Set your free shipping threshold about 15 to 30% above your current average order value, ideally just above the price of your best-selling single product, so customers need one small add-on to qualify. Show progress toward it in the cart and offer a one-tap add-on that gets them over the line.
Step 1: look at your order distribution
Group your orders by value. Many stores find a cluster just under the threshold, usually one hero product on its own.
Step 2: price the gap
If your hero product is $45 and your threshold is $60, you need a $15 to $25 add-on. If you don't have one, create a mini, sample or accessory.
Step 3: check the maths
| Without nudge | With nudge | |
|---|---|---|
| Order | $45 + $9 shipping | $45 + $20 add-on, free shipping |
| Revenue | $54 | $65 |
| Extra margin | Add-on margin minus shipping you now cover |
Step 4: show it everywhere
Announcement bar, product page and a progress bar in the cart drawer: "You're $15 away from free shipping."
Free shipping and AOV calculator
Frequently asked questions
Should free shipping be on every order?
Only if your margins can absorb it. Most brands do better with a threshold that encourages a second item.
What threshold works for a $40 product?
Often $55 to $65, paired with a $15 to $25 add-on.
Does free shipping improve conversion?
Clear, early shipping information reduces cart abandonment. Surprise shipping costs at checkout are a common reason people leave.
Written by Shimeez Bok, founder of Growth Alchemy, an ecommerce growth studio in Auckland, New Zealand.
