10 Proven Ways to Increase Average Order Value (AOV) in WooCommerce.

Increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce is one of the most effective ways to grow revenue without needing more customers. By implementing smart WooCommerce upsell strategies, you can encourage shoppers to spend more per transaction—boosting profitability and customer satisfaction.

One powerful method is using the Free Gifts for WooCommerce plugin, which incentivizes larger purchases by rewarding customers with complimentary products when they meet specific conditions (like order value or quantity). Combined with other proven tactics—such as product bundles, cross-selling, and limited-time offers—you can significantly increase WooCommerce AOV and maximize sales.

Let’s explore the top 10 strategies to Increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce and drive more revenue from every visit!

What is AOV and Why Does It Matter for E-Commerce?

Average Order Value (AOV) is a key e-commerce metric that calculates the average amount spent each time a customer places an order. It’s determined by dividing your store’s total revenue by the number of orders over a specific period:

AOV = Total Revenue / Number of Orders

For example, if your WooCommerce store generates $10,000 from 200 orders in a month, your AOV would be $50.

Why AOV Matters for Your WooCommerce Store

Higher Revenue with Fewer Transactions – Instead of relying solely on increasing customer count, raising AOV allows you to generate more sales from existing traffic.

Improved Profit Margins – Upselling, bundling, and strategic promotions increase order values while maintaining (or even reducing) marketing and operational costs.

Better Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) – Encouraging larger purchases often leads to stronger customer relationships and repeat business.

More Efficient Marketing Spend – Since acquiring new customers is typically more expensive, Increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce ensures better returns on ad spend.

10 Proven Ways to Increase AOV in WooCommerce

Did you know increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce by just 10% can boost profitability by 30% or more? That’s the power of strategic upselling and smart pricing tactics.

WooCommerce stores have a golden opportunity to maximize revenue from existing traffic by implementing proven AOV-boosting strategies. From intelligent product bundling to creating irresistible loyalty programs, this guide will walk you through 10 powerful techniques that top-performing stores use to encourage customers to spend more – while actually enhancing their shopping experience.

Let’s dive into WooCommerce AOV and WooCommerce upsell strategies that can transform your store’s performance today.

1. Cross-Selling (Suggesting Complementary Products)

Cross-selling is the art of recommending products that naturally complement what the customer is already buying. When done right, it creates a “complete solution” that customers appreciate while significantly increasing Average Order Value in WooCommerce.

Research shows that customers who purchase multiple items have a 30% higher lifetime value. By suggesting relevant add-ons, you’re solving problems customers didn’t even know they had. For example, someone buying a camera would likely need a memory card, case, and cleaning kit.

A study by Amazon revealed that their “Customers who bought this also bought” section accounts for 35% of their total revenue. When Best Buy implemented strategic cross-selling, they saw a 20% increase in AOV within three months.(Source)

Set up Cross-sell Strategies in WooCommerce:

Use free gifts for WooCommerce to place strategic suggestions on product pages and cart pages.

The plugin allows you to encourage customers to order complementary products to receive a free gift. 

Case study: “Buy 1 Hoodie with Cap and Belt, Get 1 T-shirt for free”

To apply this rule, try to fill in the Rule Form as follows:

• Choose Buy x Get y method.
• In the Quantities & Settings section: Buy 1, Get 1, and mark Auto add gift to cart.
• In Product Buy section: Add three product rows and set them to Hoodie, Cap, and Belt, respectively.
• In Product Get section: Add T-shirt to the Include Product field.
• Press the Save settings button.

This is what your customers experience when they meet conditions.

Read More: What is Woocommerce Cross-sell, Setting Up WooCommerce Product Cross-Sells (With & Without Plugins)

2. Product Bundles (Offering Discounted Packages)

Product bundling combines multiple items into a single package deal at a slightly reduced price. This creates perceived value while moving more inventory.

The psychology behind bundles revealed that customers perceive bundles as a better value, even when the discount is minimal. 

According to Etail Solutions, a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that product bundling can increase profits by up to 30%.(Source)

How to create winning bundles to boost WooCommerce AOV?

Example 1: Buy 1 Pizza + 1 Wine, Get the same for free (BOGO deal) 

To apply this rule, try to fill in the Rule Form as follows:

• Choose Buy x Get x method.
• In the Quantities & Settings section: Buy 1, Get 1, and mark Same gift.
• In Product Buy section: Add two product rows and set them to Calzone and Red Wine, respectively.
• Press the Save settings button.

If you configure the settings as we have shown above, your customers will receive the gifts when they are eligible for:

Example 2: For every order with more than 4 items from the Clothing category, the cheapest item is free this week (Seasonal offer)

• Choose the Cheapest item in cart method.
• In the Quantities & Settings section: Buy 4
• In Product Buy section: Add a new product row and set Product category > in list > Clothing
• In Condition section: Add Date twice and set from and to fields to the start and end of the week
• Press the Save settings button.

