Nothing keeps customers coming back like a personalized recommendation.
In fact, 65% of shoppers now demand it, and they’ll stick around only if you deliver that tailored touch.
Frequently Bought Together is exactly the type of recommendation that delivers that personalized experience, guiding customers to products they’ll love and need.
From simple add-ons to bundle buying deals, FBT turns a one-item cart into a more valuable sale.
In this blog, I’ll break down 7 effective Frequently Bought Together examples from top brands that you can adapt to your online store for better conversions and customer satisfaction.
So, let’s get started.
What is Frequently Bought Together?
The Frequently Bought Together feature displays items that are often purchased along with the product the customer is viewing.
By recommending these items, it’s easier for your customers to find what they need, and it encourages them to buy more, increasing your sales in the process.
How Does This Method Help You as an Online Seller?
Using the Frequently Bought Together method can directly improve your sales and customer experience in several ways.
i. Increase Average Order Value (AOV)
When you suggest complementary items, you can increase your customers’ total purchases. For example, if someone buys a smartphone, showing them a protective case or screen protector can convince them to buy these items together. This strategy can push the average value of each transaction, turning single-item purchases into multi-item sales.
ii. Save Your Customer’s Time and Effort
Your customers don’t have to spend time searching for items they might need with their original purchase.
Let’s say someone buys a DSLR camera; showing them camera lenses, tripods, and memory cards as “frequently bought together” items means they don’t have to go looking for these accessories themselves.
You’re offering a simple, one-stop shopping experience, which makes it more likely they’ll complete the purchase.
iii. Expose Lesser-Known Products
Not all of your products will be top-sellers, but by pairing them with popular items, you can increase their exposure.
For instance, if your store sells running shoes and a popular fitness tracker, pairing the fitness tracker with your shoes on the product page can introduce that tracker to customers who might not have considered this bundle buying otherwise.
This can lead to more sales for products that wouldn’t typically get as much attention on their own.
iv. Boost Impulse Purchases
Customers are more likely to add an extra item to their cart when they see it next to something they’re already buying.
For example, if someone is buying a laptop and sees an offer for a matching laptop sleeve, they may decide to buy the sleeve as well without much thought.
This kind of impulse buying can significantly increase your sales per customer.
v. Drive Cross-Selling Opportunities
The Frequently Bought Together feature can help you cross-sell products from different categories.
For instance, if a customer is buying a home coffee maker, you can show them coffee beans, mugs, or milk frothers as items that are commonly purchased with the coffee maker.
This encourages customers to add items from different categories, increasing the range of your sales and introducing them to products they might not have considered.
vi. Target Seasonal Needs
You can also use this feature to cater to seasonal demands.
For example, if customers are buying snow boots in the winter, you can recommend things like thermal socks or winter gloves.
By suggesting items that are relevant to the season, you not only help customers prepare for their specific needs but also boost your sales by offering the right products at the right time.
7 Frequently Bought Together Examples For Your Store
The Frequently Bought Together feature is everywhere, from global giants to niche stores.
Let’s explore how different websites use it.
1. Amazon
Amazon knows exactly what you’re looking for—even before you do. It ensures every recommendation feels like it’s made just for you.
From the moment you add an item to your cart, Amazon’s algorithms go to work, showing combinations that make sense and add value.
I have added a set of baby pacifiers to the cart and here’s how they recommended products in every possible way which was relevant.
First, they suggested some top picks that can be bought with the pacifier. Then they showed me the items that other customers also bought with the pacifier I had added to the cart. This is incredible to trigger the need for a product.
Not only that, Amazon also observes shopping trends and recommends products according to what customers also buy. This recommendation also drives your customers to add more items to the cart.
A great part is, that no matter how much you scroll down, the product added to the cart will stick to the upper right corner.
So, you can say Amazon works magically while recommending sponsored frequently brought products.
2. Walmart
Walmart stands out as a great example of frequently bought together (FBT) recommendations, offering a seamless shopping experience for gamers.
