Designing Custom Cart Icons to Align with Brand Identity in WooCommerce

Online shopping, every detail of your website contributes to how customers perceive your brand. One often overlooked yet highly visible element is the cart icon. Whether it appears in the header, as a floating button, or as part of a popup drawer, customizing the cart icon can enhance your store’s appearance, boost trust, and strengthen your overall brand image.

At the core of this strategy lies the ability to personalize your WooCommerce menu cart and implement a visually consistent WooCommerce side cart that aligns with your branding. In this article, we’ll explore how and why you should customize cart icons, and how brands like Extendons can help you do it effortlessly—without touching any code.

Why Cart Icons Matter More Than You Think

A cart icon might seem small, but it plays a critical role in the customer's journey. It's one of the few elements that appear on every page of an eCommerce website. This icon helps users:

• View items they’ve added

• Access their cart with a single click

• Move closer to checkout

If the cart icon doesn't match your site's design or appears outdated, it creates a visual mismatch. By customizing it, you build a polished, trustworthy shopping experience.

What is the WooCommerce Menu Cart?

The WooCommerce menu cart is the shopping cart icon that typically appears in the website’s navigation bar or header menu. It shows the number of items added to the cart and often serves as a direct link to the cart or checkout page.

By default, WooCommerce offers limited options for styling this icon. However, with the right customization tools, you can change its design, animation, and behavior to better reflect your brand.

What is a WooCommerce Side Cart?

A WooCommerce side cart is a dynamic cart that slides in from the side of the screen when an item is added. It’s becoming increasingly popular because it provides real-time feedback without taking customers away from the current page.

The side cart typically includes:

• A summary of items in the cart

• Quantity controls

• Total cost

• A checkout button

Customizing this feature can greatly enhance user experience and maintain visual consistency throughout the buying process.

Benefits of Designing Custom Cart Icons

Here’s why it’s worth investing time in custom cart icon design:

1. Stronger Brand Identity

Colors, shapes, and styles help reinforce your brand. A cart icon designed with your brand elements makes your store look more professional and trustworthy.

2. Improved Visual Appeal

A well-designed cart icon adds polish to your user interface. It draws attention in a good way and encourages interaction.

3. Better User Experience

Icons that match the overall website design create a smoother, less jarring experience for customers.

4. Increased Conversion Rates

A visible, attractive cart icon can reduce cart abandonment by reminding users that they’ve already added items and are just a click away from checkout.

How to Choose the Right Cart Icon Style for Your Brand

When designing a custom cart icon, consider these visual aspects:

1. Color Scheme

Choose colors that reflect your brand and are consistent with your website. If your primary color is blue, the icon should match or complement that color.

2. Shape and Size

Minimalistic brands may prefer a thin outline icon, while playful or bold brands might go with a filled or oversized icon. Make sure the size is optimized for both desktop and mobile views.

3. Animation or Hover Effects

Some stores use animation to grab attention. For example, the icon may shake or change color when a product is added. Just be careful not to overdo it—subtlety works best.

4. Positioning

Whether you're using a WooCommerce menu cart or a WooCommerce side cart, make sure it’s visible, accessible, and doesn’t interfere with other content.

Tools to Help You Customize Cart Icons in WooCommerce

To create a custom cart icon without writing code, use a reliable plugin. One of the best tools for this purpose is offered by Extendons. Their WooCommerce plugins provide a user-friendly interface to:

• Replace the default cart icon with a custom design

• Add floating or sticky cart buttons

• Enable or disable the side cart feature

• Customize the content and behavior of the side cart

• Choose from pre-designed icon styles or upload your own

These features help store owners maintain visual consistency and improve user experience without needing technical skills.

Best Practices for Custom Cart Icon Design

1. Keep It Simple

Don’t overcrowd the icon with too many effects or colors. A simple, clean design works best for all devices.

2. Make It Recognizable

Stick to universally recognized cart symbols like a basket, trolley, or shopping bag.

3. Ensure Good Contrast

The icon should stand out against the background to remain visible and clickable at all times.

4. Test Across Devices

Make sure the icon looks good and works properly on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

5. Use a Sticky Cart Button

This allows customers to access their cart anytime, anywhere on the site—boosting convenience and conversion rates.

Customizing the WooCommerce Side Cart for Better Engagement

Personalizing your side cart not only improves the look but also increases functionality. Here’s what you can customize:

• Cart icon trigger position: Top-left, bottom-right, floating, etc.

• Slide-in animation style

• Button and text colors

• Item details shown

• Checkout and continue shopping options

Using the Extendons WooCommerce Side Cart plugin, you can configure all of these without writing a single line of code.

Real-World Examples

Imagine you run a high-end skincare store with a clean, modern aesthetic. A sleek cart icon with soft colors and a minimal design will reinforce the sense of luxury.

On the other hand, if your store sells children’s toys, you might want a playful icon with bright colors and a bouncy animation to match your energetic brand personality.

In both cases, consistency between your cart icon and brand identity improves trust and user experience.

FAQs

Q1: Can I change the WooCommerce cart icon without code?

Yes, with plugins like those from Extendons, you can fully customize the cart icon design, behavior, and position using a visual interface.

Q2: What is the difference between the menu cart and side cart?

The WooCommerce menu cart is the icon in your site’s navigation bar, while the WooCommerce side cart is a sliding panel that displays cart contents without leaving the page.

Q3: Is the side cart mobile-friendly?

Yes, most modern plugins ensure the side cart is responsive and fully functional on all devices.

Q4: Will changing the cart icon affect my checkout process?

No, customizing the icon is a front-end change. It doesn't affect the back-end checkout process.

Q5: Can I upload my own cart icon?

Absolutely. Many plugins allow you to upload custom SVG or PNG files that match your brand style.

Final Thoughts

Designing a custom cart icon is a small change that makes a big impact. Whether it's a well-placed WooCommerce menu cart or a branded WooCommerce side cart, customizing these elements helps build a seamless and visually appealing shopping experience.

With the help of user-friendly tools from Extendons, you can easily tailor the cart design to fit your brand—without writing any code. Consistency in design leads to better usability, stronger brand recall, and ultimately, more conversions.

Don’t underestimate the power of details. Start with your cart icon and build a brand that’s memorable from start to checkout.