Sales & Follow-up Templates

Cart Abandonment Email Templates

70% of carts are abandoned. These emails bring shoppers back.

Seven out of ten shoppers abandon their carts. But abandoned doesn't mean lost. A well-timed cart recovery sequence recovers 5-15% of those sales — often the easiest revenue you'll ever earn. These templates cover the complete recovery sequence from gentle reminder to final incentive.

Ready-to-Use Templates

Copy these templates and customize them for your needs. Each includes HTML and plain text versions.

Gentle Reminder
First email — sent 1 hour after cart abandonment
First touchpoint — gentle, no-pressure reminder
Subject Line

You left something behind

Preview Text

Your cart is waiting for you.

Personalization Variables:
{{companyName}}{{firstName}}{{cartItems}}{{cartUrl}}{{companyAddress}}
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Social Proof Nudge
Second email — sent 24 hours after abandonment
Overcoming purchase hesitation with social proof
Subject Line

Still thinking it over? Here's what others say

Preview Text

See why customers love {{productName}}.

Personalization Variables:
{{companyName}}{{productName}}{{testimonial}}{{reviewerName}}{{cartUrl}}{{companyAddress}}
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Incentive Offer
Third email — sent 48-72 hours after abandonment with a discount
Final recovery attempt with a financial incentive
Subject Line

Here's {{discount}}% off to complete your order

Preview Text

We saved your cart — plus a little something extra.

Personalization Variables:
{{companyName}}{{firstName}}{{discount}}{{couponCode}}{{cartUrl}}{{expiryDate}}{{companyAddress}}
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Free Shipping Nudge
Alternative incentive — offer free shipping instead of a discount
Physical product stores where shipping costs cause abandonment
Subject Line

Free shipping on your cart — just this once

Preview Text

We'll cover shipping to sweeten the deal.

Personalization Variables:
{{companyName}}{{firstName}}{{shippingCode}}{{cartUrl}}{{companyAddress}}
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Best Practices

Send the first email within 1 hour. Recovery rates drop sharply after 24 hours.

Show the actual items left in the cart — not just 'you left something behind.'

Don't lead with a discount. Try a reminder and social proof first, then offer incentives.

Stop the sequence the moment the customer completes the purchase.

Include a direct link back to their cart, not your homepage.

Common Mistakes

Waiting too long to send the first email — 1 hour beats 24 hours every time.

Offering a discount in the first email — this trains customers to abandon on purpose.

Sending more than 3 recovery emails — you'll annoy people and increase unsubscribes.

Not including the cart contents — people forget what they were buying.

Subject Line Examples

Timing & Performance

Best Days
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Best Times
9:00 AM, 2:00 PM
Open Rate
25-35%
Click Rate
3-5%

Personalization Tips

The 1-Hour Rule

Send your first cart recovery email within 60 minutes. The product is still fresh in the shopper's mind, and most abandonments are due to distraction — not a deliberate decision to stop buying. A simple "you left something behind" converts more carts than any discount.

Don't Lead With Discounts

If your first recovery email offers 10% off, you're training customers to abandon carts on purpose. Start with a reminder. Add social proof. Only offer a discount in the final email for customers who genuinely need a nudge.

Show the Cart, Not Generic Copy

Include the specific items the customer left behind. A personalized "You left the Blue Running Shoes (Size 10) in your cart" converts far better than "You have items in your cart."

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Frequently Asked Questions

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