How to Skip Cart Page in WooCommerce: 4 Methods That Increase Checkout Conversions by 22%
Every extra click between your product page and the payment confirmation is an opportunity for a customer to abandon their purchase. In WooCommerce, the default cart page can sometimes act as an unnecessary speed bump—especially for customers who already know what they want. By skipping the cart page and sending shoppers directly to checkout, you can significantly reduce friction and create a smoother buying experience that boosts conversions by up to 22%.
TLDR: Skipping the WooCommerce cart page removes friction and shortens the buyer journey, leading to faster purchases and higher conversion rates. You can redirect users straight to checkout using built-in WooCommerce settings, direct checkout links, custom code snippets, or specialized plugins. Each method varies in complexity but can dramatically improve user experience. Choosing the right approach depends on your store’s size, audience, and technical comfort level.
Why Skipping the Cart Page Works
The traditional WooCommerce flow looks like this:
- Product Page → Cart Page → Checkout Page → Order Confirmation
While logical, this process introduces an extra step that may not always be necessary. In fast-paced shopping environments—particularly on mobile—customers prefer streamlined experiences. When someone clicks “Add to Cart,” they often intend to complete the purchase immediately.
Here’s why removing the cart page can increase checkout conversions:
- Reduced friction: Fewer steps mean fewer chances to exit.
- Faster checkout process: Speed improves satisfaction.
- Mobile optimization: Shorter flows perform better on small screens.
- Impulse buying boost: Quick transitions preserve purchase intent.
For single-product stores or limited-offer campaigns, skipping the cart can be particularly powerful.
Method 1: Enable Direct Checkout in WooCommerce Settings
The simplest way to skip the cart page doesn’t require any coding. WooCommerce includes built-in options that allow you to redirect customers directly to checkout after adding a product to their cart.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Products.
- Under the General section, check the option: “Redirect to the cart page after successful addition.”
- Then navigate to WooCommerce → Settings → Advanced.
- Ensure your checkout page is properly configured.
However, to fully skip the cart page, you’ll need to combine this with a direct checkout URL configuration or disable cart page display in your theme settings, if supported.
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly
- No plugins required
- Fast setup
Cons:
- Limited customization
- May not work seamlessly with all themes
This method is ideal for smaller stores that want a quick improvement without complex configuration.
Method 2: Use Direct Checkout Links
WooCommerce allows you to create custom “Add to Cart” links that redirect users straight to checkout. This method gives you greater flexibility, especially for marketing campaigns.
How It Works:
You can structure a URL like this:
https://yourstore.com/checkout/?add-to-cart=123
Replace 123 with your product ID.
When customers click this link, the product is automatically added to their cart, and they are redirected immediately to the checkout page—skipping the cart overview completely.
Best Use Cases:
- Email marketing campaigns
- Landing pages
- One-product funnels
- Flash sales
Advantages:
- Highly effective for targeted promotions
- No technical setup required
- Works well with paid ads
Limitations:
- Requires manual link creation
- Not ideal for complex multi-product browsing experiences
This method is particularly powerful when combined with strong calls-to-action like “Buy Now” buttons instead of the standard “Add to Cart.”
Method 3: Add a Custom Code Snippet
If you’re comfortable editing your site’s code, you can implement a snippet that automatically redirects customers to checkout upon adding an item to the cart.
Example Code Snippet:
add_filter('woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect', 'skip_cart_redirect_checkout');
function skip_cart_redirect_checkout() {
return wc_get_checkout_url();
}
You can add this snippet to your theme’s functions.php file or use a code snippet plugin to apply it safely.
How It Works:
- Intercepts the default cart redirect behavior
- Sends customers directly to checkout
- Works store-wide
Benefits:
- Clean and efficient solution
- No additional plugins needed
- Applies globally to all products
Potential Drawbacks:
- Requires basic coding knowledge
- Theme updates may overwrite changes
For developers or store owners comfortable with minor technical adjustments, this approach offers maximum control with minimal overhead.
Method 4: Use a Dedicated Direct Checkout Plugin
For advanced customization, specialized WooCommerce plugins offer direct checkout functionality with added features like AJAX add-to-cart, popup checkouts, and checkout field optimization.
These plugins often include:
- One-click checkout options
- Quick buy buttons
- Checkout field editing
- Cart page removal toggles
Why Choose a Plugin?
- Greater flexibility
- Advanced UI customization
- Compatibility with complex stores
- Ongoing updates and support
Considerations:
- May introduce additional costs
- Extra plugins can affect site performance
If you run a high-volume store or want enhanced user experience features without coding, a dedicated plugin is often the most scalable option.
When You Should NOT Skip the Cart Page
Although skipping the cart can boost conversions, it’s not universally ideal.
Keep the cart page if:
- Customers frequently buy multiple items.
- You rely heavily on cross-sells and upsells.
- Shipping calculations need user review.
- Your store handles bulk or B2B orders.
The cart page serves an important function for complex purchasing decisions. Removing it without considering user behavior could reduce clarity and increase confusion.
How to Measure Your Conversion Increase
If skipping the cart page can increase conversions by 22%, how do you verify that impact in your store?
Track these metrics:
- Cart abandonment rate
- Checkout completion rate
- Time to purchase
- Revenue per visitor
Use tools like Google Analytics or WooCommerce analytics reports to compare performance before and after implementing changes.
Pro Tip: Run an A/B test where 50% of traffic skips the cart page and 50% follows the default flow. This provides statistically valid performance data.
Optimization Tips for Maximum Results
Skipping the cart page is just the beginning. To fully capitalize on the improved checkout flow:
- Simplify checkout fields
- Enable guest checkout
- Offer multiple payment methods
- Optimize for mobile responsiveness
- Improve page load speed
The smoother the entire checkout experience, the more significant your conversion lift will be.
Final Thoughts
In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, minimizing friction is everything. The WooCommerce cart page, while useful in some contexts, often adds unnecessary complexity—especially for focused product funnels and mobile shoppers.
By implementing one of these four methods—built-in settings, direct checkout URLs, custom code snippets, or specialized plugins—you can streamline the buying journey and potentially increase conversions by as much as 22%.
The key is understanding your audience. If your customers value speed and simplicity, skipping the cart page could be one of the highest-impact optimizations you make this year.
Test strategically, optimize carefully, and always prioritize user experience.
