Product upsells put one or more extra products inside the cart drawer, addable in a tap without leaving the cart. By the end of this you will have upsells showing, targeted at the right customers. You need at least one product in your Shopify catalog to offer.
In this article:
Step 1: Enable product upsells
In the cart drawer editor, select
Product Upsells.Select
Activate.
Until then: "Product Upsells are not shown because it is disabled. Activate to show it in your cart. You can preview changes before saving."
Step 2: Set the heading and button
Field | Default |
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Button Style switches between Text and Icon. Text is clearer for most stores; an icon saves space in a narrow drawer.
💡 A specific heading beats a generic one. "Complete your order" or "Customers usually add" gives a reason. "You might also like" is a default that reads like a default.
Step 3: Choose trigger products
The trigger decides when an upsell appears. Open Configure Upsell Products and set Trigger Product:
Option | Behaviour |
| The upsell shows whatever is in the cart |
| The upsell shows only when one of the chosen products is in the cart |
For specific triggers, the button shows {count} Trigger Product, and Edit Selection reopens the picker. The modal is titled Selected Trigger Products.
Use All Products for something that suits any order, such as a universal add-on.
Use Specific Trigger Products for anything category-dependent. Offering shoe polish to someone buying a t-shirt wastes the slot.
Step 4: Choose upsell products
The Upsell Product half decides what is offered. Select + Add to pick products. The button shows {count} Upsell Product, and the modal is Selected Upsell Products.
You can also let Atlas choose, using Use AI-recommended products. See Using AI product recommendations in the cart.
Show compare-at prices displays the crossed-out original on upsell products that have one set in Shopify.
Step 5: Placement and behaviour
Setting | Options |
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| Whether to keep offering something the customer already has |
Below Items is usually right. The customer sees what they came for first, then the suggestion.
⚠️ Leave Show upsell product if already in cart? off unless you sell consumables people genuinely buy in multiples. Offering someone a product they have already added looks broken and wastes the slot.
Step 6: Colours
Control | What it colours |
| The upsell area |
| Each product card |
| The add button |
Keep the add button visually distinct from the checkout button. The checkout button should remain the most prominent thing in the drawer.
Choosing products that work
Cheaper than what is already in the cart. An upsell priced near or above the main item asks the customer to reconsider their whole order. A third of the cart value or less is a comfortable rule.
No decisions required. Anything needing a size or colour choice adds friction at the worst moment. Single-variant products work best.
Obviously related. The customer should understand why it is being shown without reading an explanation.
In stock and ready to ship. An upsell that delays the whole order is worse than no upsell.
Works well | Works badly |
Refills, consumables, cases, care products | Clothing needing a size |
Small accessories under $20 | Products more expensive than the cart |
Warranties and protection | Anything with a long lead time |
Gift wrapping | Unrelated products from another category |
ℹ️ One or two upsells is usually the limit. A carousel of six turns the cart into a shop, which is the opposite of what a cart is for.