How to Create Bundles on Shopify: Step-by-Step Setup + Proven Strategies

Product bundling has become one of the highest-leverage merchandising strategies for Shopify brands, and for good reason. Bundles increase AOV, raise units per transaction, enable cross-sell discovery, and help merchants move inventory more efficiently.

But behind every clean, compelling bundle on the storefront is a layer of operational complexity...

Inventory syncing, multi-location stock availability, picking and packing accuracy, and discount logic that must all work seamlessly.

If you want to learn how to create bundles on Shopify — using both Shopify’s native Bundles app and third-party solutions — this article walks you through everything you need to know. It also serves as a step-by-step guide for merchants who want to boost average order value and improve their online store merchandising strategy.

Let’s start with the basics.

How Shopify Product Bundles Work (and Why They Matter)

A Shopify bundle is a group of products sold together as a single offer — a curated set, a starter kit, a discounted pack, or a “choose your own” assortment. 

To customers, a bundle product feels like a unified item with a clear value story — “Get the complete skincare routine” or “Choose any 3 coffees for $45.” Bundles can also appear as a single product template on the product page, depending on your setup.

On the back end, however, each component product must still be tracked separately to ensure accurate picking, packing, and replenishment. This is especially important when bundles include individual items, product variants, or complementary products.

Third-party apps can help with this, while extending bundling into dynamic experiences like mix-and-match bundles, build-a-box kits, BOGO bundles, volume discounts, quantity breaks, and post-purchase upsells.

Why Bundles Matter for Store Performance

Most Shopify brands introduce bundles to increase AOV, but the downstream benefits go far beyond that. Bundles improve:

• Average Order Value (AOV): Customers naturally spend more when offered value-anchored sets.
• Units per Transaction (UPT): Bundles simplify decision-making, increasing the number of items purchased.
• Cross-sell adoption: Customers try complementary items they might not buy individually.
• Customer lifetime value (LTV): Starter kits or sampler bundles speed up product discovery and retention.
• Inventory efficiency: Bundles help move slow-moving SKUs and balance supply.

But as revenue scales, so does the complexity behind maintaining accurate fulfillment. That’s why choosing the right bundling structure — and the right tools — is essential.

Before you create your first bundle, it’s helpful to understand the major types and how merchants use them strategically.

Multi-SKU vs. Single-SKU Bundles: Which Do You Need?

Shopify merchants typically choose between two foundational bundle formats:

1. Multi-SKU Bundles

Each component retains its own SKU and stock level. These are best for:

• Mix-and-match bundles
• Build-a-box experiences
• Customizable kits
• PDP storytelling (“What’s included”)

Because the components remain separate, Shopify can automatically deduct inventory per item. This structure also ensures clean inventory tracking and supports storefront flexibility, especially when selling across multiple sales channels.

2. Single-SKU Bundles

One unified SKU represents the bundle — common for multipacks or identical items. These are best for:

• Wholesale or case-pack selling
• POS workflows
• Reducing picking complexity
• Brands wanting simpler inventory views

Most merchants eventually use both, depending on their merchandising goals and how they want to present bundle offers and bundle prices.

Examples of High-Converting Shopify Bundles

While the concept is simple — package products together to increase AOV — the execution dramatically impacts conversion rate and profitability. 

Below are the most effective bundle types used by Shopify brands today, along with explanations of why they work, which industries they fit, and what merchants should consider when creating them.

1. Starter Kits (The “Entry Point” Bundle)

Starter kits are among the highest-converting bundle formats because they reduce friction for new shoppers. Instead of deciding between multiple SKUs, shoppers choose a single, curated package designed to introduce them to your brand.

Best for:

• Skincare
• Haircare
• Supplements
• Wellness
• Home fragrance

Why they convert well:

• They remove decision fatigue (“Just give me the essentials”).
• They anchor value by showcasing a clear savings amount.
• They help new customers establish a routine early, increasing LTV.

A skincare brand might bundle a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer into a “Complete Daily Routine Kit” priced lower than purchasing each item individually. This directs customers toward the ideal regimen rather than one-off products.

2. Build-a-Box or Mix-and-Match Bundles (Personalized & High AOV)

Build-a-box is one of the most flexible bundle options because it supports curated categories, unlimited combinations, and customized bundles. Blending choice with value, customers self-select which products go into their bundle — typically within certain rules (e.g., choose any 6 snacks for $30).

Best for:

• Snacks and beverages
• Candles
• Pet treats
• Apparel basics
• Coffee & tea

Why they convert well:

• Customization increases emotional investment.
• Shoppers tend to add more than the minimum (upsell by design).
• Works extremely well for subscriptions or replenishment cycles.

