review into a powerful sales tool that encourages larger purchases and reduces cart abandonment.

1. Enable and customize your cart drawer foundation

A cart drawer is a sliding panel that appears from the side of your screen when customers interact with their cart. Most modern Shopify themes like Dawn include built-in cart drawer functionality that you can enable through your theme customizer under Cart settings.

For stores using older themes or needing advanced features, cart drawer apps from the Shopify App Store provide additional customization options. These apps typically offer more conversion-focused features than basic theme implementations.

Configure essential cart drawer settings

Start by enabling core functionality that improves user experience. Set your cart drawer to open automatically when customers click the cart icon, and include options to show compare-at prices and savings labels below product prices.

Add "Continue shopping" and "View cart" buttons to give customers flexibility in their shopping journey. The continue shopping option keeps customers browsing your store, while the view cart button provides access to the full cart page when needed.

⭐️ Read our guide on how to create and customize a cart drawer.

2. Add free shipping progress bar

Free shipping progress bars show customers exactly how much more they need to spend to qualify for free shipping. This visual incentive encourages customers to add more items to their cart, directly increasing your average order value.

The progress bar should update in real-time as customers add or remove items from their cart. Position it prominently at the top or bottom of your cart drawer where it's immediately visible.

Set up your shipping threshold messaging

Configure your goal reminder message to show the remaining amount needed, such as "You are $25 away from free shipping!" Use dynamic variables to display the exact dollar amount automatically.

Create a compelling goal achieved message like "Free shipping unlocked!" to celebrate when customers reach the threshold. Ensure your progress bar settings match the free shipping rules configured in your Shopify Admin under Settings > Shipping and delivery.

⭐️ Read our guide on how to enable free shipping bar for cart drawer.

3. Include strategic upsells and cross-sells

Product recommendations within your cart drawer can significantly boost conversions when done thoughtfully. Display complementary items or popular products that enhance what customers have already added to their cart.

Focus on non-pushy upsell tactics that feel helpful rather than aggressive. Recommend items that genuinely complement existing cart contents, such as suggesting a phone case when someone adds a phone to their cart.

Position recommendations effectively

Place product suggestions after the cart contents but before the checkout button. This positioning allows customers to review their current items first, then consider additional purchases without feeling pressured.

Limit recommendations to 2-4 products to avoid overwhelming customers. Include clear product images, prices, and simple "Add to Cart" buttons that work without redirecting away from the drawer.

⭐️ Read our guides on how to add different upselling and discount features in cart drawer.

4. Display trust signals and payment options

Trust badges and security icons help build customer confidence right before checkout. Include recognizable payment method logos, security certificates, and guarantee messaging to reduce purchase hesitation.

Express checkout buttons like Shop Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay provide convenient one-click purchasing options. These payment methods can significantly reduce friction and increase conversion rates, especially on mobile devices.

⭐️ Read our guides on how to display trust badges in cart drawer.

Configure payment provider options

Enable express checkout buttons in your Shopify Admin under Settings > Payments by activating providers like Shop Pay, PayPal, and wallet payments. These must be configured in your payment settings before they'll appear in your cart drawer.

Position trust badges near your checkout button where customers make their final purchase decision. Include messaging like "Guaranteed Safe & Secure Checkout" along with recognizable security and payment icons.

⭐️ Read our guides on how to display express checkout options in cart drawer.

5. Add urgency and scarcity elements

Announcement bars within your cart drawer can create gentle urgency without being pushy. Use them for time-sensitive promotions, low stock alerts, or shipping deadlines that encourage faster decision-making.

Include countdown timers for limited-time offers using dynamic variables that automatically update. Position these announcements prominently but ensure they don't overwhelm the cart contents or checkout process.

Implement inventory-based urgency

Display low stock notifications for items in the cart to create natural scarcity. Messages like "Only 3 left in stock" can motivate customers to complete their purchase quickly.

Use shipping deadline reminders such as "Order within 2 hours for same-day shipping" to encourage immediate action. These work particularly well for stores offering expedited shipping options.

⭐️ Read our guides on how to add announcement bars in cart drawer.

6. Enable convenient cart management features

Allow customers to update quantities and remove items directly within the cart drawer without page refreshes. This functionality keeps the shopping experience smooth and prevents customers from leaving your site.

Include an order notes field where customers can add special instructions, gift messages, or delivery preferences. This feature is particularly valuable for stores selling customizable or gift items.

⭐️ Read our guides on how to enable order notes in the cart drawer.

Add discount code functionality

Include a discount code field within your cart drawer so customers can apply promotions without navigating to a separate cart page. This reduces friction in the discount redemption process.

Display applied discounts clearly with the savings amount highlighted. Show both the original total and discounted total to emphasize the value customers are receiving.

⭐️ Learn how to enable applying discount code in the cart drawer.

7. Include installment payment options

Installment payment messaging helps customers understand flexible payment options available at checkout. Display information about services like Afterpay, Klarna, or Shop Pay Installments directly in your cart drawer.

Show the installment amount and number of payments clearly, such as "4 payments of $25" for a $100 purchase. Include provider logos to build recognition and trust with these payment methods.

⭐️ Learn how to display payment installment option in cart drawer.

Configure payment provider messaging

Enable installment payment displays through your cart drawer settings and select which providers to showcase. Focus on the most popular options in your target market to avoid overwhelming customers with too many choices.

Position installment information near your checkout button where customers are considering their purchase decision. This placement helps reduce price objections and can increase conversion rates for higher-priced items.

8. Optimize for mobile responsiveness

Ensure your cart drawer works seamlessly across all device types, with particular attention to mobile performance. Most Shopify traffic comes from mobile devices, making responsive design crucial for conversion success.

Test your cart drawer on various screen sizes to ensure buttons are easily tappable and text remains readable. Consider how sticky add to cart widgets work alongside your cart drawer on mobile devices.

⭐️ Learn how to customize the display of the widget for desktop and mobile separately.

Design for touch interactions

Make buttons and interactive elements large enough for easy touch navigation. Ensure adequate spacing between clickable elements to prevent accidental taps.

Keep loading times fast by optimizing images and minimizing the number of elements that load with your cart drawer. Slow-loading drawers can frustrate mobile users and hurt conversion rates.

Start building your high-converting cart drawer

Creating an effective cart drawer requires strategic planning and the right tools to implement conversion-focused features. Cartly provides all the elements discussed in this guide, from free shipping progress bars to express checkout buttons and upsell recommendations.

Ready to transform your cart experience? Install Cartly to access professional cart drawer features that increase conversions and boost your average order value without overwhelming your customers.

This article was created with assistance from vevy.ai and proofread, fact-checked, and validated by its author.