How to Add a Sticky Add-to-Cart Feature in Your Shopify Store

In today’s competitive e-commerce landscape, even small UX friction can cost conversions. I wrote this guide after seeing how often shoppers scroll away from product pages without completing an action. A sticky add-to-cart feature addresses this exact moment of hesitation by keeping the primary action visible, accessible, and effortless, improving both user experience and conversion potential.    

With this comprehensive guide, we'll explore what a sticky add-to-cart feature is, why is it vital for your Shopify store, and provide a step-by-step guide so that you can implement it manually on your store.

Understanding the "Sticky Add to Cart" Feature

A sticky add-to-cart feature keeps the primary purchase action visible as users scroll through a product page. Instead of forcing shoppers to scroll back to the product form, the add-to-cart action remains accessible, reducing friction and shortening the path to conversion. This Sticky cart improves the experience and overall chances of conversion from a user.

Importance of a Sticky Add-to-Cart Feature

• Enhanced User Experience: Persistent visibility removes unnecessary scrolling and decision friction.
• Higher Conversion Rates: Reduces abandonment by keeping purchase intent actionable.
• Mobile Optimization: Ensures one-tap access on smaller screens where scrolling is costly.

Below are before and after screenshots showcasing the improved accessibility and user-friendliness:

Steps to Implement a Sticky Add-to-Cart Feature Manually

Step 1: Access Shopify Theme Code
Open your Shopify admin → Online Store → Themes → Actions → Edit code.

Step 2: Create a 'sticky-add-to-cart' snippet

Create a snippet with the name "sticky-add-to-cart" and paste the following code inside the snippet

{% style %}
.sticky-cart-bar {
  display: none;
  gap: 1rem;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
  background: #fff;
  position: fixed;
  bottom: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  padding: 10px 50px;
  box-shadow: 0 -2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
  z-index: 100;
}

.sticky-cart-product-info {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
}

.sticky-cart-product-image {
  margin-right: 10px;
}

.sticky-cart-product-image img {
  width: 60px;
  height: 60px;
  object-fit: cover;
}

.sticky-cart-product-title {
  font-size: 1.3rem;
  font-weight: bold;
}

.sticky-cart-form {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
}

.sticky-cart-form-controls{
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
}

.sticky-cart-quantity-label {
  margin-right: 5px;
}

.sticky-cart-quantity-wrapper {
  position: relative;
  margin-right: 5px;
}

.sticky-cart-quantity-select {
  padding: 8px;
  border: 1px solid #ccc;
  border-radius: 4px;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.sticky-cart-variant-select {
  margin-right: 5px;
  padding: 8px;
  border: 1px solid #ccc;
  border-radius: 4px;
}

.sticky-cart-add-button {
  background-color: black;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 4px;
  cursor: pointer;
}

@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .sticky-cart-bar {
    padding: 10px;
  }
  
  .sticky-cart-product-title {
    font-size: 1rem;
  }
  
  .sticky-cart-quantity-label {
    display: none;
  }
  
  .sticky-cart-add-button {
    padding: 8px 15px;
  }
}

@media (max-width: 480px) {
  .sticky-cart-product-title {
    max-width: 120px;
    overflow: hidden;
    text-overflow: ellipsis;
    white-space: nowrap;
  }
  
  .sticky-cart-quantity-select,
  .sticky-cart-variant-select,
  .sticky-cart-add-button {
    font-size: 0.9rem;
  }
}
  
@media (max-width: 390px) {
  .sticky-cart-quantity-select{
     display: none;
  }
}
  
{% endstyle %}

<div class="sticky-cart-container" {% unless section.settings.enable_sticky_bar %}style="display:none;"{% endunless %}>
  {% form 'product', product, id: 'stickyAddToCartForm', class: 'sticky-cart-form' %}
    <div class="sticky-cart-bar">
      <div class="sticky-cart-product-info">
        <div class="sticky-cart-product-image">
          <img src="{{ product.featured_media | image_url: width: 60 }}" alt="{{ product.title }}">
        </div>
        <div class="sticky-cart-product-title">
          {{ product.title }}
        </div>
      </div>
      <div class="sticky-cart-form-controls">
        <label for="stickyCartQuantity-{{ section.id }}" class="sticky-cart-quantity-label">Quantity</label>
        <div class="sticky-cart-quantity-wrapper">
          <select id="stickyCartQuantity-{{ section.id }}" name="quantity" class="sticky-cart-quantity-select" data-quantity-input>
            {% for i in (1..10) %}
              <option value="{{ i }}">{{ i }}</option>
            {% endfor %}
          </select>
        </div>
        {% unless product.has_only_default_variant %}
          <select name="id" class="sticky-cart-variant-select">
            {% for variant in product.variants %}
              <option value="{{ variant.id }}" {% if variant.available == false %}disabled{% endif %}>
                {{ variant.title }} - ({{ variant.price | money_with_currency }})
              </option>
            {% endfor %}
          </select>
        {% endunless %}
        <button type="submit" class="sticky-cart-add-button">Add To Cart</button>
      </div>
    </div>
  {% endform %}
</div>

<script>
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
  const stickyCartBar = document.querySelector('.sticky-cart-bar');
  const productForm = document.querySelector('.product-form');
  
  if (stickyCartBar && productForm) {
    window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {
      const formRect = productForm.getBoundingClientRect();
      if (formRect.bottom < 0) {
        stickyCartBar.style.display = 'flex';
      } else {
        stickyCartBar.style.display = 'none';
      }
    });
  }
});
</script>

Step 3: Render the snippet in “main-product.liquid” Section

Paste the following code just where the section tag ends and before the start of the schema.

{% render 'sticky-add-to-cart' %}

Step 4: Modify Schema of the “main-product.liquid” Section

Paste the code given below, into your schema "settings"

{
  "type": "checkbox",
  "id": "enable_sticky_bar",
  "default": true,
  "label": "Enable Sticky Bar"
 },

Step 5: Enable the Sticky Bar from Theme Customization

Select the “Enable Sticky Bar” option, and that’s it!!!

FAQ

1. Does a sticky add-to-cart improve conversions?

Yes. It reduces friction by keeping the purchase action visible, especially on long product pages.

2. Is this feature mobile-friendly?

Yes. Sticky add-to-cart bars are particularly effective on mobile screens.

3. Does this require an app?

No. This guide shows how to implement it manually using theme code.

4. Will it slow down my Shopify store?

No, when implemented correctly using lightweight CSS and JavaScript.

5. Can I disable it later?

Yes. The feature is controlled via a theme setting toggle.

Conclusion

A sticky add-to-cart feature removes friction at the exact moment shoppers are ready to act. When implemented correctly, it improves usability, supports mobile buying behaviour, and increases conversions without altering your core product experience. This approach keeps your storefront fast, focused, and conversion-ready. By following the step-by-step tutorial provided in this guide, you can integrate this Shopify sticky cart feature into your Shopify store and make the most of its benefits.