Ultimate Shopify Cross Sell Guide: 10 Tips That Work

Every Shopify store owner wants the same thing: more revenue without spending more on ads. One of the simplest, most effective ways to make that happen? Cross-selling.

Cross-selling is the strategy of suggesting related or complementary products to customers as they shop. Think of it as the digital version of the “Would you like fries with that?” moment, except smarter, more personalized, and way more valuable for your bottom line.

When done right, cross-selling helps increase your average order value (AOV), improves the shopping experience, and encourages customers to explore more of your product catalog without being pushy.

This guide breaks down 10 proven cross-sell tactics you can start using on your Shopify store today. Whether you're a beginner or you've tried cross-selling before, these tips are designed to work at every stage of growth.

10 Shopify Upselling Tips

1. Start With Complementary Products

The easiest and most effective way to cross-sell is by suggesting products that naturally go together. If someone’s buying a laptop, offer a laptop sleeve. If they’re buying a coffee maker, show them reusable filters or mugs.

This works because the customer is already interested in a specific item, you’re simply helping them get more value out of it.

Here's how to apply this in your store:

Audit your product catalog: Look for items that pair well or are often bought together.
Think like your customer: Ask what else they might need after buying a product.
Use product tags or Shopify metafields to group complementary items.

Example pairings:

Skincare set + facial sponge
Yoga mat + carrying strap
Gaming console + extra controller

Complementary cross-sells feel helpful, not salesy and that’s why they convert.

2. Use Shopify Product Recommendations Wisely

Shopify automatically shows product recommendations on product pages, but by default, these suggestions are based on collections, tags, or past purchase data. It’s a good starting point but it’s not always accurate or optimized for cross-selling.

If you want to turn these recommendations into real revenue drivers, you’ll need to take control.

Here’s what to do:

Manually link related products: Use Shopify’s "Related Products" section (if supported by your theme) to hand-pick better matches.
Use smart product tags: Group complementary products using consistent, targeted tags.
Customize recommendation placements: Don’t just rely on the bottom of the product page – test adding recommendations higher up or even below the "Add to Cart" button.

💡Quick tip:

If your theme doesn’t support manual control of recommendations, use a Shopify app that lets you fine-tune them. Some even offer AI-powered suggestions based on behavior and purchase history.

Getting this right ensures that every recommendation feels intentional, and customers are more likely to add extra items to their cart.

3. Leverage the Product Page for Cross-Sells

Your product page is prime real estate. It’s where the customer is most engaged and actively considering a purchase making it the perfect place to introduce relevant add-ons.

But the key here is subtlety. You don’t want to distract from the main product. You want to enhance it.

Smart ways to cross-sell on the product page:

"Complete the Look" or "You May Also Like" sections
Show complementary items below the product description or near the “Add to Cart” button.
Add a mini bundle widget
Let customers easily add suggested items without leaving the page.
Use product images that show items together
If you're selling a hat, show it alongside the matching scarf in a lifestyle image.

Keep in mind:

Don’t overload the page with too many suggestions. Stick to 2-4 max.
Make sure the recommendations are visually appealing and match the product in tone and style.
Highlight why the extra product adds value (“Pairs perfectly with…” or “Customers also bought…”).

Cross-selling on the product page works best when it feels like part of the shopping journey, not a sales pitch.

4. Cross-Sell on the Cart Page (Before Checkout)

The cart page is one of the most overlooked places to cross-sell but it’s incredibly powerful. At this point, the customer is ready to buy, so a small, relevant suggestion can feel like a helpful last-minute add-on rather than a distraction.

Think of it as the online version of impulse items near the checkout lane.

Best practices for cart page cross-sells:

Suggest low-cost, high-value items
Keep it under 20% of the cart’s total value. Think accessories, refills, small upgrades.
Use clear copy to show the benefit
“Add a matching case for just $9.99” works better than a generic “You may also like…”
Limit it to 1–2 offers
Too many choices can cause friction or decision fatigue.

💡Quick implementation tips:

Some Shopify themes allow cart page customization directly.
If not, use apps like Magicsell.ai, ReConvert, or Frequently Bought Together to add smart offers to the cart experience.

The goal here is to gently increase order value without giving the customer a reason to rethink their purchase.

5. Post-Purchase Cross-Sell (Thank You Page or Email)

Most store owners stop selling once the order is placed but post-purchase is actually one of the best times to offer a cross-sell. The customer already trusts your brand, and they’re often still in “shopping mode.”

With the right timing and offer, you can boost repeat purchases before the first one even arrives.

Where to place post-purchase cross-sells:

Thank You Page
Add a “You might also like” section or limited-time offer directly on the confirmation page.
Order Confirmation Email
Suggest items that complement what they just bought. Keep it simple and visual.
Follow-up Email (1-3 days later)
A “Complete your purchase” email with a small incentive (like free shipping) can work well.

💡Tips to make it effective:

Keep it tightly related to the original purchase.
Use urgency: “Add this now and it’ll ship with your order.”
Offer a one-click add-to-order option if possible.

