![Which Shopify Cart Type Works Best IN 2026? [Backed by Real Merchant Data]](https://www.identixweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/13-02-Fri-Blog-Which-Shopify-Cart-Type-Sells-More_-Based-on-Merchant-Data-Compressify.io_.webp "Which Shopify Cart Type Works Best IN 2026? [Backed by Real Merchant Data]")
According to our Shopify Cart Type Benchmark Report, Cart Drawer outperformed Full Cart and Pop-up Cart in terms of revenue generation.
If you just launched your Shopify store, you’re probably thinking about themes, product pages, and ads.
But it is your Shopify cart type that quietly decides your revenue.
In our 2026 Shopify Cart Type Benchmark Report, we analyzed 10,000+ Shopify merchants using iCart from January to December 2025. We tracked what happened inside different cart experiences and how those choices translated into revenue.
Merchants generated a 2.57X increase in revenue before checkout & 73.8% AOV boost with iCart's smart cart upsells.
Not from new traffic. Not from new products. From the cart experience itself.
But the wrong cart type can hurt you:
This article is about one thing:
Which Shopify cart type generates more revenue? [Backed by Real Merchant Data]
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly which cart type fits your stage, your niche, and your revenue goals.
Why Cart Optimization Delivers Faster ROI Than Ads?
Most Shopify merchants focus on traffic acquisition, but cart optimization delivers compounding returns with no incremental ad spend.
According to our Shopify 2026 commerce trends report, on cart type, a 10% improvement in cart conversion outperformed a 20–30% increase in paid traffic.
This is because:
- The shopper already has intent
- Cart-level decisions happen in seconds
- Upsells don’t increase CAC
In our report, merchants who optimized cart experience first saw revenue lifts within 14 days, compared to weeks or months for ad optimization.
Across cart-level interactions analyzed in our dataset, stores using optimized cart experiences recorded an average cart-to-checkout conversion rate of 5.66% compared to the global ecommerce average of 3%.
Upsell Placements (Where Do Merchants Sell Products?)
The Average Order Value (AOV) of Shopify comes between the range of $85 - $92, depending on the niche and age of the store.
Because AOV is calculated as total revenue divided by the number of orders, increasing what each customer spends becomes a powerful growth lever.
That makes upsell placements critical in the buying journey.
What you show, and where you show it, can significantly shift cart value.
Key Placements for Upsell & Why They Work?
| Placement | Why It’s Valuable |
| Product Page | Right when the shopper is deciding, showing relevant upgrades or complementary items influences what goes into the cart. |
| Cart Drawer | Once items are added, the customer is already engaged. This is a strong moment to suggest related gifts, add-ons or higher-value alternatives. |
| Full Cart Page | This gives a full view of the cart. Complementary items make upsells more attractive, especially if the total crosses a threshold. |
| Checkout | An ideal moment for “one-click upsell” because the user is already in a buy mindset. |
| Thank You Page | Buyers are done with payment. This is a good time to offer add-on deals or subscription/upsell offers for the next purchase. |
For the Shopify cart type, there are different Shopify cart examples that merchants use.
A Shopify store, Dice Dungeons, using iCart's cart drawer.
In our Shopify commerce trends 2026 report on cart type, we saw some staggering revenue generated from the placements of products using iCart.
| Placement | Growth Multiple |
| Full Cart | 2.2X |
| Cart Drawer | 3.2X |
| Popup Cart | 1.95X |
| Full + Side | 2.75X |
| Full + Popup | 2.75X |
It is pretty evident that for the discussion on Shopify cart page vs drawer, cart drawer wins.
The cart drawer feature of iCart has been the number one choice for the Shopify cart type for merchants.
This is because:
- It avoids page reloads, reducing friction
- Keep shoppers anchored in the buying flow
- Create a “micro-decision moment” without commitment pressure
Our report also found that our AOV through iCart is staggering at $1578.88.
Cart Experience. How to Optimize Your Shopping Cart?
Swad, a Shopify food and beverage store, is using cart items and the product recommendations feature of iCart.
