Best Upsell Combinations to Sell on Shopify: A Data-Backed Guide to Increasing Your AOV

If you’ve been watching your ad costs climb while your AOV refuses to budge, you’re not alone. Customer acquisition cost has jumped more than 60% year-over-year, and getting new shoppers through the door has become more difficult. 

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There was a time when getting more traffic to your Shopify store used to be the solution, but today, the real win is getting more value from every customer that you have worked hard to acquire. In simple terms, upsell is the new sales strategy. It is making your existing customers buy more than what they had in mind to purchase. And the most feasible way to do that is without annoying your buyers.

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When poorly done, upsells can skyrocket your cart abandonment rate. But when you use a proven strategy as outlined in this article, upsells can increase your revenue by 10-30%. We analyzed data from over 1,500 Shopify stores that use Cart X, and have generated over $10M in upsell revenue. In this guide, we break down the best upsell combinations Shopify stores rely on to consistently increase AOV.

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Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• How to make upsells feel helpful and not pushy
• The top-performing combinations across multiple industries
• How to use pre-purchase, post-purchase, and thank you page upsells without friction
• Real-world examples with conversion data
• Action steps you can implement today

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The Psychology of a Successful Upsell:  Why Timing is Everything

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You can have a perfect upsell that is priced perfectly and well-designed, but if you show up at the wrong moment, conversion can easily flatline. Customer psychology shifts during a buying journey, and so should your upsell strategy. Here is an overview of a customer’s psychology throughout the purchase journey that forms the foundation of all high-performing Shopify upsell strategies:

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Pre-Purchase: The Consideration Phase

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When a customer adds an item to the cart, they are evaluating their purchase decision. They are thinking through the problem their purchase solves, and they’re most likely open to suggestions that make their solution better or more complete. They’re thinking, “help me get everything I need ,so I don’t have to come back later.”

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Including complimentary add-ons at this stage works because it helps them finalize their decision-making process and make their choice feel complete.

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Best items to add here are low-cost and high-margin ones that don’t require deep consideration. 

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Post-Purchase: The Peak Buying State

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This is the sweet spot every Shopify owner looks forward to. The customer already said “yes,” and they’re ready to enter their card details. This means they have earned your trust enough to make a purchase.

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This stage can be the most powerful upsell window if well-optimized. Stores that use Cart X see up to 10% post-purchase upsell conversion rates, compared to 3-5% at the pre-purchase stage.

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To scale, curate higher-value add-ons, bundles, or subscriptions that make the buyer’s current purchase feel better or complete.

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Thank You Page: The “I Feel Good About This” Moment

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Once the customer has placed the order and proceeded with checking out, they feel more relaxed and more receptive to your brand messaging. At this stage, they are more likely to stay more on your page to scroll and explore. This is when to position a last-chance offer, a discount or nudge them toward something new. 

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The 7 Best-Performing Upsell Combinations (Backed by Real Data)

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If you’ve been on Shopify for a while, then you know that there are upsell combinations that dramatically move Shopify AOV. These are the best upsell combinations Shopify merchants use to move AOV.

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They cut across fashion, beauty, electronics, home goods, supplements and more. these are the 

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1. The Complementary Add-On (Pre-Purchase)

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This is one of the most effective upsell combinations. When a customer chooses a product, offer the obvious companion  that is relevant and makes the purchase look complete.

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Examples:

• If a customer buys a camera, offer memory card or bag
• If they purchase a fashion item like leather shoes, suggest protector spray or premium laces.

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Stores that use this strategy tend to see a 4-8% attach rate, with AOV increasing to 15-20%. This is because upsells like this come across to the buyer more as a match that completes their order, than a sales strategy.

2. The Product Upgrade (Pre-Purchase)

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Sometimes, the best upsell is not to recommend more products, but a better one. Here’s how that works: when a customer adds a product, you can convince them to buy a better and more expensive version of what they are already considering. Better can mean an upgrade with advanced specifications or a discounted offer.

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Examples: 

• Customer adds a 128GB iPhone to cart,  offer them 256GB for $100 more
• They buy a 1 bottle of serum, offer 3-month supply at better cost-per-ounce

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Remember to use a value-offering messaging here, such as “Save 20% with the larger size.” When done right, product upgrade upsells can increase value by 20-40%.

