What is the average cart abandonment rate for Shopify stores?

The average cart abandonment rate for Shopify stores is just above 70% — virtually identical to the broader e-commerce benchmark of 70.19% reported by Baymard Institute (2025) and confirmed by Shopify’s 2024 data. In practical terms, roughly seven out of ten Shopify shoppers add items to their cart but leave before paying.

This figure represents a significant challenge for merchants, as it means the majority of potential sales slip away at the final hurdle. However, understanding this benchmark provides crucial context for evaluating your store’s performance and implementing targeted recovery strategies.

Numbers at a glance

• 70.19% average cart abandonment rate for Shopify stores (2025)
• 48% of abandonment caused by unexpected extra costs at checkout
• 78% mobile abandonment rate vs. desktop
• 10-20% of abandoned carts recoverable through email campaigns
• 41.18% open rate for abandoned cart recovery emails
• 9.50% click rate for abandoned cart emails

How Shopify compares to wider e-commerce

Shopify’s cart abandonment rate aligns closely with industry-wide benchmarks, but several factors create variations across platforms and regions.

Desktop vs. mobile abandonment

Mobile devices consistently show higher abandonment rates across all e-commerce platforms. According to Dynamic Yield’s 2025 benchmarks, mobile abandonment reaches approximately 78.26% compared to desktop rates around 65-68%. This disparity stems from smaller screens, slower loading times, and more complex checkout processes on mobile devices.

The mobile challenge is particularly acute for Shopify merchants, as mobile traffic now accounts for over 60% of e-commerce visits. Optimizing mobile checkout experiences has become essential for reducing overall abandonment rates.

Shopify vs. WooCommerce & BigCommerce

Platform-specific abandonment rates show minimal variation, with most hovering around the 70% mark. The similarity suggests that platform choice has less impact on abandonment than factors like checkout design, shipping costs, and trust signals.

Seasonal peaks & dips

Cart abandonment rates fluctuate throughout the year, with notable patterns affecting Shopify stores:

Peak abandonment periods:

• January (post-holiday budget constraints): 75-78%
• Back-to-school season (August): 72-74%
• Mid-summer (June-July): 71-73%

Lower abandonment periods:

• Black Friday/Cyber Monday: 65-68%
• December holiday shopping: 67-70%
• Valentine’s Day week: 68-71%

Why shoppers abandon carts on Shopify

Understanding abandonment triggers helps merchants address the root causes rather than just symptoms. According to Baymard Institute’s 2025 research:

Extra costs & shipping fees

48% of shoppers abandon carts due to unexpected costs revealed at checkout, making this the leading cause of abandonment. These “surprise” expenses include:

• High shipping fees (especially for international orders)
• Taxes not displayed upfront
• Processing or handling fees
• Currency conversion charges

Shopify merchants can combat this by displaying total costs early in the shopping journey and offering free shipping thresholds.

Forced account creation

26% of potential customers abandon when required to create an account before purchasing. This friction point particularly affects first-time buyers who want to test the purchasing experience before committing to account creation.

Shopify’s guest checkout option and Shop Pay integration help reduce this barrier significantly.

Credit card security concerns

25% of abandonment occurs due to security concerns. Modern consumers expect robust security indicators, and missing trust signals create uncertainty that drives abandonment.

Clear security badges, SSL certificates, and trusted payment provider logos help address this concern.

Slow delivery estimates

23% of shoppers leave when delivery timeframes seem too long or unclear. Modern consumers expect fast, predictable shipping, and vague delivery estimates create uncertainty that drives abandonment.

Clear delivery date calculators and expedited shipping options help address this concern.

Calculate your store’s abandonment rate

Measuring your specific abandonment rate provides the baseline for improvement efforts.

Formula step-by-step

The cart abandonment rate formula is:

Cart Abandonment Rate = (Number of Abandoned Carts ÷ Number of Carts Created) × 100

For example:

• 100 visitors add items to their carts
• 40 complete purchases
• 60 abandon their carts
• Abandonment rate = (60 ÷ 100) × 100 = 60%

Where to pull numbers in Shopify Admin

To find the necessary data in your Shopify dashboard:

1. Navigate to Analytics → Reports
2. Select “Sales reports” → “Sales by traffic source”
3. Note “Sessions that reached checkout”
4. Compare with “Orders” in the same period
5. Apply the formula above

Alternatively, use Shopify’s built-in conversion tracking under Analytics → Behavior to see checkout abandonment directly.

Benchmarks by industry & AOV

Cart abandonment varies significantly across different product categories and price points.

