Conversion · 8 min read
How to Increase Average Order Value (AOV) on Shopify
Average order value is one of the highest-leverage metrics in ecommerce — raising it grows revenue without spending more on ads. Here's the AOV formula and 8 proven ways to lift it on Shopify.
Published June 16, 2026
Average order value (AOV) is the average amount a customer spends per order. It's one of the highest-leverage metrics in ecommerce because lifting it grows revenue without raising acquisition costs — every extra dollar per order flows almost entirely to profit.
This guide covers what AOV is, the AOV formula, and eight proven tactics to increase average order value on your Shopify store.
What is average order value (AOV)?
Average order value (AOV) is the average revenue you earn per order. The AOV formula is total revenue ÷ number of orders. If you made $10,000 from 200 orders, your AOV is $50.
AOV matters because it's a profit lever you control on traffic you already have. Two stores with identical traffic and conversion rates can have wildly different profitability if one consistently earns more per order. Small, repeatable AOV gains compound into significant revenue over a year.
8 proven ways to increase average order value
- Free-shipping thresholds: "Spend $75 for free shipping" is the classic AOV nudge — shoppers add an item to qualify.
- Product bundles: Bundle complementary products at a slight discount so the basket grows while the deal still feels good.
- Upsells: Offer a larger size, premium version, or longer subscription at the point of decision.
- Cross-sells: Recommend related add-ons ("frequently bought together") on the product and cart pages.
- Volume discounts: "Buy 2, get 10% off" rewards larger orders and raises units per transaction.
- Spend-to-unlock rewards: Tie a reward to a minimum spend so customers add one more item to qualify.
- Post-purchase offers: Present a one-click add-on or next-order incentive right after checkout, when intent is highest.
- Gamified rewards: Use a game to deliver tiered, spend-based rewards — covered next.
Using gamification to raise AOV
Gamification raises AOV in two reinforcing ways. First, the reward can be conditional: tie a prize to a minimum spend — for example, "spend $75 to unlock 20% off your next order" — so shoppers add one more item to qualify. Second, the next-order discounts customers win bring them back to spend again, and returning customers reliably carry larger baskets than first-timers.
Because you can vary rewards and odds by order value, bigger spenders can earn stronger incentives, and you can track which rewards actually drive repeat revenue. The experience stays fun and on-brand while quietly steering shoppers toward larger carts and more frequent return visits.
Prizo turns your Shopify store into a game — spin the wheel, scratch cards and more — to capture emails, recover carts, and drive repeat sales.
Try Prizo Free on ShopifyFrequently Asked Questions
What is average order value (AOV)?
Average order value (AOV) is the average amount a customer spends per order, calculated as total revenue divided by number of orders. It's a key ecommerce metric because raising it grows revenue without increasing ad spend.
What is the AOV formula?
AOV = total revenue ÷ number of orders. For example, $10,000 in revenue across 200 orders gives an AOV of $50.
What is a good average order value?
It varies widely by industry and price point, so the goal is to grow your own AOV over time rather than hit a universal benchmark. Compare against your historical AOV and your category.
How does gamification increase AOV?
You can tie rewards to a minimum order value (e.g. spend $75 for 20% off your next order), which encourages shoppers to add another item to qualify. The next-order rewards they win also bring them back to buy again, and repeat customers spend more per order.