How to Customize Shopify Order Confirmation Emails? – A Step-by-Step Guide

Shopify order confirmation emails play a crucial role in shaping your customer’s post-purchase experience – the most important moment after the purchase itself.

These emails are key to maintaining brand interest and driving repeat purchases.

While Shopify offers default features for sending order confirmation email notifications, it falls short in several areas, like template customization and automation. Alternatively, you can use a Shopify email marketing app to fully customize Shopify order confirmation email templates and make them on-brand.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to customize order confirmation emails in Shopify using the default settings and a Shopify email marketing app.

Anatomy of Shopify Order Confirmation Email Template

There are essential components that make the Shopify order confirmation emails complete.

Elements to include in Shopify order confirmation emails are:

  1. Subject line indicating order confirmation
  2. Ordered items
  3. Pricing break down
  4. Estimated delivery date
  5. CTA to order tracking page
  6. Customer support information
  7. Thank you note

Here is a Shopify order confirmation email example by Crocs.

Shopify order confirmation email example by Crocs

Let’s see how to include these elements in the Shopify order confirmation email template in detail.

Subject Line

A subject line should immediately tell what the email is about like – “Thank you for your order, [Customer Name]!”.

Adding phrases like “Order Confirmed” or “Your Order is On Its Way” can create excitement, encouraging the customer to open the order confirmation email quickly.

Order Details

The order details section is the heart of the Shopify order confirmation email. It provides all the necessary information about the customer’s purchase.

  • Order Number
  • Summary of Items
  • Billing and Shipping Information

Pricing Breakdown

This section provides a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with the order.

  • Subtotal
  • Shipping Costs
  • Taxes
  • Discounts
  • Total

Estimated Delivery Date

Providing an estimated delivery date can greatly enhance the customer experience by setting clear expectations.

Call to Action (CTA)

The CTA encourages customers to engage further with your brand after their purchase.

  • Track Order: Include a button or link to track the order status.
  • Continue Shopping: A link to return to your store can encourage additional purchases.
  • Social Media Links

Customer Support Information

Providing easy access to customer support can prevent frustration and increase customer satisfaction.

Thank You Note

A personalized message or thank you note adds a human touch to the order notification email and can strengthen the relationship with the customer.

How to Customize Shopify Order Confirmation Emails?

You can customize order confirmation emails in Shopify using its default settings. Shopify order confirmation emails are automatically sent after a customer successfully places an order.

The steps to customize Shopify order confirmation emails are:

  • Step 1: Go to Shopify Admin
  • Step 2: Customize order confirmation email template
    • Using default settings
    • Using HTML Code
  • Step 3: Send test email

Let’s see these steps in detail.

Step 1: Go to Shopify Admin

To customize order confirmation emails in Shopify, open your Shopify Admin and go to Notifications -> Customer notifications.

Opening Shopify Admin to customize Shopify order confirmation email template

There will be a list of transactional emails sent after each event in the delivery process – like order confirmation, shipping confirmation, out for delivery, and more.

List of Shopify order follow-up emails

Click the ‘Order Confirmation’ to view the template.

Step 2: Customize Shopify order confirmation email template

There are two ways you can customize the Shopify order confirmation email template:

  1. Default Settings
  2. Using HTML code

1. Default Settings

Click the ‘Customize email templates’ at the top of the page. The changes you make here will be reflected across all the templates.

List of Shopify order notification emails

The customization options are very minimal. You only get to edit the logo and accent color of the Shopify order confirmation email template.

To add logo to order confirmation email in Shopify, upload the logo image in the Logo section.

Customizing Shopify order notification template using default settings

To create branded Shopify order confirmation email template:

  • Include your logo image
  • Change accent color

2. Using HTML code

To fully customize the Shopify order confirmation email template and make it match your brand, you can edit the HTML code. For example, you can add a tax registration number to an invoice by editing the HTML code.

Editing Shopify order confirmation email template using HTML editor

When you click ‘Edit Code’, HTML editor will open.