By applying this rule, you can entice your customers to purchase a bundle of products from a specific category and receive a valuable gift that they were eager to pay for.

3. Upselling (Encouraging Higher-Value Purchases)

Upselling is the art of guiding customers toward premium versions of products they’re already considering. When executed thoughtfully, it creates a win-win: customers get better solutions while you increase order values.
Apple’s legendary upsell strategy contributes significantly to its industry-leading AOV. By training staff to focus on customer needs rather than price points, they’ve achieved a 70% attachment rate for AppleCare+ protection plans. A WooCommerce store selling smart home devices implemented similar tactics and saw a 42% increase in premium product sales within two months.

Implementation Strategies That Convert:

• Feature Comparison Tables: Visually demonstrate the advantages of premium options
• “Smart” Pop-up Triggers: Display upgrade suggestions when customers hover over “Add to Cart”

• Bundle Upgrades: “Complete your kit” offers that include premium accessories

4. Free Shipping Thresholds (For Higher Cart Values)

The psychology of free shipping is one of e-commerce’s most powerful levers. A Baymard Institute study found that 39% of shoppers have abandoned carts due to shipping costs, while 93% of them would add more items to qualify for free shipping. (Source)
Your free shipping minimum should be about 30% higher than your current WooCommerce AOV. If your average order is $50, set the threshold at $65. This creates achievable stretch goals that feel rewarding rather than punishing.

To increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce with a free shipping strategy, consider the following:

• Display a progress bar in the cart (“Just $15.23 away from free shipping!”)

• Use conditional messaging (“Add 1 more item to unlock free shipping”)
• Highlight the threshold in your header banner (“Free shipping on all orders over $65”)

Case Study: For orders over $200, offer “free shipping”.

The free gifts for WooCommerce plugin made it easy for you to offer free shipping with one click.

You just need to: 

• Choose Free shipping from the list of methods. 
• Open the combo box in the Select Shipping section and choose All Shipping Method.
• Finally add conditions to limit the offer. For example, if you want to offer free shipping to orders above $200, add a new condition, then set the following fields:

Customer Value > Spend-Total > all time > at least > 200

5. Tiered Pricing/Quantity (Bigger Savings on Larger Orders)

Tiered Quantity creates a compelling reason to buy more by offering increasing discounts at specific quantities or spending levels. This strategy works particularly well for replenishable goods and products with natural multiples.

Our brains are wired to seek “completion” – when we see “Buy 2, Get 1 free sample; Buy 3, Get 2 free sample,” we instinctively want to reach the next tier. This phenomenon explains why tiered discounts can increase units per transaction by 40-60%.

How to Increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce by Tiered quantity offers?

• Analyze your product margins to determine sustainable discount levels.
• Create natural breakpoints (common multiples customers already buy).
• Visualize the savings with interactive quantity selectors.

Case study:

Example 1: A Fashion retailer can use the tiered quantity strategy as follows:

• Buy 3-6 T-shirt, get 1 free sample.
• Buy 7-12 T-shirts, get 2 free samples.

Let’s review the rule form:

• Choose Tiered quantity method.
• In the Quantities & Settings section:
  • 3-6: 1
  • 7-12: 2
  • Mark Same gift and Auto add gift.
• In Product Get section: Add T-shirt to the Include Product field.
• Press the Save settings button.

So, the customers can enjoy receiving more free gifts by ordering more products.

Example 2: By strategically implementing tiered pricing, a Wine store can significantly increase WooCommerce AOV while keeping customers engaged with your brand.

• Order $200-500, get 1 sample wine for free.
• Order over $500, get 2 sample wines for free.

To apply this rule, try to:

• Choose Bulk Pricing method.
• In the Quantities & Settings section:
  • 200-500: 1
  • 501-100000: 2
  • mark Auto add gift to cart.
• In Product Get section: Add T-shirt to the Include Product field.
• Press the Save settings button.

6. Product Customization (Premium Add-Ons & Personalization)

A McKinsey study found that personalized products can sell for 20-30% higher prices while increasing conversion rates by 10-15%. (Source) Why? Because customers love unique, one-of-a-kind items tailored to their tastes!  

 Why Product Customization Matters? 

• Customers pay more for exclusive products (e.g., engraved names on watches or custom shoe colors).  
• Enhances shopping experience—customers feel the product is made just for them.  
• Increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce since buyers opt for premium upgrades.  

How to Implement Customization in WooCommerce  

Let customers pay more for deeper customization:  

• Free: Basic text engraving (e.g., “Happy Birthday Sara” on a pen).  
• Premium (+$15): Custom colors/materials (e.g., red leather instead of black for a bag).  
• VIP (+$35): Fully bespoke designs (e.g., hand-painted artwork on shoes).

7. Cart Page Recommendations (Showing Related Products)

While many online retailers fail to leverage the cart page’s potential for showcasing complementary items, leading to minimal engagement with their suggestions, the most successful ones utilize advanced recommendation engines to significantly boost the number of products customers add to their purchase.