A coffee brand offers a “Pick Any 3 Roasts” bundle with a base discount, then adds extra incentives to choose a 4th or 5th bag. The customer feels in control, but the merchant still maximizes AOV and moves inventory efficiently.

3. Subscription Bundles (Retention Powerhouse)

Bundles pair extremely well with subscriptions because they encourage recurring orders of multiple items at once.

Best for:

• Supplements
• Skincare
• Pet supplies
• Consumables
• Food and beverage
• Cosmetics

Why they convert well:

• Larger recurring orders = better LTV.
• Subscriptions with bundles reduce churn by offering variety.
• Customers appreciate the cost savings and convenience.

A supplement brand sells a “Monthly Wellness Stack” containing 3 best-sellers at a 15% subscription discount. Instead of customers subscribing to a single product, they commit to an entire stack.

4. Gift Sets (Seasonal Revenue Boosters)

Gift sets are essential for seasonal peaks like Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and birthdays.

Best for:

• Beauty
• Home goods
• Food
• Apparel
• Lifestyle brands

Why they convert well:

• Customers want done-for-you gifts.
• Premium packaging adds perceived value.
• Great centerpiece for seasonal marketing campaigns.

A candle brand sells a holiday trio with festive packaging and limited-edition scents. Even at a higher price point, customers see it as a premium, ready-to-gift item.

5. B2B Size Packs & Wholesale Cartons

These bundles meet the needs of business purchasers or high-volume customers, offering bulk quantities at a better price.

Best for:

• Apparel (size runs)
• Beverage cartons
• Cleaning products
• Foodservice
• Home essentials

Why they convert well:

• Wholesale buyers need efficiency.
• Simplifies ordering for B2B clients.
• Predictable volume = better forecasting.

A beverage brand sells “Case of 24 Cans” bundles as single-SKU packs, simplifying warehouse picking and repeat wholesale purchases.

6. Sampler Packs (Perfect for Product Discovery)

Sampler packs help customers explore individual products (flavors, scents, colors) before committing to full-size versions.

Best for:

• Cosmetics
• Food & beverage
• Fragrances
• Supplements

Why they convert well:

• Helps customers discover favorites.
• Reduces barrier to entry for hesitant buyers.
• Drives repeat purchases of individual items.

A protein bar brand offers a sampler containing all 10 flavors. It becomes one of their top new-customer acquisition products.

Shopify’s Bundling Options: Native Bundles vs. Third-Party Apps

Shopify now offers merchants two primary options when creating bundles:

1. The native Shopify Bundles app — ideal for simple fixed bundles or multipacks.
2. Third-party bundling apps from apps.shopify.com — for advanced logic, customization, and multi-location operations.

Many brands start with the native app, but as their catalog grows, they typically upgrade to an app for more flexibility and cleaner backend workflows.

Shopify’s built-in Bundles app supports:

• Fixed bundles and multipacks
• Basic mix-and-match with limited options
• Automatic inventory deductions for each component
• Native performance (no script injection)
• Clean compatibility with Online Store 2.0

This makes it ideal for merchants who want a lightweight, no-code solution.

But once you start experimenting with more advanced structures, several limitations become clear:

1. Limited Variant & Component Flexibility

• Strict limits on the number of components
• Cannot exceed Shopify’s variant/option limits
• Not ideal for large catalogs or custom kits

2. No Advanced Inventory Logic

• No bill of materials (BOM) modeling
• No multi-location routing
• Limited visibility into component-level performance

3. No Dynamic Bundling Capabilities

• Can’t support “Pick 3 for $45”
• No tiered pricing
• No conditional logic

4. Limited Compatibility With Subscriptions & B2B

• Recharge/Skio setups often require deeper logic
• B2B cartons or case packs aren’t supported
• POS behavior is limited

5. Minimal Frontend Customization

• No bundle builder
• No swatches or step-by-step UX
• Requires custom theme development

This is where third-party apps unlock more advanced bundling experiences.

The Top Shopify Bundle Apps, and Where they Excel

Not all bundling apps are created equal. Here are the top options and where they fit best.

1. Simple Bundles

Best for: Operational accuracy, advanced logic, POS, 3PL workflows

Rating: ⭐ 4.9 (570+ reviews)

Pricing: Free plan; Paid plans from $24/mo

Simple Bundles stands out because it's not just a frontend widget — it’s built around clean operational architecture: accurate SKU mapping, reliable inventory syncing, and fulfillment-friendly order breakdowns.

