The webshop checklist
Checkout checklist: 8 checks for your webshop
Your checkout passes this part of the audit when shoppers see shipping costs before the cart, see the full total in the cart, can buy as a guest, fill in no more fields than needed, can pay the way they usually pay and never lose their details to an error. Place a real test order on a phone to check it.
By the MoraLab team · Updated · 2 min read
The 8 checks
Shipping costs visible before the cart
The delivery cost, or the threshold for free delivery, on product pages and at the top of the site. Among shoppers who left for a reason other than browsing, 40% named extra costs. Test it: can you find the shipping cost without adding anything to the cart?
The full total in the cart
The total including delivery to the shopper's country, before any personal details are asked for. Test it: add a product and check whether the cart shows exactly what you will pay.
Guest checkout
Buying without an account, with the option to create one after the order. 18% of shoppers who left named a forced account. Test it: try to buy without signing up.
No more fields than needed
Baymard found the average checkout has 11.3 form fields, while most stores need only about 8. Test it: count your fields and ask whether each one is needed to deliver the order.
The payment methods your market uses
Cards plus the local favourites, such as MobilePay in Denmark, iDEAL in the Netherlands, wallets, invoice or instalments. Test it: compare your list with what your customers use most.
Helpful error messages
Fields checked as the shopper types, clear messages that say what to fix, and a form that is never cleared after an error. Test it: enter a wrong postcode and a declined test card.
A quiet discount-code field
The code field behind a link, so shoppers without a code don't leave to search for one. Test it: look at your checkout as a shopper with no code.
A test order after every change
A real order on a phone and on a computer after every change to the checkout, theme, apps, payments or shipping. 17% of shoppers who left named errors or crashes.
Fixing what you found
Our cart abandonment guide lists the reasons shoppers give for leaving, with percentages, and twelve fixes for the cart and checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Is a one-page checkout better?
Not by default. Baymard's research shows the number of form fields matters more than the number of steps. A short checkout with clear steps can work better than a crowded single page.
How do I test payment without paying?
Most payment providers have a test mode with test cards. Use it for the error cases, and place one real, small order as well to check the whole flow including emails.