Jul 2, 2025

Product bundling

10 Ways Shopify Bundle Apps Increase Average Order Value

Andrey Gadashevich

CEO | Conversion expert

Ever stared at your e-commerce analytics wondering why your revenue isn't growing despite decent traffic? The secret might not be getting more visitors—it's getting more value from each sale.

Shopify bundle apps are the unsung heroes transforming ordinary transactions into profit powerhouses by boosting your average order value (AOV). Let's dive into ten game-changing strategies that could revolutionize your store's bottom line without requiring a single extra marketing dollar.

Understanding Average Order Value (AOV) and Its Importance

What is average order value?

Average order value (AOV) is exactly what it sounds like—the typical amount customers spend when shopping with you.

To calculate AOV, divide total revenue by your number of orders over any time period.

The formula is simple: AOV = Total Revenue ÷ Number of Orders

Why is average order value important?

Think of AOV as your efficiency metric. When it climbs, you're squeezing more revenue from existing traffic—no extra ad spend required! Better yet, higher AOV supercharges your return on advertising and boosts customer lifetime value. It's like getting a raise without asking for one.

What affects the average order value?

Several factors can make or break your AOV:

Your pricing strategy (are you leaving money on the table?)
How effectively you upsell and cross-sell
The structure of your discount offers
The overall shopping experience and store design
Strategic use of bundle products
Where you set your free shipping threshold

The psychology behind product bundling

Product bundles naturally fatten up the cart size by encouraging multiple purchases in one go. Forrester finds that upselling and cross-selling—of which bundling is a prime example—can contribute 10–30% of e-commerce revenues.

Bundling isn't just about grouping products—it's psychological wizardry:

Value perception: "I'm getting more bang for my buck!"
Decision simplification: No more agonizing over which option to choose
Loss aversion: "If I don't grab this bundle, I'm losing out on savings"
Anchoring: That single product suddenly looks affordable next to the premium bundle

1. Create Complementary Product Bundles

Pairing related items customers naturally want together

Complementary items are like peanut butter and jelly—better together than apart. By identifying these natural pairings and creating thoughtful product bundles, you'll see your average order value climb while customers appreciate the convenience.

Examples of effective complementary bundles

Electronics: Camera + memory card + case (who wants a camera without storage?)
Fashion: Dress + matching accessories (complete the look in one click)
Home goods: Bedsheets + pillowcases + duvet cover (the bedroom makeover bundle)
Food: Main dish ingredients + complementary sides (dinner solved!)

2. Offer Customizable Build-Your-Own Bundles

Allowing customers to create personalized packages

Build-your-own bundle (BYOB) options put customers in the driver's seat while still encouraging them to load up their cart. The MBC Bundle Builder app makes this ridiculously easy to implement, letting shoppers mix and match to their heart's content.

And guess what? BYOB approaches boost conversion rate by up to 20% compared to pre-selected bundles. Why? Because customers feel ownership over their personalized selections [Forrester].

Setting minimum quantities for customization

To keep bundles profitable while still offering that custom feel:

Set minimum item thresholds—"Pick any 3 items" creates a floor for your bundle value
Create tiered pricing that rewards bigger bundles—3 items for 10% off, 5 for 15% off
Mix category requirements—"Choose 1 top and 2 accessories" ensures balanced bundles

3. Implement Volume Discount Bundles

Buy more, save more pricing structures

Volume discounts are perfect for products customers might want multiples of. It's the "stock up and save" mentality that drives bigger purchases.

Tiered discount thresholds

Creating graduated discount levels is like laying a trail of breadcrumbs to a bigger purchase:

Buy 2, save 10%
Buy 3, save 15%
Buy 5, save 25%

This approach taps into our natural desire to maximize value. Customers often think, "Well, I'm already buying two, might as well get three to save even more!" Before they know it, they've added more to cart than originally planned.

4. Use Bundle Upselling at Checkout

Strategic placement of bundle recommendations

Timing is everything. Place your bundle offers at these key moments:

Right after adding an item to cart (strike while the iron's hot!)
On the cart page before checkout (when they're reviewing their selections)
During the checkout process (last-chance opportunities)
On the order confirmation page (planting seeds for next time)

5. Create Gift Bundles for Special Occasions

Seasonal and holiday-themed packages

Seasonal product bundles tap into the gift-giving mindset while solving a huge customer pain point: finding the perfect present. Limited-time offers create urgency that drives action.

BioLite crushes this strategy with seasonal camping bundles that combine stoves, lighting, and charging products into complete outdoor kits. Their AOV skyrockets during camping season because they're not just selling products—they're selling ready-made adventures.

Bundling with gift wrapping options

Take gift bundles to the next level with premium packaging:

Custom gift boxes that scream "special occasion"
Gift wrapping services as bundle add-ons (convenience has value!)
Personalized gift notes that save customers an extra step
Automatic gift receipts—small touch, big impression

6. Implement BOGO and Mix & Match Offers

Buy-one-get-one promotions for related products

BOGO offers aren't just for grocery stores. The smart approach? Don't offer identical items—suggest complementary products at a discount instead.

Lively has this down to a science with their "Buy a bra, get matching underwear 50% off" promotions. Their average order value climbs while customers discover new products they might have overlooked.

Cross-category bundle discounts

Mix & Match bundles let customers combine products across different categories for special pricing. This exposes shoppers to your broader catalog while pumping up cart size.

The MBC Bundle Builder app makes creating these cross-category offers a breeze, with flexible discount structures based on quantity, product type, or total value.

7. Bundle Subscription Products

Converting one-time purchasers to subscribers

Subscription bundles are the gift that keeps on giving—to your revenue stream. They transform single purchases into predictable income while dramatically increasing customer lifetime value.

Imagine a coffee retailer offering a "Coffee Lover's Subscription Bundle" with monthly beans, filters, and a rotating specialty item at 15% off regular prices. Customers get convenience and savings; the shop gets predictable revenue. Perfect!

Subscription bundle incentives

Make your subscription bundles irresistible with these perks:

Bigger discounts for longer commitments (reward loyalty upfront)
Free shipping on all subscription orders (remove friction)
Exclusive products only subscribers can access (create FOMO)
Flexible delivery schedules that adapt to customer needs

8. Use AI-Powered Bundle Recommendations

Personalized bundle suggestions based on browsing history

Personalized recommendations powered by AI aren't just fancy tech—they're conversion machines. Today's Shopify apps can analyze customer behavior and suggest bundles that feel almost psychic in their relevance.

Product recommendations account for up to 31% of e-commerce site revenues.

Dynamic bundle creation based on purchase patterns

Advanced bundling apps work like digital mind-readers, automatically spotting product relationships based on:

Products frequently bought together (the peanut butter and jelly effect)
Complementary items based on category logic
What similar customers have purchased before
What's already in the cart and how the shopper is behaving right now

9. Create Tiered Free Shipping Thresholds with Bundles

How do you increase your average transaction value?

Strategic free shipping threshold placement is pure psychological genius. Set your free shipping minimum just above your modal order value (your most common order amount), and watch customers add "just one more thing" to qualify.

The numbers are staggering—Shopify data show over 80% of consumers cite free shipping as their top purchase driver. That's not just an AOV strategy; it's an AOV supercharger.