Shopping cart optimization is the process of improving every element inside the cart to reduce cart abandonment, increase AOV, and guide shoppers smoothly toward checkout.
By enhancing key components, you turn the cart from a drop-off point into a revenue engine.
| Element | Why is it valuable? |
| Cart Items | Displays the products added to the cart and is the best place to highlight quantity options, variants, and suggestions. |
| Discount | Let shoppers apply or unlock discounts and increase the likelihood of completing the purchase. |
| Checkout Button | Guides the customer toward completing the order, making it a crucial point for reducing drop-offs. |
| Product Recommendation | Suggests related or high-value items the customer is likely to buy based on what’s already in the cart. |
| Product Upsell | Offers an upgraded, premium, or higher-value version of the item already in the cart. |
| Progress Bar | Motivates customers to complete purchases by showing rewards or milestones like free shipping or discounts. |
According to our survey, the progress bar generated the highest revenue, followed by the product upsell feature.
| Widget | Revenue Increase |
| Cart Items | 85% |
| Discount | 140% |
| Checkout Button | 110% |
| Product Button | 95% |
| Product Recommendation | 165% |
| Product Upsell | 190% |
| Progress Bar | 260% |
How Should Shopify Merchants Prioritize Their Cart Optimization?
- Number #1 Progress Bar
Drives urgency without discounting and sets clear rewards.
A Shopify clothing store, Garb Classics, is using the progress bar feature of iCart
- Number #2 Product Upsells (In-Cart)
Works best for apparel, beauty, and accessories where bundles feel natural.
- Number #3 Product Recommendations
Anua is a Shopify beauty store that is using iCart for the product recommendation feature.
Expands discovery without increasing decision fatigue.
Shopify Commerce Trends 2026 Report on Cart Type: Key Findings
1️⃣ Your Shopify Cart Type Directly Impacts Revenue
10,000+ Shopify merchants increased their revenue by 2.57X before checkout & boosted their AOV by 73.8% with iCart's smart cart upsells
That revenue didn’t come from more traffic. It came from better cart experiences.
2️⃣ Cart Optimization Beats Traffic Growth
A 10% improvement in cart conversion outperformed a 20–30% increase in paid traffic.
3️⃣ Cart Drawer (Slide Cart) Outperformed Everything
Revenue generated by Cart Drawer is significantly higher than that of the Full Cart and Pop-up Cart.
4️⃣Progress Bar Generated the Most Revenue
The Progress Bar feature outperformed every other feature. Close second and third are Product Upsell and Product Recommendations
FAQs for Shopify Cart Type
1. Shopify cart type drawer or page, which one should merchants go for?
If you’re a new store, start with a cart drawer because it keeps shoppers in the buying flow and reduces “back-and-forth” friction. Still keep a cart page accessible for shoppers who want a full review before checkout.
2. What is the difference between cart type drawer and page?
A cart drawer (mini cart) slides in without leaving the product/collection page, so shoppers can adjust quantities and checkout faster. A cart page takes shoppers to a page where they get a fuller, more detailed summary of items just before checkout.
3. How to change the cart style in Shopify?
Go to Online Store > Themes > Edit Theme, then open Theme settings > Cart, and choose Drawer, Page, or Popup notification (if your theme supports it).
4. What is the cart feature on Shopify?
Shopify’s cart is the place where shoppers review items, update quantities, see totals, and move toward checkout. Many stores also use accelerated checkout buttons (like Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay) to reduce steps for buyers who want a faster path.
5. What is the best Shopify app for cart customization?
If you want fast setup with strong revenue features, look for an app that supports drawer + page layouts, in-cart upsells, and a progress bar. Options merchants commonly use include iCart (drawer/popup/page, upsells, bundles, progress bar), UpCart, and Rebuy Smart Cart for cart personalization.
About the author
Vineet Nair
Vineet is an experienced content strategist with expertise in the ecommerce domain and a keen interest in Shopify. He aims to help Shopify merchants thrive in this competitive environment with technical solutions and thoughtfully structured content.