HTML code editor to edit Shopify order notification email

Step 3: Send test email

After finishing the Shopify order confirmation email customization, send a test email to check whether all the elements are in the right place as intended.

Limitations of default Shopify order confirmation email template customization

The default Shopify order confirmation email template customization settings fall short in areas like:

  • Limited customization: Very minimal option to customize and on-brand email templates. Other than using the HTML code, you can only customize the logo of the template.
  • Inflexible email automation: Option to send only one order follow-up email, not a series of emails at well-timed intervals.
  • Limited personalization: You can only include customer names and order details, not upsell and product recommendations.
  • Lack of segmentation: Shopify doesn’t allow you to segment your customers based on order history, location, or behavior.

To overcome these limitations and send highly customized on-brand Shopify order confirmation emails, you have to use a third-party Shopify email marketing app like Retainful.

How to send custom Shopify order confirmation emails?

Shopify allows you to send order notification emails but with limited template customization and automation capabilities. To send custom on-brand Shopify order notifications, you have to use an app like Retainful.

Retainful is an all-in-one Shopify email marketing app that features easy-to-setup automation, a ready-made template library, drag-and-drop email editor to fully edit Shopify order confirmation email templates and automate them in clicks.

The steps to send custom Shopify order confirmation emails are:

Step 1: Install Retainful
Step 2: Choose the email automation workflow
Step 3: Setup triggers and wait time
Step 4: Edit Shopify order email template using ready-made templates and drag-and-drop email editor
Step 5: Send test email

Let’s dive into these steps in detail.

Step 1: Install Retainful

To edit Shopify order confirmation email template with an app, install Retainful from the Shopify app store and connect your store.

Step 2: Choose the email automation

Retainful allows you to send automated Shopify order follow-up emails like order confirmation emails, product review request emails, thank-you emails, and more.

To see the options, go to Retainful Dashboard -> Automation.

Select “Order Follow-up Emails,” and you will be asked to enter the name of the campaign. Enter the name and click “Create Flow”.

Choose the email automation workflow to send Shopify order confirmation emails

Step 3: Setup triggers and wait time

The trigger lets you determine when a customer can enter into the Shopify order follow-up email workflow.

Set up triggers and customer rules to send Shopify order confirmation emails to a set of customers that meet criteria like order history, order value, order status, and more.

Click the Trigger block to view the trigger rules applied. You can add more rules like product ID, product name, order status, and more.

Also, Retainful allows you to send multiple Shopify follow-up emails at well-timed intervals:

  • First email: Order follow-up and upsell
  • Second email: Product tips
  • Third email: Product review request
Setup triggers and wait time to send Shopify order confirmation emails

Step 4: Edit Shopify order email template

You can edit every element of the Shopify email order confirmation template, like logo, CTA, product images, and more.

You can edit Shopify order confirmation email content using an easy-to-use drag-and-drop email editor.

Edit Shopify order email template in Retainful

Step 5: Send test email

Send a test email to find out whether all the elements of the custom Shopify order confirmation email template fell in place.

Related Reading: Learn more about providing a positive post-purchase experience with post-purchase emails: 9 Post-Purchase Email Examples That Retain Customers

5 Best Shopify Order Confirmation Email Examples

1. Postable – On-brand visuals

Shopify order confirmation email template by Postable

Why is this a good Shopify order confirmation email template?

  • Logo, tone, and design elements are consistent with the branding
  • All the necessary details about the order
  • Offers a clear and simple solution to cancel the order

2. Dick’s – Upselling/cross-selling

Shopify order confirmation email template about upselling and cross-selling

Why is this a good Shopify order confirmation email template?

  • Comprehensive orer summary
  • Clear CTA button labeled “View Order Online’
  • Smart upsell sugggestions

3. River Island – Important details first

Shopify order confirmation email template by River Island

Why is this a good Shopify order confirmation email example?

