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How to Sort Products & Product Lists on Shopify?

Last updated: November 01 2024

Written and researched by experts at Avada Learn more about our methodology

Is your Shopify store's product catalog feeling a bit disorganized? Customers crave an effortless browsing experience, and effective product sorting is key to helping them find what they want quickly. 

In this post, we will let you discover the powerful techniques to help you sort and arrange products/ product lists on Shopify, boosting user engagement and driving more sales. Let’s get started!

Why to sort products/ product lists on Shopify?

Why should you sort products on your Shopify store?

Enhanced Customer Experience:

  • I remember a time when my product listings were a disorganized mess, leaving customers frustrated. After implementing thoughtful sorting, they could effortlessly find what they wanted, leading to happier shoppers and increased sales.

Improved Product Discovery:

  • Strategic sorting highlights your best-selling or newest items, guiding customers toward your most desirable products. I've seen firsthand how showcasing featured items at the top of a collection can significantly increase their visibility and conversions.

Increased Conversions & Sales:

  • By presenting products in a logical and appealing order, you can subtly guide customers' decision-making process. I've noticed a boost in average order value when sorting products by price, as it encourages shoppers to consider higher-priced options first.

Boosted SEO & Search Rankings:

  • A well-organized product catalog with clear sorting options can improve your store's SEO. Search engines value user-friendly navigation and relevant product displays.

Streamlined Inventory Management:

  • Sorting products by inventory levels helps you identify low-stock items quickly. This proactive approach prevents overselling and ensures timely restocking, improving customer satisfaction.

Sorting your Shopify products is more than just organization; it's a strategic tool for enhancing user experience, driving sales, and optimizing your overall store performance.

Why Should You Sort Products Lists On Shopify?

Sorting your products on Shopify is essential for improving customer experience and maximizing sales. Here's why it's crucial:

  • Boosts Product Visibility: Prioritizing popular or high-margin items on the first page increases their chance of purchase and repeat visits.
  • Improves Shopping Experience: A well-sorted list makes it easier for customers 
  • and helps customers find products easily, reducing frustration and making their shopping journey smoother. 
  • Highlights Best Sellers and Promotions: Showcasing attractive products like best-sellers or items on sale captures customer attention and encourages them to buy.
  • Adapts to Changing Trends: Sorting allows you to quickly respond to market trends, keeping your store fresh and appealing to customers.
  • Reduces Cart Abandonment: A logical product arrangement with out-of-stock items at the bottom prevents customer frustration and reduces cart abandonment. 

Products sorting OPTIONS in Shopify

Using advanced product sorting techniques boosts sales and improves the user experience. Here are some effective sorting methods:

Sorting Technique

Description

Custom Sort Orders

Arrange products to highlight best-sellers, new arrivals, or promotional items.

Tag-Based Sorting

Use tags like "Best Seller" or "Seasonal" to organize and update collections.

Sorting by Product Ratings

Display top-rated products first to build trust and encourage purchases.

Price Sorting

Allow customers to sort by price, from lowest to highest or vice versa.

Stock Availability Sorting

Highlight in-stock items and push out-of-stock products to the bottom.

Newest First Sorting

Showcase the latest products at the top to keep your store looking fresh.

Personalized Sorting

Use apps to sort products based on individual browsing behavior, showing personalized recommendations.

Manual Sorting for Campaigns

Manually adjust product orders during sales or special promotions to feature specific items.

Collection-Based Sorting

Sort products within collections based on relevance, theme, or customer demand for easier navigation.

How to Sort your Products/ Product lists on Shopify

How to Sort Products on Shopify

Step 1: Go to Collections

  • Log into your Shopify admin.
  • In the left sidebar, click on Products.
  • Select Collections.
Log into your Shopify admin, click on Products, Select Collections.

Step 2: Choose the Collection

  • Click on the name of the collection in which you want to sort products.
Choose the Collection

Step 3: Access Sorting Options

  • Scroll down to the Products section.
  • Next to "Sort", click the dropdown menu.
Scroll down to the Products section, click the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Select Sort Order

Choose from the available options below to sort your order

  • Manual: Arrange products by dragging and dropping them or using the "Move" option.
  • Best selling: Sorts by the number of orders (all-time).
  • Title: Sorts alphabetically (A-Z or Z-A).
  • Price: Sorts by price (low to high or high to low).
  • Created: Sorts by the date the product was created (newest to oldest or oldest to newest).
Select Sort Order

Step 5: Save changes

Now, you can click the Save button to finish the process. Your products will now be displayed in the chosen order within that collection on your storefront.

How to sort Product Lists on Shopify

Step 1: Navigate to the Products Section

  • Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
  • Click on “Products” from the left-hand menu. This will take you to your complete product list, as shown in the first image.
Navigate to the Products Section

Step 2: Access Sorting Options

At the top right corner of the product list, click on the “Sort” icon (three horizontal lines with a filter symbol).

Choose Sorting Criteria:

You will see various sorting options, such as:

  • Product Title: Sort alphabetically by the product name.
  • Created: Orders products by the date they were added.
  • Updated: Sorts by the most recently updated products.
  • Inventory: Organizes products based on inventory levels.
  • Product Type: Group products by their type.
  • Publishing Error: Shows products with publishing issues.
  • Vendor: Sorts products by vendor.

Select Sorting Order:

After choosing a sorting criterion, select the order (e.g., Oldest first or Newest first). This setting allows you to prioritize how products are displayed based on your chosen criteria.

Access Sorting Options

FAQs

Can I set a custom default sort order for all my Shopify collections?

No, Shopify doesn't currently offer the ability to change the global default sort order. Each collection's sort order must be set individually within its settings.

I've made changes to my product's price or inventory, but the sorting in my collections isn't updating immediately. Why is that?

Shopify might need some time to re-index your product data for changes to reflect in collection sorting. You can try waiting a few minutes or manually re-index your store under "Products > Collections" in the admin.

I want to prioritize specific products within a collection, regardless of other sorting criteria. How can I achieve this?

You can use the "Manual" sorting option to manually drag and drop products within a collection, allowing you to place certain items at the top, regardless of their price, title, or other attributes.

My theme doesn't seem to display the sorting options on collection pages. What should I do?

Check your theme's customization settings or documentation to see if there's an option to enable collection sorting. If not, you might need to edit your theme code or consider using a third-party app to add this functionality.

I want to create more advanced sorting options, such as sorting by custom metafields or product tags. Is this possible on Shopify?

While Shopify's built-in sorting options are limited, you can achieve more complex sorting by utilizing third-party apps from the Shopify App Store. Several apps offer enhanced filtering and sorting capabilities, allowing you to create custom rules and prioritize products based on your specific needs.

Final words

This article has explored the methods to sort/ arrange products and product lists within Shopify, enabling you to create a more organized and user-friendly shopping experience for your customers. By strategically utilizing Shopify's built-in sorting options, custom coding, or third-party apps, you can optimize your product displays and enhance your store's overall navigation, leading to increased customer satisfaction and potential sales.

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Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.