This makes it highly scalable for growth-stage brands, multi-location setups, and teams using ERPs or 3PLs.

Key features

• Real-time SKU-level inventory syncing
• Automatic order breakdown into components
• POS, Markets, and draft-order support
• Dynamic bundles and tiered logic
• Storefront app blocks & UI extensions
• Infinite-options architecture
• Detailed analytics

Things to know

• Complex UI flows may require developer support
• Intentional “lean” out-of-the-box design (built to be extended)

2. AOV.ai Bundles & Volume Discount

Best for: AI-driven recommendations and dynamic AOV optimization

Rating: ⭐ 4.9

Pricing: Free; Paid from $19/mo

AOV.ai uses behavioral data to automatically generate bundle suggestions, similar to Amazon’s recommendation engine.

Key features

• AI-driven bundle and cross-sell suggestions
• Fixed bundles, mix-and-match, volume discounts
• High-performing front-end widgets

Things to know

• Not built for backend SKU logic
• Requires data to train its AI models

3. Zoorix Bundle Kit & Volume Discount

Best for: Tiered logic and discount-heavy bundles

Rating: ⭐ 5.0

Pricing: Free; Paid from $7.99/mo

Zoorix is excellent if you want strong discount structures without a heavy developer lift.

Key features

• Build-a-box with mix-and-match
• BOGO, tiered discounts, percentage-off bundles
• Variant-level quantity breaks

Things to know

• Manual setup required
• Doesn’t support backend SKU breakdown

4. Koala Bundles & Volume Discounts

Best for: Beautiful, visual merchandising

Rating: ⭐ 5.0

Pricing: Free; $19.99–$49.99/mo

Koala specializes in highly polished bundling displays.

Key features

• Attractive layouts
• Quantity break bundles
• Post-purchase upsells

Things to know

• Not built for complex operational workflows

5. Unlimited Bundles & Discounts

Best for: Beginner-friendly and flexible setups

Rating: ⭐ 4.8

Pricing: Free; $13.99–$29.99/mo

Great for merchants who want straightforward bundling tools with wide coverage.

How to Choose the Right Bundling Setup

Here’s the simplest decision tree:

Choose Shopify Bundles if you want:

• Simple, fixed bundles
• Fast, no-code setup
• Minimal theme load

Choose a Third-Party App if you need:

• Mix-and-match or build-a-box
• Tiered or dynamic pricing
• Subscription compatibility
• POS or B2B workflows
• Clean 3PL/ERP handoff
• High-performance headless storefronts

If your operations are growing or you need advanced UX, an app is almost always necessary. For 80% of growth-stage merchants, a third-party app — especially one with clean backend logic — is the more scalable choice.

How to Create Bundles on Shopify (Step-by-Step)

Below is a full checklist for setting up bundles using both the native app and third-party apps.

Option 1: Creating Bundles With Shopify’s Native Bundles App

1. Create a bundle product

• Go to Products → Add product
• Select Bundle
• Add component SKUs and quantities

2. Configure pricing and availability

• Set a single bundle price
• Select available channels (Online Store, POS, Shop app)

3. Confirm inventory behavior

• Ensure all components track inventory
• Validate location availability
• Test stockout behavior

4. Test PDP → cart → checkout

Check for:

• Correct price
• Expected discount behavior
• Accurate shipping/tax calculations
• Clean cart drawer rendering

5. Add merchandising

• What’s included
• Savings vs. individual items
• Use-case imagery

6. Monitor analytics

Track:

• AOV changes
• Units sold
• Attach rate
• Conversion rate impact

If you need custom logic, add a bundling app and rebuild the bundle there.

Option 2: Creating Bundles With Third-Party Apps (e.g., Simple Bundles)

1. Install and connect the app

Configure:

• SKU mapping
• Inventory syncing
• Multi-location rules
• POS/Markets settings

2. Build your BOM (bill of materials)

• Map the bundle to its components
• Set quantities
• Define pricing rules (fixed, tiered, dynamic)
• Choose if components appear on orders

3. Configure your storefront widgets

Depending on the app:

• Mix-and-match selectors
• Build-a-box step flows
• Upsell widgets
• Discount tables

4. Validate checkout behavior

Review:

• Line item behavior
• Shipping calculations
• Discounts and promotions

5. Test fulfillment

Especially with 3PLs:

• Ensure bundle breaks into components
• Confirm pick list accuracy
• Test scanning
• Test returns and restocking

6. QA theme and app conflicts

Check:

• Cart drawer apps
• Discount apps
• Styling on mobile
• Performance/load speed

7. Review analytics

Track:

• Bundle revenue
• AOV lift
• Variant selection trends
• Best-performing bundle types

How to Promote Shopify Bundles for Higher AOV

Creating bundles is one thing, but successfully merchandising them is what drives meaningful AOV lift. Here’s how high-performing Shopify brands promote bundles across the customer journey.

