Review Display Best Practices

The optimal number depends on the layout type: Carousels and sliders: 6-12 reviews, with 3-4 visible at a time on desktop. Enough variety to be convincing without overwhelming. Grids: 9-15 reviews (3x3 to 3x5), showing depth of feedback. Lists: 5-10 reviews with "Show more" pagination. Lists are linear, so too many creates scroll fatigue. Highlighted reviews: 1 review — the whole point is focus. These numbers are starting points. The genetic algorithm tests different counts and may find that your audience prefers more or fewer reviews.

Different products benefit from different review display formats: Visual products (fashion, decor, beauty) — use image reviews or carousels that prioritize photo content; Technical products (electronics, tools) — use lists or grids with keyword filtering so customers can find reviews about specific features; Consumable products (food, supplements) — use carousels with highlighted quotes about taste, results, or quality; High-consideration products (furniture, mattresses) — use lists with long-form reviews that provide detailed experiences. For a deeper comparison of layouts, read our layout comparison blog post.

Over 70% of Shopify traffic is mobile. Mobile review display needs: One card visible at a time for carousels and sliders (no two-column layouts on mobile); Touch-friendly swipe gestures with visible swipe affordances; Condensed card height — truncate long reviews with "Read more" to avoid massive cards that dominate the screen; Sticky star rating — some stores benefit from a sticky star rating bar at the top of the review section that stays visible as customers scroll through reviews.

The default sort order matters more than most stores realize. "Most helpful" sort surfaces reviews that other customers found useful — great default. "Most recent" sort signals that the product is actively selling — builds urgency. "Highest rated" sort puts the best foot forward but can feel cherry-picked. Consider enabling customer-facing sort and filter controls so visitors can self-serve. Keyword filtering (see our Keyword Review Strategy guide) is particularly effective for products with many review dimensions.