Drawer Cart vs Cart Page: Which is Better for Your E-commerce Store?

When it comes to maximizing conversions in an eCommerce store, every detail matters, including the type of cart you use. Two popular cart options are the traditional cart page and the drawer cart. Each has distinct advantages, and the one that works best often depends on the unique behaviors and expectations of your customers. However, we’ve noticed that drawer carts can often perform better in keeping users engaged and improving conversion rates.

Let’s dive into the key differences, pros, cons, and use cases for both types, so you can make the best decision for your store.

Understanding the Basics

Traditional Cart Page

A traditional cart page is a standalone page where users are redirected after adding an item to their cart. This page displays all items selected for purchase, alongside details like product images, quantities, and prices.

Pros:

• Clear, distraction-free experience focused solely on checkout.
• Space for additional details, cross-sells, and promotional offers.
• Familiar experience that customers are often accustomed to.

Cons:

• Involves an extra step, potentially disrupting the browsing or shopping flow.
• Redirecting to another page can slow down the purchase journey.
• May lead to higher bounce rates if customers aren’t ready to purchase immediately.

Drawer Cart

A drawer cart, also known as a slide-out cart or side cart, opens on the side of the screen when an item is added to the cart, allowing customers to view and edit items without leaving the page.

Pros:

• Keeps customers on the product page, maintaining the browsing flow.
• Streamlined, modern experience that can improve user engagement.
• Ideal for cross-selling and upselling without being too intrusive.

Cons:

• Limited space for details; more complex cart features may be challenging to display.
• May not be ideal for stores with a longer sales cycle or high-ticket items.
• Can feel unfamiliar to customers who expect a traditional cart flow.

How Each Cart Type Impacts Conversion Rates

Traditional Cart Pages:

The traditional cart page’s strength lies in its focused, dedicated layout. For high-ticket items or complex products, a traditional cart page offers space for additional information like warranties, FAQs, or payment plans. This dedicated space can reassure customers with complex purchasing decisions but may not be ideal for impulsive purchases or stores with a large catalog of products.

Traditional Cart Works Best For:

• Complex purchases: If your products require in-depth information, comparison tables, or extensive cross-sell options, a traditional cart page might be preferable.
• Customers familiar with detailed checkout processes: Certain customer demographics may expect a traditional cart page and feel more confident in the purchase journey with a dedicated cart screen.

Drawer Carts:

Drawer carts are often preferred in modern eCommerce for their ability to keep users engaged without disrupting the flow of browsing. By maintaining the context of the shopping experience, drawer carts can lead to faster checkouts and, ultimately, lower cart abandonment rates. Stores that focus on quick conversions or have products suitable for impulse purchases often see a lift in conversions with drawer carts.

Drawer Cart Works Best For:

• Impulse purchases: Keeping customers on the product page often leads to quicker decisions and reduces the likelihood of distractions.
• Mobile shoppers: Drawer carts provide a cleaner, faster experience for mobile users who benefit from an uninterrupted flow.
• Higher engagement with cross-sells: Limited but targeted cross-sell opportunities can be added to the drawer cart, driving additional revenue without creating decision fatigue.

Analyzing Customer Behavior to Decide

Key Metrics to Consider:

• Cart Abandonment Rate: If your store experiences high cart abandonment rates, particularly right after customers land on the cart page, a drawer cart might help improve retention.
• Average Order Value (AOV): Traditional carts can be beneficial for increasing AOV through more visible upsell options.
• Time on Site: A traditional cart may lead to longer site times, while drawer carts cater to users looking for a faster, more streamlined experience.

Running Tests for Optimal Results:

To truly understand which cart type works best for your store, A/B testing is a powerful approach. By experimenting with each cart type and monitoring key metrics (e.g., cart abandonment, AOV, checkout time), you can gather actionable insights tailored to your customer base.

Real-World Examples

Many successful eCommerce brands have adopted drawer carts to great effect, particularly those with mobile-heavy traffic or a younger, tech-savvy customer base. Fashion and accessory brands, for example, often prioritize drawer carts to enable a smoother browsing experience, while luxury or specialty stores may still prefer traditional carts for the added detail and slower, more deliberate checkout process.

Final Recommendations

Choosing between a traditional cart page and a drawer cart should come down to what best suits your customers. Here’s a quick summary to guide your decision:

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but based on our experience, drawer carts tend to perform better. They offer a faster, more fluid experience that modern shoppers often appreciate, especially in industries with low friction-to-purchase needs. However, traditional cart pages have their place for products that require more consideration or information before checkout.

In the end, let the data guide your decision, and don’t hesitate to test both options to discover which cart design leads to the best results for your unique store.

📸 Credit: balsamiq.com