1. Homepage Merchandising

Your homepage influences whether customers explore bundles at all.

Best practices:

• Dedicate a hero section to your best bundle.
• Add badges like “Save 20%” or “Best Value.”
• Use lifestyle imagery showing the bundle in use.
• Position bundles above the fold during peak seasons.

2. PDP Enhancements

If customers land on a single product page, bundle upsells can dramatically improve AOV.

Methods:

• Add a “Frequently Bought Together” block.
• Highlight value comparisons (“$86 value – you pay $69”).
• Use accordions listing what’s included.
• Add a customer review module focused on the bundle.

3. Cart & Checkout Upsells

Customers are most primed to add more items at this moment.

Ideas:

• Cart drawer add-ons
• “Upgrade to the bundle” prompts
• Incentive-based CTAs (“Add 1 more item and save 10%”)

4. Email Flows & Automations

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Bundles work especially well in automated flows because they simplify choices.

Use bundles in:

• Welcome series
• First-purchase upsell flow
• Abandoned cart emails
• Post-purchase flows
• Win-back sequences

5. Paid Advertising

Ad → Bundle → Higher AOV & ROAS. That’s the move. And it makes so much sense.

Just ask Ilia Beauty 💄

Why this example nails it:
- Sells results, not products: The ad clearly says, "makeup set for sunkissed dimension and a soft glow."

- Clear value, no math required: $171… pic.twitter.com/2JsC10yeCY

— Simple Bundles (@SimpleBundles) February 18, 2025

Bundles give you an edge in Meta and TikTok campaigns because they carry built-in value.

Best practices:

• Target cold audiences with sampler bundles.
• Retarget with starter kits.
• Use UGC creators demonstrating full bundles.

6. Merchandising in Physical Stores (POS)

Bundles can increase in-store units per transaction, too.

Ideas:

• Pre-boxed gift sets near the register
• “3 for $30” displays
• Bundled merch racks by outfit/theme

Common Bundle Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Below are the most common mistakes Shopify merchants make, plus clear solutions to avoid them.

1. Incorrect SKU Mapping (The Most Expensive Mistake)

This leads to inaccurate inventory counts, fulfillment errors, and overselling.

Avoid it by:

• Using apps with clean bill-of-materials (BOM) logic
• Testing bundles with real orders
• Ensuring components track inventory individually

Inventory mismatches compound over time and can create thousands of dollars in operational headaches.

2. Ignoring Inventory Constraints Across Locations

Multi-location stores often forget that a bundle becomes unavailable when any component is out of stock — sometimes in a single location.

Avoid it by:

• Reviewing inventory rules for each location
• Setting up location-specific availability
• Testing stockout behavior

One misconfigured location can make bundles appear “sold out” despite abundant inventory elsewhere.

3. Over-Discounting Bundles

Some brands discount bundles so aggressively they erode margins.

Avoid it by:

• Leading with value framing before discounts
• Using bundles to increase perceived value, not only price
• Testing smaller discounts first (5–10%)

Buyers often focus on convenience and discovery — not just price — so you can capture more margin than you think.

4. Poor Frontend UX (Especially for Build-a-Box)

A confusing UI kills conversion, especially on mobile.

Avoid it by:

• Using clear steps (Step 1, Step 2, Step 3)
• Showing visual progress indicators
• Using swatches, variant photos, or selectors
• Keeping CTAs sticky on mobile

Build-a-box bundles rely heavily on customer engagement — any friction reduces completion rates.

5. Not Thinking Through Fulfillment

If fulfillment teams can’t easily pick bundle components, accuracy drops fast.

Avoid it by:

• Breaking bundles into line items
• Testing picklists with staff or your 3PL
• Ensuring scanners read individual SKUs

Operational reliability enables bundles to scale. Without it, errors increase with every order.

The Smarter Way to Create Bundles on Shopify

Creating bundles on Shopify is easy. Creating bundles that scale operationally, support dynamic customer experiences, and maintain accurate inventory is harder.

If you need:

• simple fixed bundles → use Shopify Bundles
• mix-and-match, build-a-box, or advanced logic → use a bundling app
• clean backend logic, 3PL compatibility, and accurate SKU breakdown → use Simple Bundles

As bundling strategies become more central to AOV and retention, the merchants who win are those who combine great merchandising with operational reliability.