Top eCommerce Filters to Simplify Online Shopping for Customers

Shopping online should be easy and enjoyable, right?

That's where eCommerce filters come into play. They're the unsung heroes of online shopping, allowing users to effortlessly sift through thousands of products to find exactly what they’re looking for.

However, not all filters are built the same. The key to an exceptional online shopping experience is in the design of well-thought-out eCommerce filters.

Whether you're polishing an existing online store or building one from scratch, understanding how to master eCommerce filters is key to unlocking a superior user experience for your customers.

This blog post will guide you through the essentials of eCommerce filters, from their importance to best practices for optimizing them.

What Are eCommerce Filters?

eCommerce filters are implemented to help users refine product search engine results based on specific product attributes like price, brand, or category pages.

These filters streamline the shopping experience by allowing users to narrow down their options quickly, improving both navigation and the overall user experience.

By offering relevant choices, filters help shoppers find the exact products they need without browsing through countless items.

From basic filters like price and brand to more advanced options like sustainability and personalized recommendations, product data enrichment plays a crucial role in enhancing customer satisfaction and driving conversions.

What Is the Difference Between Filters vs Facets?

Understanding the difference between filters and facets is crucial for optimizing eCommerce search experiences. Here's a breakdown of eCommerce facets vs filters:

• Filters are criteria that limit search results based on specific attributes like price or color. Whereas, facets allow users to refine search results by selecting multiple attributes, such as brand, size, or material.
• Filters are often static and pre-defined. Whereas, facets are dynamic, updating based on available product data.
• Filters are generally single-select (one option at a time). Whereas, facets often allow multi-select for more granular control.
• Filters are commonly used to exclude unwanted options. Whereas, facets help users to discover products by highlighting various attributes.
• Filters example - A customer searching for "red shoes" can use a filter to view shoes under $50. Facets example - allow users to refine results by selecting other attributes like Brand - Adidas.

Why Are eCommerce Filters Important?

Baymard Institute research reveals that only 16% of eCommerce sites offer an effective filtering experience.

Moreover,

• 42% of these sites fail to provide category-specific filters for their primary products.
• 20% are missing thematic filters like season or style.

Filters are essential for enhancing eCommerce UX by reducing friction during the search process. They enable users to narrow down options based on their specific needs, improving efficiency.

A well-designed eCommerce filter navigation can also significantly reduce page load times and prevent frustration, making converting easier for users.

Additionally, eCommerce filters help users discover relevant products they might not have found otherwise, increasing their purchase chances. By presenting tailored options, filters reduce decision fatigue, keeping shoppers engaged longer.

Ultimately, filters are crucial in optimizing the overall shopping journey, resulting in higher conversion rates.

What Are the Types of eCommerce Filters?

There are various types of filters in eCommerce, each offering unique ways to refine search results.

Below are the category-specific filter types in eCommerce.

1. Price Filter

This allows users to set a price range filter, helping them stay within their budget. It’s one of the most frequently used filters in eCommerce product filtering.

2. Category Filter

By offering personalized options, multiple filters help reduce decision overload, keeping shoppers engaged for a longer time.

3. Brand Filter

Brand-conscious consumers use this filter to quickly find their favorite brands, making the eCommerce search more efficient and personalized.

4. Rating Filter

Based on customer reviews, this filter helps shoppers find products with high ratings, adding credibility to the selection.

5. Color Filter

This type of filter is especially useful for fashion items, this filter lets users choose their preferred colors.

6. Size Filter

The size filter helps customers easily find items in their size, while still allowing them to view all available options.

7. Material Filter

Shoppers looking for specific materials, like leather or cotton, can use this filter to find exactly what they need.

8. Availability Filter

Customers can filter out-of-stock products, ensuring they only view items available for purchase.

9. Discount Filter

This filter appeals to budget-conscious shoppers looking for deals and discounts.

10. New Arrivals Filter

A great way for customers to stay updated with the latest products.

11. Shipping Options Filter

Customers can filter by shipping preferences such as free shipping or express delivery.

12. Seller Filter

Allows users to filter based on specific sellers, especially useful in multi-vendor marketplaces.

What Are eCommerce Filters Best Practices?

eCommerce filters best practices help improve the user experience and boost conversion rates.

Below are some of the key strategies and website filter design examples for implementing eCommerce filters in a better way.

1. Use Relevant and Clear Labels

Ensure filters are labeled in a way that makes sense to your users. Clear labels are a key strategy for improving eCommerce filter design strategies and enhancing the user experience.

For example:

Instead of labeling filter configurations as "Miscellaneous Items," use specific terms like "Accessories" or "Home Decor" to clearly communicate what products fall under that eCommerce product category list. This improves eCommerce search filter UX and avoids confusion.

2. Enable Multi-Select Filtering Options

Multi-select options allow users to apply more than one filter simultaneously, providing a more refined search bar with filter UI design.

