What belongs in an ecommerce header: logo, cart and a clear menu
The header should carry a cart link, a logo that goes home and a menu that is not cluttered. See what shoppers expect and how the audit checks it.
2 min read
Area
CRO & UX
Severity
Medium
Fix effort
Small
Stores failing
3%
Of 180 stores we scanned where this check applies, 3% fail it and 78% pass. See all benchmarks.
The header appears on every page, so it is the most reused part of the store. It should carry a logo that links to the home page, a cart link and a menu that is short enough to scan. This check looks for those three elements.
Why it matters
Shoppers rely on habits: logo goes home, cart is top right. Breaking them costs a moment of confusion on every page. An overloaded menu does the opposite harm, burying the main categories under promotions.
What the audit looks at
The audit looks in the header for a logo linked to the home page, a cart link or icon, and a navigation menu of manageable length.
What usually causes it
- A logo that is not linked on pages other than the home page
- A cart link hidden on mobile
- A menu with dozens of items and several levels
- Promotional links mixed in with category links
How to fix it
Put the logo, navigation, search and cart in the header. The effort is small, usually a setting or a paste and under 30 minutes.
- A visitor should always be able to get home, find things, search and see their cart, from any page.
- Show the cart item count. A cart with no count is a cart people forget they filled.
How to check it yourself
- Click the logo on a product page and see whether it goes home.
- Find the cart on a phone and count the taps.
- Count the top-level menu items and ask whether each earns its place.
Frequently asked questions
How many menu items is too many?
Around five to seven top-level items is easier to scan. Larger catalogues use mega menus, and need careful grouping.
Should the cart show a count?
Yes. A visible item count confirms the add to cart worked.
Related checks
Check your own store
See whether your store passes this check
Paste your store URL. The audit loads your pages in a real browser and shows the result for this check with the evidence behind it.