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How to Create Bundles on Shopify Without an App (2026 Guide)

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Banner for showing screenshots of customer checkout and order admin interface with bundled products.

Every Shopify merchant knows the golden rule of e-commerce: Increasing Average Order Value (AOV) is cheaper than acquiring new customers.

Product bundling is the most effective way to achieve this. By offering a set of related products at a discount, you encourage shoppers to spend more per session.

While bundle apps make management seamless, you might be looking to cut monthly costs or reduce code bloat on your site. The good news? You can create bundles on Shopify without an app. The bad news? It requires some manual legwork.

Below, we’ll walk you through the manual workaround, the pros and cons, and a streamlined alternative for when you're ready to scale.

The Workaround: How to Manually Create a Bundle

Shopify does not currently have a native "bundle" button that links inventory automatically. However, you can "hack" the system by creating a brand-new product that acts as a container for your items.

Here is the 5-step process to set this up manually.

1. Create a Product

Go to your Shopify Admin > Products and click Add product.

Treat this as a unique SKU. The title needs to be catchy and descriptive so customers understand exactly what they are getting.

Examples:

  • “The Ultimate 3-Tee Bundle”
  • “Summer Skin Essentials Set”
  • “His & Hers Valentine’s Package”
Shopify admin dashboard with the "Products" menu tab and the "Add your products" button with red boxes.

Shopify admin dashboard with the "Products" menu tab and the "Add your products" button with red boxes.


2. List the Contents Clearly

In the Description field, clarity is key. Since this is a single product page representing multiple items, you must list every single component included in the package.

Tip: Don't just list the items; list the value. Explicitly state: "Buying this bundle saves you $15 compared to buying items individually."

Product management interface highlighting the "Description" rich text editor field with a red rectangular outline.

Product management interface highlighting the "Description" rich text editor field with a red rectangular outline.


3. Set the "Compare-at" Price

This is where the psychology of bundling kicks in.

  • Price: Enter the discounted price you want to sell the bundle for.
  • Compare-at Price: Enter the total combined market price of the individual items.

This triggers the "Sale" badge on your storefront, visually reinforcing the deal.

Product pricing section in an admin interface, featuring a red box highlighting the "Price" field set to $40.00 and the "Compare at price" field set to $0.00.

Product pricing section in an admin interface, featuring a red box highlighting the "Price" field set to $40.00 and the "Compare at price" field set to $0.00.


4. Manage Logistics (Crucial Step)

Since this is a new standalone product, Shopify does not know it contains other existing items. You must manually configure the details:

  • Media: Upload an image that shows all products together in one shot.
  • Shipping: Calculate the total weight of all items combined and enter it here so shipping rates calculate correctly at checkout.
  • Inventory: This is the tricky part. You must look at the stock levels of your individual items. If you have 50 shirts and 20 hats, you can only create 20 bundles. Enter "20" as your inventory.

5. Publish and Monitor

Set the status to Active and hit Save. Your bundle is now live!

Shopify product editor showing the "Product status" dropdown set to "Active" and the "Save" button highlighted with a red box.

Shopify product editor showing the "Product status" dropdown set to "Active" and the "Save" button highlighted with a red box.


The Risk: Inventory Management

It is vital to understand that this manual method does not sync inventory.

If a customer buys your "T-Shirt + Hat Bundle," Shopify deducts 1 from the bundle inventory, but it does not deduct 1 shirt and 1 hat from those individual product stock levels.

You must manually update your inventory counts after every sale to avoid selling items you don't actually have.

Should You Go App-Free? Pros and Cons

Is the manual effort worth the savings? Here is the breakdown for 2025.

The Pros

  • Zero Cost: No monthly app subscriptions.
  • Performance: No extra scripts loading on your page means faster site speed.
  • Simplicity: Great for one-off promotions (e.g., a limited Holiday Gift Basket).

The Cons

  • High Maintenance: Requires constant manual inventory adjustments.
  • Overselling Risk: If you sell a bundle, your individual item stock doesn't drop. If you sell an individual item, your bundle stock doesn't drop. This leads to overselling.
  • No Flexibility: You cannot offer "Mix and Match" (e.g., "Pick any 3 colors").
  • Reporting Issues: Sales data gets split between bundles and individual SKUs, making analytics messy.

The Scalable Solution: TaskLeap Bundles

If the idea of updating spreadsheets every time you make a sale sounds exhausting, you are likely better off using a dedicated tool.

We recommend Taskleap Bundles.

Unlike the manual method, TaskLeap syncs everything in the background. If a customer buys a bundle, the app automatically deducts stock from the individual items, ensuring your inventory is always accurate.

Why merchants switch to TaskLeap:

  • Automated Inventory: Say goodbye to overselling.
  • Visual Customization: Use clear, high-converting templates without touching code.
  • A/B Testing: Scientifically determine which bundle offers drive the highest AOV.
  • Mix & Match: Allow customers to build their own bundles (e.g., "Buy 3 of any scent, save 20%").