  • Including helpful post-purchase links
  • Gives the customer everything they need upfront

Best Practices for Sending Order Confirmation Email Notifications in Shopify

  • Send them immediately after the purchase
  • Include all essential order details
  • Include Shipping Information
  • Call-to-Action (CTA) to order tracking page
  • Create Cross-Sell or Upsell Opportunities

Let’s see these best practices in detail.

Send them immediately after the purchase

Customers wait for order confirmation after the payment. Sending the Shopify order confirmation notification promptly reassures customers their order has been successfully placed and begins the post-purchase experience.

Include all essential order details

Customers need a clear and detailed record of their purchases to keep track of their orders.

Include details in the order follow-up email templates like:

  • Order number
  • Product names and quantities
  • Total cost, including taxes and shipping fees
  • Payment method
  • Estimated delivery date

Include Shipping Information

Provide information about the shipping method, tracking number (if available), and estimated delivery time.

Call-to-Action (CTA) to order tracking page

Add a CTA that takes the customer to the order tracking page, such as “View Your Order,” or “Track Your Shipment”.Set Up Follow-Up Email Automation

Set up an automated series of follow-up emails after the Shopify order confirmation email like:

  • Shipping Confirmation Email: Sent when the order ships, with tracking details.
  • Delivery Confirmation Email: Notifies customers once their order is delivered.
  • Review Request Email: Sent a few days after delivery, asking for product reviews

Create Cross-Sell or Upsell Opportunities

Include recommendations for related products in the Shopify order confirmation email or in follow-up emails. It sets the stage for repeat purchases.

Free Shopify Order Confirmation Email Templates

Including product images, order summary, and upselling requires more than just the default option of Shopify. To skip the design work, use Retainful’s ready-made template library – available to use in the free plan.

Free Shopify order confirmation email template library in Retainful

Sending Shopify order confirmation emails inreases customer satisfaction and gives a positive post-purchase experience. Customize them to make them on-brand and eye-catching.

Also read:

  1. Shopify Marketing Automation: A Complete Guide (+Apps)
  2. Shopify Email Marketing: A Guide to Create Email Marketing Campaigns
  3.  Do’s & Don’ts of Crafting a Perfect Order Follow-Up Email
How to change Shopify order confirmation email?

To change your Shopify order confirmation email, go to Settings > Notifications in your Shopify admin. Click on Order confirmation and edit the email template using HTML, CSS, or the built-in editor to customize the content and design.

How to edit Shopify order confirmation email?

The steps to edit Shopify order confirmation emails are:
Step 1: Install Retainful
Step 2: Choose the email automation workflow
Step 3: Setup triggers and wait time
Step 4: Edit Shopify order email template using ready-made templates and drag-and-drop email editor
Step 5: Send test email

How to send Shopify order confirmation emails?

The steps to send Shopify order confirmation emails are:
Step 1: Install Retainful and connect your store
Step 2: Choose the email automation workflow
Step 3: Setup triggers and wait time
Step 4: Edit Shopify order email template
Step 5: Send test email and activate workflow

How to set up order confirmation email in Shopify?

Shopify automatically sends order confirmation emails after a purchase. To setup order confirmation email in Shopify, go to Settings > Notifications in your Shopify admin, select Order confirmation, and edit the content or design to align with your brand.

Does Shopify send order confirmation emails?

Yes, Shopify automatically sends order confirmation emails if a customer successfully places an order. To view it, open your Shopify Admin, go to Notifications -> Customer notifications.

How to turn off Shopify order confirmation email?

To turn off the Shopify order confirmation email, you’ll need to uncheck the Send notifications to customers box under Settings > Checkout.

How to edit order confirmation email in Shopify?

To edit the order confirmation email in Shopify, go to Settings > Notifications in your Shopify admin, select Order confirmation, and use the built-in editor to modify the text, layout, or styling to fit your branding needs.

Picture of Dakshaya Pranavi
Dakshaya Pranavi
A Computer Science Engineer who loves to write. More often than not you would find me reading books – delving into History and Astrophysics. Through reading, I found that writing is my game. And, here we are.

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