Median free shipping threshold by store vertical (Shopify stores with a stated US-dollar threshold)
| Vertical | Stores | Median threshold (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel & jewelry | 131 | $100 |
| Outdoor & fitness | 53 | $99 |
| Pets & baby | 84 | $75 |
| Home, kitchen & garden | 98 | $75 |
| Electronics, gaming & auto | 31 | $75 |
| Other verticals | 55 | $75 |
| Beauty & health | 86 | $70 |
Source: PageSpeed Matters, Oct 2026. Thresholds read from shipping policy text only.
Summary
A free shipping threshold is one of the simplest levers a store has on order value. We read the shipping policies of ranking Shopify stores to see where those thresholds actually sit.
Of 538 US-dollar free shipping thresholds we found, the median is $85, with the middle half between $50 and $100. The exact median depends on how thresholds are read, so treat it as a range of about $80 to $85 rather than a precise figure.
What we measured
We read the shipping policy pages of 3,832 Shopify stores that rank in Google. From the policy text we extracted phrases such as "free shipping on orders over $X" and skipped thresholds in other currencies.
This is a short study, and coverage is partial. Thresholds shown only in a banner or the cart are missed. The median also moves with the phrase patterns used: our strict patterns give $85, while a looser set gives $80 on 747 thresholds. Differences by rank are a correlation, not a sign that thresholds affect rankings.
Most thresholds sit between $50 and $100
Across 538 thresholds, the median is $85 and the middle half runs from $50 to $100. The most common single values are $50 (61 stores), $100 (60), $99 (54) and $75 (52), round numbers and just-under prices that shoppers can read at a glance.
By band, $75 to $99 is the single largest, holding 25.8% of thresholds. 28.6% of thresholds are $50 or less, and 19.5% are $150 or more, so a sizeable minority of stores ask for a much larger basket.
Free shipping on everything is rare. Only 3.6% of readable shipping policies offer free shipping on every order.
Apparel stores set the highest bar
Apparel and jewelry stores ask for the most, a median $100 threshold across 131 stores, with outdoor and fitness close behind at $99 (53 stores). Beauty and health stores sit lowest at $70 across 86 stores. Most other verticals land at $75. These gaps may follow typical order values in each vertical.
By rank, stores ranking 11 to 20 ask for more (median $99, 180 stores) than stores ranking in the top 3 (median $79, 168 stores) or 4 to 10 (median $75, 190 stores). This is a correlation only.
What this means for your store
Benchmarks are a starting point, not a target. Set your threshold from your own order data:
- Start a little above your current average order value, so the threshold nudges shoppers to add one more item.
- Check your vertical: a $100 bar is normal in apparel, but higher than most beauty stores ask.
- State the threshold clearly in your shipping policy, the site banner and the cart, with a progress message that tells shoppers how far they are from free shipping.
- Test changes over a few weeks and watch margin as well as conversion rate.
Sources
- PageSpeed Matters analysis of shipping policy pages from ranking Shopify stores, October 2026
- PageSpeed Matters phrase extraction of US-dollar free shipping thresholds, October 2026
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<p style="font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif">Source: <a href="https://www.pagespeedmatters.com/resources/data-studies/free-shipping-thresholds">Free Shipping Thresholds 2026: $85 Median - PageSpeed Matters</a></p>
Frequently asked questions
What is the average free shipping threshold for online stores?
Across 538 US-dollar thresholds in the shipping policies of ranking Shopify stores, the median is $85, with the middle half between $50 and $100. A looser reading of the policies gives $80, so think of it as roughly $80 to $85.
What is the most common free shipping threshold?
$50, used by 61 stores, followed closely by $100 (60), $99 (54) and $75 (52). The $75 to $99 band holds 25.8% of all thresholds.
How many stores offer free shipping on every order?
Very few. Only 3.6% of readable shipping policies from ranking Shopify stores offer free shipping on every order.
A free shipping threshold is easy to adjust and test, and setting it from your own order data can lift basket size without hurting conversion. Need help with this? See our ecommerce CRO agency.