Last updated: November 9, 2026. Based on Shopify’s theme documentation and Help Center, checked on November 9, 2026. Disclosure: Webiots builds Shopify apps. No apps in this guide paid to be included.
Quick answer: A cart drawer is the cart that slides in from the side when a shopper clicks Add to cart, so they can keep shopping without leaving the page. Most Shopify themes, including Dawn and Horizon, can switch to a cart drawer in Theme settings > Cart. Shopify’s free themes don’t include a free shipping progress bar or upsells in the drawer, so stores add them with theme code or a cart drawer app. The best cart drawers show a free shipping or gift progress bar, one or two relevant add-ons, clear totals and a big checkout button.
Key takeaways:
- Turn on the cart drawer in your theme settings.
- Add a free shipping bar and one or two upsells.
- Keep the checkout button visible on mobile.
In this guide
- What a cart drawer is
- How to turn on the cart drawer
- What to put in the cart drawer
- Free shipping progress bar
- Cart drawer upsells that work
- Cart drawer layouts
- When to use a cart drawer app
- The bottom line
- FAQ
What Is a Shopify Cart Drawer?
It’s a slide-out cart that opens over the page instead of sending shoppers to a separate cart page. Shoppers see what they added, change quantities and go to checkout, or close it and keep browsing. Because it opens every time a product is added, it’s one of the most-seen parts of your store, which makes it a good place for one well-chosen offer.
| Cart page | Cart drawer | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it opens | A separate page (/cart) | Slides over the current page |
| Keeps shoppers browsing | Less | More |
| Space for offers | More | Limited, so choose carefully |
| Best for | Large orders, B2B, long carts | Most consumer stores |
How Do You Turn On the Cart Drawer in Shopify?
- Go to Online Store > Themes and click Customize.
- Open Theme settings (the gear icon) and select Cart.
- Set Cart type to Drawer.
- Turn on the options you need, such as order notes, the discount code field or express checkout buttons, depending on your theme.
- Save, then add a product to the cart on desktop and mobile to check it.
Setting names differ between themes. In Shopify’s Horizon theme, the cart type setting offers a full page cart or a slide-out drawer, plus options such as order notes, the discount code field and opening the drawer automatically after adding an item.
What Should a Cart Drawer Include?
| Element | Why it helps | Built into free themes? |
|---|---|---|
| Clear item list with image, variant and quantity | Shoppers check they added the right thing | Yes |
| Free shipping or gift progress bar | Encourages adding one more item | Usually no |
| One or two upsells | Raises order value with a relevant add-on | Usually no |
| Discount or savings line | Shows the deal is applied | Partly |
| Trust line (returns, delivery date) | Reduces doubt before checkout | Usually no |
| Big checkout button and express payments | A clear next step | Yes |
How Do You Add a Free Shipping Bar to the Cart Drawer?
Set your free shipping threshold first, then show progress toward it.
- In Settings > Shipping and delivery, add a free shipping rate with a minimum order price, such as free over $50.
- Choose a threshold about 20% to 30% above your average order value, so it’s reachable with one more item.
- Add the bar with your theme (if it has one), a cart drawer app or a small theme code edit.
- Use clear messages: "You’re $12 away from free shipping" changing to "You’ve unlocked free shipping".
- If you sell in several currencies, check the threshold converts correctly for each market.
What Upsells Work Best in the Cart Drawer?
Small, related add-ons that cost less than the main item.
- Accessories: a case with a phone, refills with a starter kit
- Gift extras: gift wrap, a card or a gift box
- Protection: extended warranty or shipping protection
- "Add one more": a second unit at a quantity break price
- Threshold fillers: low-cost items that close the gap to free shipping
Show one to three offers at most, with a one-tap Add button. Hide offers the shopper already has in the cart. Shopify’s free Search & Discovery app lets you set complementary products, which some themes display as recommendations.
Which Cart Drawer Layout Is Best?
| Layout | How it looks | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Single column | Items, offers and totals stacked in one narrow panel | Mobile, small carts |
| Two columns | Items on one side, upsells on the other | Desktop stores with a few upsells |
| Three columns | A wider drawer with separate areas, for example for items, offers and the order summary | Desktop stores with bundles, gifts and upsells |
Whatever the layout on desktop, the drawer should collapse to one column on mobile, with the checkout button always visible.
When Do You Need a Cart Drawer App?
When your theme’s drawer can’t show progress bars, upsells or bundle offers, and you don’t want to edit theme code. Look for:
- A free shipping and free gift progress bar with several tiers
- Upsells based on what’s in the cart
- Bundle, BOGO and quantity break offers inside the drawer
- Theme app embeds rather than code edits, so it survives theme updates
- Fast loading, tested with your page speed before and after
- Design control to match your brand, including desktop layouts and mobile
For more ways to raise order value, see product bundles, BOGO offers and quantity breaks.
The Bottom Line
Turn on your theme’s cart drawer, set a free shipping threshold just above your average order, and show progress toward it. Add one to three relevant upsells, keep totals and the checkout button clear, and test on mobile. If your theme can’t do this without code, a cart drawer app adds progress bars, upsells and bundle offers in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my Shopify cart to a drawer?
In the theme editor, open Theme settings > Cart and set the cart type to Drawer. Most current Shopify themes, including Dawn and Horizon, support it.
Does Shopify have a free shipping bar?
Not in its free themes. Some paid themes include one, or you can add it with a cart app or a small theme code edit.
Are cart drawer upsells annoying for shoppers?
Not if they’re relevant and limited. One to three useful add-ons with a one-tap button usually help; long lists of unrelated products don’t.
Is a cart drawer better than a cart page?
For most consumer stores, yes, because shoppers can keep browsing. Stores with long carts, such as B2B, often prefer a full cart page.
Will a cart drawer app slow my store?
It can. Choose an app that uses theme app embeds, and test your speed with Shopify’s speed report or PageSpeed Insights before and after.
Related Reading
- How to Create Product Bundles on Shopify (2026 Guide)
- How to Set Up BOGO on Shopify (2026)
- Shopify Quantity Breaks: How to Offer "Buy 2, Save 10%"
Update Log
November 9, 2026: First published, based on Shopify’s theme settings documentation and Help Center.
