I’ve had quite a bit of experience running a WooCommerce store and over time, let me tell ya, I picked up quite a few tricks to make that gives you an edge over your competitors. Of all these tricks, there's one thing that was quite surprising, and that was adding the product quantity dropdown to my product page.

Yep, something as simple as that turned out to have a major impact on the average order value I was getting. So let me take you through how this small change affected me and could also make a great change for you!

At first, I was just using the default and sorta lame product quantity options that allowed customers to type in the quantity. However, the product quantity dropdown really changed things up for me. I noticed that my customers started buying in larger quantities even more. And to state the obvious, the larger the order, the better your average order value.

What is a Product Quantity Dropdown in WooCommerce?

Before getting into sales, let’s start off with what the product quantity dropdown actually is. In short, it is exactly what the name states it to be. But let me go in greater depth for you guys. This plugin offers a simple dropdown menu on your product page that lets your customers select the units of a product they want to buy with ease.

In contrast to a default setup where customers have to type in the amount they require, this is way better. The dropdown provides you with pre-set values that makes the quantity selection process quick and easy.

When you have a quantity dropdown, customers don’t need to type anything or guess how many items they should add to the cart. They can simply click the quantity they want, which makes purchasing faster and more convenient. Plus, it gives you a chance to set specific quantities that could encourage customers to spend a little more. Let’s dig into how this works and why it helped me increase my average order value.

Why a Product Quantity Dropdown Can Increase Average Order Value

The main reason I saw an increase in AOV after adding the quantity dropdown is the subtle encouragement factor. Yep, it gives a tiny nudge to the customer to purchase more if you know what I mean. Didn’t get it? Let me explain:

1. It’s Easier to Select Larger Quantities

Hesitation always plays a key factor especially when it comes to those last minute purchase decisions. I noticed that customers like to choose multiple items pretty often. The dropdown, in turn, provides them with a clear selection of numbers to choose from. So typing your amount is replaced with choosing the amount you want, click on it, and boom, it is added to your cart.

I also realized that adding certain quantity ranges like 3 to 5 or something makes the customers want to buy multiple items. Without the dropdown, you are just allowing the customer to be unsure of how much they want something. This leads to frustration and you totally don’t want that! So it is as simple as it is, provide them with the amounts they may need, let them choose it, and viola!

2. It’s a Nudge for Bulk Purchases

My own dropdown was set up with increments ranging from 3, 5, and 10. This was also a good way to encourage customers for bulk buying. The best part? It didn’t even seem like I was forcing them to buy more. It was totally their own decision. They are buying one item, they see that buying 3 is a better deal in terms of price, they choose that option, boom. All I needed was to present them with that offer!

This setup can also help push customers who were only thinking about buying one item to buy more. A well-placed product quantity dropdown can lead customers to realize they’re getting a better deal (or potentially a discount) by buying more.

3. Less Friction for Larger Orders

A lot of the time, customers hesitate to buy more because they don’t want to deal with the hassle of manually typing in the quantity or figuring out how many they need. By offering a simple dropdown, I removed that friction. Instead of them wasting time typing numbers or getting stuck trying to figure out how many products they actually need, they could easily see their options and make a quick decision.

When the process is easy, people are more likely to increase their order size. I saw this in action when my customers were able to quickly add multiple quantities to their cart with just a couple of clicks. That alone made their shopping experience much more enjoyable, and, naturally, they spent a bit more as a result.

4. It Allows for Product Recommendations

Here’s another neat thing that happened when I added the product quantity dropdown: I could use it to push customers towards buying a few more products. For instance, if I had a special deal where you get 5 items for a discounted price, it was easy to set that up in the dropdown. With customers seeing this option, they were more likely to choose the higher quantity to get the best deal.

The dropdown gives you the ability to suggest these kinds of promotions right at the point of purchase, making it more likely that your customers will take the deal and increase their order value.

5. Visibility of Stock Quantities

One of the cool things that came along with the dropdown feature is that I could show customers how much stock I had left for certain products. If limited quantities were available, the dropdown would show them there. Seeing that, the customers were most likely to buy the item in larger amounts due to the risk of them running out!

You can use such features for limited edition items or seasonal items as well. Customers often cave into such offers in fear of missing out. Although it does kinda encourage urgency, but it is also helpful without being that pushy. This, of course, contributed to a higher AOV.

Setting Up WooCommerce Min Max Quantities for Bigger Purchases

So like me, you can also encourage your customers to make larger purchases without that hassle. You can also do yourself a favor and set up the WooCommerce min max quantities plugin for that extra kick. It’s simple yet effective!

I would often set up the minimum purchase limit for some items to 3 units. Such items do get larger sales, and while at it, this was the most reasonable deal. They were buying enough that made sense (while I met my inventory needs).

Let’s give you an example to make things more simple. If you are selling some T-shirts let’s say, and you set the WooCommerce min max quantities rule in which customers must buy at least 3 and at most, 10. I assure you that the whole pack of shirts will be flying off your shelves rather than a single one.

The Psychological Factor Behind Quantity Dropdowns

It’s not just about ease of use or strategy; there’s a psychological element to this, too. Customers tend to trust things that feel straightforward and easy to navigate. When a dropdown shows clear, reasonable quantity options, it builds confidence in the buying decision. Also, there's something known as the perceived value. When discounts are applied and you give them the chance to buy more for a little extra cash, they will avail that deal.

I'm not blaming anyone but this psychological trick works on me too! And when it works on me, it works on everyone else.

Conclusion: How It Worked for Me

In my experience, adding a product quantity dropdown to my WooCommerce store has been one of the best moves I’ve made to increase my average order value. The fact that it simplifies the process, nudges customers towards buying more, and allows me to set custom quantities for bulk purchases really changed the way people shop in my store.

Eventually, I managed to increase sales steadily in order sizes by simply making it easy for the customer. All I had to do was set up the smart quantity rules like the one WooCommerce min max quantities have to offer.

I highly recommend you to go for a quantity dropdown feature in your store. It’s a small change that can have a big impact on both the customer experience and on your end. Plus, it helps take a little weight off your shoulders, knowing that your customers are buying in reasonable quantities. So, go ahead—start customizing that dropdown and watch your AOV rise!