What Is a Shopify Template and How Do You Choose One?

Updated

A Shopify template is a prebuilt layout file inside a theme that controls how a specific page or section renders — for example, a product page template, a collection page template, or a cart template. You choose a theme first, then assign or edit templates within it. If you are starting a store or restyling an existing one, pick a theme whose templates already match your product type and content structure, because switching later can erase manual customizations.

Template vs. theme vs. section

These three terms get used interchangeably, but they sit at different levels:

Term What it is Scope
Theme The full design package (files, styles, templates) you install Entire storefront
Template A layout file that defines how one page type renders One page type (product, collection, cart, etc.)
Section A modular block inside a template (banner, featured collection, rich text) Part of a page

A theme ships with a default set of templates. You can create alternate templates — for instance, a second product template for a "bundle" product — and assign it to specific items without touching the rest of the store.

Where templates come from

  • Shopify Theme Store: free and paid themes, each with its own template set and section library. Paid themes generally include more templates and more section variety.
  • Third-party marketplaces and developers: themes sold outside Shopify, often with niche templates (wholesale, pre-order, lookbook).
  • Custom/OS 2.0 themes: built with JSON templates, so sections can be rearranged in the theme editor without code.

The Red Green store, for example, runs on Shopify and shows the typical structure a template has to support: a homepage with "FAN FAVES," "WHAT THEY'RE SAYING," "SEEN IN THE WILD," and "GIFT IDEAS" blocks; collection pages for T-shirts, apparel, accessories, and bundles; and a cart/checkout flow. Each of those blocks and page types maps to a template or section.

How to install and apply a template

  1. Install the theme. In Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Themes → Add theme → pick from Theme Store or upload a ZIP. Installing does not publish it.
  2. Preview before publishing. Use Preview to check homepage, product, and collection templates with your real content.
  3. Publish or keep as draft. Publish to make it live; keep the old theme as a backup.
  4. Edit templates in the theme editor. Open Customize, switch the page selector at the top to the template you want (Home page, Product pages, Collection pages, Cart), then add, remove, or reorder sections.
  5. Create alternate templates if needed. In the theme editor, use the template dropdown on a page to create a new template, then assign it to specific products, collections, or pages.
  6. Verify. Check a product page, a collection page, the cart, and mobile view. Confirm images, prices, and buttons render correctly.

Expected result: the storefront uses the new theme's templates, and any alternate templates you created apply only to the items you assigned them to.

What to check before committing

  • Layout fit: does the theme have templates for the page types you actually use (bundle pages, membership pages, blog, podcast)?
  • Mobile responsiveness: preview on a phone; most traffic is mobile.
  • Speed: heavy section libraries and large images slow pages down. Test with a speed tool after adding content.
  • Customization limits: some themes lock section order or styling. Read the theme's documentation before buying.
  • App compatibility: gift cards, memberships, and subscription apps need template hooks. The Red Green store, for instance, uses a gift card app and a memberships area — confirm your theme supports those blocks.
  • Support and updates: paid themes with active developers are safer for long-term use.

Common pitfalls

  • Losing customizations when switching themes. Code edits and section settings live in the old theme. Export a backup and re-apply changes manually.
  • Assuming a template is free. Theme Store themes vary; check the price before installing. Pricing on the source site is not stated here, so verify on Shopify directly.
  • Over-customizing before launch. Build with default templates first, then customize, so you can revert cleanly.
  • Ignoring alternate templates. Using one product template for every product type forces compromises; alternate templates solve this.

If your goal is a store like Red Green's — merch, memberships, podcast, and bundles — choose a theme with strong collection and product templates plus flexible sections, then create alternate templates for bundles and memberships rather than forcing everything into one layout.