For example:

On a fashion eCommerce site, a user can select multiple sizes (M, L, XL) and colors (Black, Blue) simultaneously to see products that match both criteria, providing more refined results in one search.

3. Provide Real-Time Filter Updates

When users select filters, the real-time results update instantly without reloading the page. This makes shopping faster and smoother.

For example:

On an electronics store site, as soon as a user selects a price range or brand, the product taxonomy mechanism instantly updates the product listings without reloading the search page.

This real-time feature speeds up the shopping experience and enhances filter button UI.

4. Optimize for Mobile Responsiveness

Mobile users often rely on filters for navigation, so make sure the filter bar UI is easy to use on smaller screens.

For example:

On a mobile-friendly jewelry site, filters are presented in a collapsible filter menu UI, making it easy for users to expand, select, and apply filters like price or material with minimal scrolling.

5. Use Dynamic Filters Based on Inventory

Dynamic eCommerce filtering ensures that only relevant filters are shown based on current stock, improving the user experience.

For example:

A clothing retailer automatically disables size filters that are out of stock, making the unavailable sizes non-clickable while still visible to the user. (e.g., "XL" is removed if unavailable) to prevent user frustration and streamline the search process with dynamic filtering.

6. Offer Sorting Alongside Filtering

Pairing the sorting options with filters enhances user control, allowing them to sort by popularity, price, or rating.

For example:

After filtering for "running shoes" on an online sports store, users can sort by "customer ratings" or "lowest price" to further refine the product filters list based on their preferences, offering more control over the shopping experience.

What Are the Current Trends In eCommerce Filters?

eCommerce filters are evolving to keep up with user expectations and technological advancements. 

1. AI-Powered Smart Filters

These filters use artificial intelligence to learn from user behavior, preferences, and past interactions. As a result, they can adapt in real time, showing the most relevant products based on what a shopper is likely to buy.

This dynamic filtering in eCommerce allows for a more tailored shopping experience, making it easier for users to find what they want quickly.

2. Voice-Activated Filtering

With the increasing popularity of voice assistants like Alexa and Siri, voice-activated filters allow users to refine search results using voice commands.

This hands-free, natural interaction is particularly useful for mobile shopping, making it faster and more convenient to navigate product options without typing.

3. Personalized Filter Suggestions

Leveraging data from a user's past purchases, browsing history, and preferences, eCommerce platforms can provide personalized filter options that align with individual shopping habits.

This hyper-personalization increases the possibility of customers finding products that match their tastes, leading to higher satisfaction and conversion rates.

4. Visual-Based Product Filtering

In industries like fashion and home decor, visual-based filtering lets shoppers narrow down products based on images rather than traditional text-based filters.

For instance, users can select a style, color, or product from an image, and the system will display visually similar items, making the shopping process more intuitive and engaging.

5. BONUS! Filter Optimization for Sustainability Preferences

As more consumers prioritize ethical and sustainable shopping, filters that highlight eco-friendly or ethically sourced products have become essential.

These filters allow users to easily find products that align with their multiple values, such as items made from recycled materials or brands committed to sustainability. This trend reflects the growing demand for transparency and responsible shopping options.

What Is the Future of eCommerce Filters?

The future of eCommerce filters is expecting to welcome deeper integration of AI, providing even smarter and more intuitive filtering options.

Voice and image-based filters will likely become more prevalent, allowing for seamless, hands-free navigation.

Additionally, we’ll see more advanced filtering for product sustainability and ethical sourcing as consumer preferences evolve. The goal will always be to create a more personalized, user-friendly experience.

How Experro Helped Diamonds Direct with Customized Filters?

Experro delivered on its promise to Diamonds Direct by building a refined eCommerce filter navigation system, enhancing the online shopping experience for their customers.

The company needed a better way to manage its vast eCommerce catalogs and provide customers with an easy filtering experience.

The company needed a better way to manage its vast catalog and provide customers with an easy filtering experience. Experro implemented a dynamic filtering system that adjusted based on inventory, ensuring that customers only see the products in stock.

Custom product filtering implementations also offered Diamonds Direct a more personalized experience, incorporating user behavior into filter suggestions.

This led to a significant improvement in customer satisfaction, reducing search time and boosting conversion rates.

Conclusion

eCommerce filters are essential for improving smart search UX and driving more sales.

By following eCommerce site search filter best practices and staying ahead of current trends, eCommerce websites can offer more intuitive, dynamic, and personalized filtering design experiences.

As the digital landscape evolves, so will the role of enhancing eCommerce UX filters, leading to more efficient, enjoyable shopping journeys.

In addition to enhancing user experience, eCommerce filters significantly contribute to customer retention by ensuring that shoppers find relevant products quickly and efficiently.

By adopting eCommerce filters UX practices, businesses can ensure a smoother, more engaging shopping experience, ultimately driving long-term success in the online marketplace.

For more details on implementing eCommerce filters for your website, connect with our experts today.