Advanced Implementation Strategies:

• Behavior-Based Suggestions: Show items frequently bought with current cart contents.
• Inventory-Driven Recommendations: Highlight items needing to move.
• Tier Completion Offers: “Add $12.37 more for free shipping”.
• Gift selection: Display a list of free gifts to the customers in the cart page and let them choose one of them.

8. Subscription Memberships (Recurring Revenue Model)

Subscription models have grown 300% faster than traditional retail over the past decade. What many merchants miss is that subscriptions don’t just create predictable revenue – they systematically Increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce through several psychological mechanisms.

Psychological Triggers in Subscriptions:

• Endowment Effect: Customers value what they “own” through recurring shipments
• Status Motivation: Exclusive member benefits create perceived superiority
• Habit Formation: Automatic replenishment reduces price sensitivity

Case Study: Offer “Free Gift” for the first order of subscribers

You can add two conditions to the Simple method in the Rule Form to offer free gift for first order of subscribers as follows: 

• First condition: Customer > Is logged in > Yes
• Second condition: Customer Value > Order Count > All time > at least > 1

9. Limited-Time Offers (Creating Urgency for Bigger Purchases)

Boosting your average order value (AOV) in WooCommerce requires smart strategies that create urgency and encourage customers to spend more. One of the most effective methods is implementing urgency techniques that push buyers to act quickly. 

Edrone research shows that limited-time offers activate different brain regions than standard promotions, creating a potent combination of urgency and excitement that can boost AOV by 30%.

Here’s how you can use multi-layer countdowns, progress-based offers, and event-based urgency to maximize conversions:

Multi-Layer Countdowns:

• Page-Level Timer: Display a dynamic countdown on product pages (e.g., “Sale ends in 02:15:30!”) to pressure shoppers into faster decisions.
• Cart-Level Reminder: Trigger a pop-up when users add items to their cart (e.g., “Complete checkout within 10 minutes to lock in this price!”).
• Exit-Intent Trigger: If a user tries to leave, show a last-chance offer (e.g., “Wait! Get 15% OFF if you order now!”).

Progress-Based Offers:

• Use scarcity tactics like “Only 3 premium packages left at this price!” to create FOMO (fear of missing out).
• Introduce time-sensitive price increases (e.g., “Price goes up in 2 hours—order now to save 20%!”).

Event-Based Urgency:

• Run flash sales like “Weekend BOGO Deals—Buy One, Get One Free for this month!”

• Offer limited-time gifts (e.g., “Free gift with every purchase for Sunday!”).

By combining these urgency techniques, you can increase average order value in WooCommerce while enhancing customer engagement and driving more sales. 

10. Loyalty & Rewards Programs (Encouraging Repeat Purchases)

Well-designed loyalty and rewards programs are among the most effective tools to increase WooCommerce AOV (Average Order Value). These programs don’t just encourage repeat purchases – they strategically condition customers to spend more per order through carefully structured reward systems.

A perfect example is offering a “Free Premium Gift After 3 Orders This Month” promotion. This powerful WooCommerce upsell strategy delivers multiple benefits:

• Creates urgency for multiple purchases within a short timeframe.
• Enhances perceived value for customers.
• Strengthens emotional connection with your brand.

To fully leverage these WooCommerce upsell strategies, consider implementing:

• Tiered Reward Systems: “The more you buy, the better rewards you unlock”
• Personalized Progress Updates: “Just 1 more order to claim your exclusive gift!”
• Time-Limited Challenges: “Complete 3 purchases by month-end to qualify”

These techniques not only increase average order value but also significantly improve customer retention rates. Plugins like WooCommerce Points and Rewards or Loyalty Program make implementation seamless.

The key to success lies in finding the perfect balance between reward attractiveness and achievement criteria. Overly generous rewards with impossible requirements – or vice versa – can both backfire. When executed properly, these programs create a win-win: customers feel valued while your business enjoys higher revenue per transaction.

Read More: Customer Loyalty Mastered: 5+ Best WooCommerce loyalty plugins for WordPress

Case Study: “free premium gift after 3rd order this month”

To use the free gifts for WooCommerce plugin to create customized loyalty programs without coding, you just need to add some conditions to the gift rule.

To create this rule, “Free Premium Gift After 3 Orders”, you need to set the following condition:

• Customer Value > Order Count > 1 month > at least > 3

Key Takeaways & Final Recommendations

The journey to Increase Average Order Value in WooCommerce begins with a single step—not a giant leap. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to implement all 10 strategies at once. Instead, pick just one high-impact tactic (like free shipping thresholds or product bundles) and test it rigorously for 30 days. Track the results, refine your approach, and then scale what works.

Remember, the most successful stores don’t rely on gimmicks—they focus on enhancing customer value. Whether it’s through smart upselling, rewarding loyalty, or creating urgency, the goal is to make shoppers excited to spend more, not pressured. Ready to boost your AOV? Start using the free gifts for WooCommerce plugin—your bottom line will thank you tomorrow.