6. Bundle Popular Products

Product bundling is one of the most effective cross-sell strategies because you're not just suggesting a single add-on, you're offering a package that feels like a deal.

Customers love bundles when they feel like they’re saving money or getting a more complete solution. And for you, it means higher average order value with minimal extra effort.

Ways to bundle on Shopify:

Pre-set bundles
Group 2–4 complementary items into a single product with a small discount (e.g. “Skincare Starter Kit” or “Home Office Essentials”).
Build-your-own bundles
Let customers choose 2–3 items from a curated selection at a bundled price.
Quantity bundles
Offer bulk pricing (e.g. “Buy 3, Save 15%”) for products customers already want multiples of.

Best practices:

Keep the bundle easy to understand. Too many options can overwhelm
Clearly show the value (“Save Rs499 when you bundle”)
Feature bundles prominently on product and collection pages

Bundling doesn’t just increase revenue, it improves the shopping experience by helping customers get everything they need in one go.

7. Use Customer Data to Personalize Cross-Sells

The more relevant your cross-sell offers are, the better they convert. That’s where personalization comes in.

Instead of showing the same suggestions to every shopper, use your customer data to tailor cross-sells based on what someone actually needs or is likely to buy.

How to personalize cross-sells on Shopify:

Purchase history
Recommend products that go with what the customer has bought before.
Browsing behavior
Suggest items related to products they’ve viewed or added to cart.
Customer segments
Use tools like Klaviyo or Shopify’s built-in customer groups to create targeted cross-sell campaigns (e.g. “new customers,” “VIPs,” or “past buyers of [product X]”).

Example: If someone bought a DSLR camera, suggest camera bags or SD cards in the follow-up email, not just random electronics.

Even basic personalization like showing gender-specific products or items based on location, can improve click-through and conversion rates significantly.

8. Offer Time-Sensitive Cross-Sell Deals

Adding urgency to your cross-sell offers can drive faster decisions and higher conversions. A time-sensitive deal, like a limited-time discount on a related product, makes the shopper feel like they’re getting something exclusive right now.

How to use urgency in your cross-sells:

“Add this item now and get 15% off – offer ends at midnight”
“Buy this combo today and get free shipping”
“Only 12 left – bundle it now before it’s gone”

Where to apply time-sensitive offers:

On the cart page or in the mini-cart drawer
On thank you pages (post-purchase upsells)
Inside automated emails right after the purchase

💡Tips for doing it well:

Use clear language and simple design (timer widgets or banners can help)
Avoid overusing urgency. It loses power if it’s always there
Make sure the offer actually expires or changes to stay credible

Urgency works best when the offer feels relevant and real. Pair that with a well-matched cross-sell product, and you'll often see a noticeable bump in conversions.

9. Keep It Relevant

One of the fastest ways to kill a cross-sell opportunity is to suggest something that makes no sense. If someone’s buying running shoes, they don’t want to see phone cases or candles.

Relevance is everything. When the recommendation feels natural and helpful, it feels like guidance, not a sales push.

How to stay relevant:

Use product tags or collections to link related items (e.g. “goes with,” “frequently bought together”)
Group cross-sells by use case or goal (e.g. “Everything you need for a beach trip”)
Avoid generic suggestions like “You may also like” unless they’re actually tailored

Ask yourself:

Does this product genuinely add value to the main item?
Would I expect to see this combination in a physical retail store?

💡Pro tip:

Check your Shopify analytics to see which products are often bought together and use that data to inform your cross-sell logic.

10. A/B Test Your Cross-Sell Offers

Not every cross-sell tactic works the same for every store. What resonates with your customers depends on your products, audience, and even how you present the offer.

That’s why testing is crucial.

What to test:

Product combinations — Which pairs or bundles get the best response?
Placement — Product page, cart, checkout, or post-purchase?
Offer language — Does “Add this for 20% off” perform better than “Complete your set”?
Design and visuals — Different layouts, images, or colors.

How to start:

Use Shopify apps with built-in A/B testing, or tools like Google Optimize for more control.
Test one variable at a time for clear results.
Track key metrics: click-through rates, conversion rate, and average order value.

A/B testing helps you understand what really moves the needle, so you can focus your efforts where they count most.

Want to Simplify and Scale Your Cross-Selling Efforts?

Cross-selling is a powerful strategy but managing it across product pages, carts, post-purchase flows, and personalization can get tricky fast.

That’s where a tool like Magicsell.ai comes in. It combines upsells, product bundles, AI-driven recommendations, gifting options, and more – all within one easy-to-use platform designed specifically for Shopify stores.

Instead of juggling multiple apps or manually setting up each cross-sell, Magicsell.ai helps you automate and optimize your entire cross-sell strategy in one place. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, it’s built to save time, increase average order value, and improve the shopping experience for your customers.

Ready to see how simple and effective cross-selling can be?

👉 Book a demo with Magicsell.ai and start turning browsers into bigger sales today.