Fashion & apparel

Fashion retailers typically see 75-80% abandonment rates, higher than the Shopify average due to:

• Size uncertainty
• Color/fit concerns
• High return rates creating hesitation
• Seasonal buying patterns

Beauty & personal care

Beauty brands average 68-72% abandonment, slightly below the platform average thanks to:

• Lower average order values
• Impulse purchase behavior
• Strong brand loyalty
• Subscription model adoption

Electronics & high-ticket items

Electronics merchants face 65-70% abandonment rates, with the lower range attributed to:

• More research-driven purchases
• Higher consideration periods
• Detailed product specifications reducing uncertainty

Digital products

Digital product sellers enjoy the lowest abandonment rates at 55-65% due to:

• Instant delivery expectations
• Lower price points
• Reduced shipping concerns
• Impulse buying behavior

Seven proven ways to reduce cart abandonment on Shopify

Implementing these strategies can recover 10-20% of abandoned carts and prevent future abandonment.

Enable guest checkout & Shop Pay

Allow customers to purchase without account creation and integrate Shop Pay for one-click checkout. According to Shopify’s data, Shop Pay can convert as much as 50% better than typical guest checkouts.

Up-front shipping calculator

Display shipping costs before checkout using apps like “Shipping Calculator Plus” or built-in Shopify shipping zones. Transparency reduces the 48% of abandonment caused by unexpected costs.

Exit-intent offers & pop-ups

Deploy exit-intent technology to capture abandoning visitors with targeted offers. According to OptiMonk data, cart abandonment popups have an average conversion rate of 17.12%.

Abandoned cart emails

Automated email sequences recover 10-20% of abandoned carts. According to Klaviyo’s data, abandoned cart emails achieve:

• 41.18% open rate
• 9.50% click rate
• $5.81 revenue per recipient

Optimal timing includes:

• First email: 2-4 hours after abandonment
• Second email: 24 hours with incentive
• Third email: 72 hours with urgency

SMS reminders

SMS cart recovery achieves higher open rates compared to email, making it highly effective for high-value abandoned carts. Keep messages brief and include direct purchase links.

Multiple payment options

Offer diverse payment methods including:

• Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) options
• Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
• Cryptocurrency payments
• Local payment methods for international customers

Page speed & mobile UX tune-up

Optimize loading times and mobile experience, as slow sites directly impact abandonment rates. Focus on:

• Image compression
• Checkout page optimization
• Mobile-responsive design
• Simplified form fields

Quick-win checklist

Immediate actions (0-24 hours):

• [ ] Enable guest checkout
• [ ] Add trust badges to checkout
• [ ] Set up basic abandoned cart emails
• [ ] Display shipping costs upfront

Short-term improvements (1-2 weeks):

• [ ] Implement exit-intent pop-ups
• [ ] Add multiple payment options
• [ ] Create urgency messaging
• [ ] Optimize mobile checkout flow

Long-term optimizations (1+ months):

• [ ] A/B test checkout designs
• [ ] Implement SMS recovery
• [ ] Add live chat support
• [ ] Create loyalty program incentives

Frequently asked questions

What is considered a good cart abandonment rate for Shopify?

Anything below 65% is considered excellent for Shopify stores, while 65-70% is good, and above 75% indicates significant optimization opportunities.

Does Shop Pay lower abandonment?

Yes, according to Shopify’s data, Shop Pay can convert as much as 50% better than typical guest checkouts through streamlined checkout and stored payment information.

How do I find abandoned checkout data in Shopify?

Navigate to Analytics → Reports → Behavior reports to view detailed checkout abandonment metrics and funnel analysis.

What industries have the highest Shopify abandonment?

Fashion and apparel typically see the highest rates (75-80%), while digital products have the lowest (55-65%).

How often should I send cart-recovery emails?

A 3-email sequence over 72 hours is optimal: immediate reminder, 24-hour incentive, and 72-hour urgency message.

Do discount codes hurt profit when recovering carts?

Strategic discounts (5-10%) in recovery emails typically increase overall revenue despite reduced margins per sale.

Can SMS outperform email for cart recovery?

SMS achieves higher open rates than email’s 41.18%, but should complement rather than replace email campaigns for best results.

Is 60% abandonment realistic for new stores?

New stores often see higher abandonment (75-80%) due to lack of trust signals and optimization. 60% is achievable with proper setup.

Key takeaways

Cart abandonment affects virtually all Shopify stores, with the 70.19% average representing both a challenge and an opportunity. The key insights for merchants include:

• Benchmark awareness: 70% abandonment is normal, not failure
• Mobile priority: Address the higher mobile abandonment rate first
• Cost transparency: Eliminate surprise fees causing 48% of abandonment
• Recovery systems: Implement email campaigns to recapture 10-20% of lost sales
• Continuous optimization: Regular testing and refinement compound improvements over time

Start with the quick-win checklist above, then gradually implement more sophisticated recovery and prevention strategies. Remember that even small improvements in abandonment rates translate to significant revenue increases given the volume of affected transactions.

Sources & references

• Baymard Institute — 49 cart abandonment rate studies aggregated for 2025 benchmark (70.19% average)
• Shopify Enterprise Blog — Official Shopify abandonment statistics and optimization strategies
• Dynamic Yield Benchmarks — Regional and device-specific abandonment data
• Klaviyo Marketing Resources — Email recovery statistics and performance metrics
• OptiMonk — Exit-intent popup conversion rate data