Imagine you’re eyeing a Microsoft Xbox Series X. Walmart doesn’t just stop there—they suggest essentials like a wireless controller, an expansion card to boost storage, and EA Sports College Football 25 (Xbox Series X physical copy) to get you started.
This smart approach ensures you have everything you need for a complete gaming setup within less time & effort.
3. West Elm
West Elm has a smart approach to recommending frequently bought together items, especially when you’re browsing for furniture.
Let’s say you’re checking out a dining table. They don’t just stick to dining chairs—they might suggest a Parker buffet, a Parker sofa, or a media console which may complement the look of your dining room. It’s all about helping you visualize an entire dining setup, which can often lead you to add more to your cart.
They also show a “Frequently Paired With” section that recommends multiple designs of dining chairs that go well with the dining table you chose, which entices you to complete the dining table setup.
4. Boll & Branch
Boll & Branch excels at using frequently bought together (FBT) to boost sales by engaging customers early in their shopping journey.
Suppose you’re browsing for a comfy mattress, a “You May Also Like” section suggests items like a mattress protectors and mattress toppers that complement the mattress perfectly.
This approach works because shoppers are still exploring and open to enhancing their purchases. At checkout, Boll & Branch seals the deal with a “25% off $300+ with code CYBER25” offer, encouraging customers to grab extra items at a discount.
5. Ikea
Ikea is another online furniture store that appears as a great website for recommending frequently bought together products. If you add a cabinet to the cart they first will recommend you similar products to open more choices in front of you.
Then after the next scroll, you’ll see their recommended products such as hangers, hooks, or stands necessary for the cabinet to get its maximum user experience.
After that, you will get the below recommendation as “Get the Look” where they suggest more furniture that the customers may like just to complete the full setup of the room.
So, this will pique the urge to have a full setup of your cabinet and they will make their money at the same time.
6. ASOS
ASOS is a standout example of effective frequently bought together recommendations because it goes beyond simple pairings. Their “Buy the Look” feature uses machine learning to suggest complete outfits that work together seamlessly.
If you’re shopping for a jacket, you’ll see recommendations for jeans, shoes, or accessories that match the style and color of the product you’re viewing.
What makes ASOS unique is how their algorithm doesn’t just tag items from product images. Instead, it analyzes each product’s style to find complementary pieces that will make you feel like your own personal stylist curated the suggestions.
7. Canyon Bicycles
Canyon Bicycles is a great example of how to make frequently bought together (FBT) work for high-ticket items. When customers invest in something as expensive as a $4,000 bike, Canyon focuses on suggesting affordable add-ons, like accessories or gear that other riders bought.
Their approach includes offering sponsored frequently bought together bundles at discounted prices and using persuasive messaging to show how these extras enhance the main product.
Now I’ll show you how you can create frequently bought together recommendations using WooCommerce.
Best Free Tool To Use For Creating Frequently Bought Together Items
Here I’ll introduce you to a product recommendation tool named Product Recommendations For WooCommerce using which you will be able to create Product Recommendations in the easiest way possible. To use this tool, you will need WooCommerce to be activated on your site.
Then you will have to go through the below step-by-step guide.
Step: 1- First install & activate the plugin on your site.
Step:2- Then click on +Create New
Step: 3- After that give the “Engine Title” that you want the recommendation to appear as. Then choose the “Engine Type” as Frequently Bought Together. Then choose the Placement where you want your recommendation to be placed.
Step: 4- After that you can add an advanced option to filter products. After setting up the condition click on ‘Register’ to create the Engine.
Don’t forget to put the engine status to “Enabled” so that the recommendation gets live on your store.
If you want to get a full overview of this plugin, watch this video.
Give Product Recommendations for WooCommerce a try!
Conclusion
By now, you see “frequently bought together” items as a smart way to make shopping easier for your customers and boost your sales.
When you suggest items that go well together, you help them find what they need without extra effort. This doesn’t just increase their order value—it shows you care about their experience.
Start with your popular products, see what works, and adjust as you go. It’s all about making shopping simple and helpful while strengthening ecommerce customer acquisition efforts.