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3. The One-Click Post-Purchase Offer

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Here, a shopper finishes checkout and immediately sees a “You might also love this” offer that they can accept with one tap. This is the moment when upsells just click, because they have already added their card details and an extra purchase at that point would feel seamless.

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Examples: 

• Customer buys workout bands, offer one-click digital workout guide
• They buy a protein powder, offer a shaker bottle or a sample pack

When FlexMoves used Cart X one-click upsells, they added $10,800+ in revenue with an average upsell value of $15.50. 92.5% of that came from post-purchase offers.

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4. The Product Bundle (Pre or Post-Purchase)

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By grouping several products together for a single price, you increase the perceived value and make it easier for the customer to buy more. This is classic product bundling Shopify merchants rely on to increase order size. So instead of buying three separate items, customers click once and it feels like they’ve got a good bargain.

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Examples: 

• Complete Hair Care Bundle that includes a shampoo, conditioner and mask 
• Morning Ritual Bundle featuring coffee, biscotti and mug 

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This upsell combination can also shine at the post-purchase stage where commitment and trust  is already high.

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5. The “Buy More, Save More” Offer (Pre-Purchase)

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Buyers love rewards. And it is on this theory that the “buy more, save more" strategy builds on. It encourages customers to add more of the same or similar items to their cart to unlock a discount. This way, they increase the quantity of items per order to reach the next level.

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Examples:

• “Buy 2 tees, get 1 free”
• Build-your-own lip kit (Get 3 for price of 2)

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This strategy works best for products people already buy in multiples and can increase AOV by 25%.

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6. The Subscription Upsell (Post-Purchase)

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For consumable products, a subscription is the ultimate upsell. It not only increases the immediate AOV but also secures recurring revenue. It is ideal at the post-purchase stage because it doesn’t interfere with the initial decision. And once a customer buys, the convenience pitch becomes easier.

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Examples:

• Dog food: Monthly subscription for 10% off
• Add monthly vitamin delivery and  free pill organizer

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Subscription upsell can increase LTV by 200–400%. Post-purchase placement keeps conversions high without stressing the initial sale.

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7. The Downsell Offer

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When a customer declines your upsell, don’t end the conversation. Simply offer a light option. Instead of losing the sale entirely, you can offer a lower-priced alternative. This is a crucial part of any successful funnel.

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Examples: 

• Buyer declines $50 case, offer $25 case
• Declines $197 course, offer $47 mini-course

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The good news is that downsells can recover up to 10-15% of lost upsell opportunities. So a rejected upsell does not mean the conversation has to end.

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Cart X, for instance, lets you stack up to 3 sequential offers: upsell, downsell and final offer, so you never leave revenue on the table.

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How to Implement These Upsell Combos with Cart-X (In Minutes)

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By now, you have an idea of what to offer and at what stage to offer them. The next step is implementing the upsell combinations so that you can see the impact on your revenue. Below are five steps to follow to set-up your offers in Cart X

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1. Choose the trigger: Decide when the upsell will appear. This can be the pre-purchase, post-purchase, or thank you page.
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2. ‍Select the offer type: Choose from a pre-purchase pop-up, a one-click post-purchase offer, or a thank you page offer.‍
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3. Pick the product(s): Select the products you want to offer as an upsell, bundle, or downsell.‍
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4. Customize the design: Match the look and feel of your brand with our easy-to-use editor. No coding required.‍
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5. Go live and track everything: Monitor your AOV, conversion rates, and total upsell revenue in our advanced analytics dashboard.

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Conclusion: Stop Leaving Your Own Money on the Table

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Shopify sellers today are not suffering from traffic problem, but a value-per-customer problem. With the right upsell at the right moment, you can turn a single “yes” into several small, meaningful revenue boosts. And when those boosts happen day after day, your AOV rises and your margins widen significantly. 

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If you want to try the same frictionless checkout upsell engine that helped merchants generate over $10M, test Cart-X for free and build your first funnel in minutes.

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Remember, your customers are ready to buy more. They just need the invitation.

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Try Cart-X free today and start capturing the revenue you’ve already earned.