10 Shopify Speed Optimization Tips to Boost PageSpeed to 90+

LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)

What it measures: How long it takes for the largest visible element to load

Good score: Under 2.5 seconds

Usually your hero image, product image, or large text block. This is what users notice most.

CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)

What it measures: Visual stability (how much content moves as page loads)

Good score: Under 0.1

Ever click a button and it moves? That is CLS. Annoying and hurts conversions.

INP (Interaction to Next Paint)

What it measures: How quickly page responds to user interactions

Good score: Under 200ms

Click "Add to Cart" and wait 2 seconds? Bad INP. Users think site is broken.

Impact: Biggest performance win for most stores. Images account for 50-70% of page weight.

What to do:

• Use WebP format instead of JPEG/PNG (30-50% smaller files)
• Resize images to actual display size (do not upload 4000px images to display at 500px)
• Compress images with tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh before uploading
• Enable lazy loading (images load only when scrolled into view)
• Use Shopify's built-in image optimization (image_url filter)

Problem: Each Shopify app adds JavaScript, CSS, and API calls. Too many apps = slow site.

What to do:

• Audit installed apps — are you actually using all of them?
• Remove unused apps completely (not just disable)
• Look for apps that overlap in functionality (pick one)
• Replace apps with native Shopify features when possible
• Consider custom code for simple features instead of apps

Not all Shopify themes are created equal. Some themes come bloated with features you will never use.

What to look for:

• Shopify 2.0 themes (better performance architecture)
• Minimal JavaScript/CSS out of the box
• Good Core Web Vitals scores in demo stores
• Dawn theme (Shopify's default) is fast and free

Already have a theme? Custom optimization can make any theme faster. Focus on removing unused features and streamlining code.

Lazy loading delays loading off-screen images until users scroll to them. Reduces initial page load significantly.

What to do:

• Add loading="lazy" attribute to all images below the fold
• Keep hero images eager-loaded (loading="eager")
• Lazy load product images on collection pages
• Most Shopify 2.0 themes include this by default

Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, chatbots, review apps — each adds load time.

What to do:

• Load scripts asynchronously when possible
• Defer non-critical scripts (load after page renders)
• Use Google Tag Manager to consolidate tracking
• Remove tracking pixels you are not actively using
• Consider server-side tracking instead of client-side

Minification removes whitespace and comments. Combining reduces HTTP requests.

What to do:

• Shopify automatically minifies most assets (but not all)
• Combine multiple small CSS files into one
• Remove unused CSS (critical for large themes)
• Inline critical CSS for above-the-fold content

Advanced: Use tools like PurgeCSS to remove unused Tailwind or Bootstrap classes.

Custom fonts add character but also add load time. Optimize them.

What to do:

• Limit to 2-3 font families maximum
• Use only the font weights you actually need (not all 9 weights)
• Preload critical fonts with <link rel="preload">
• Use font-display: swap to prevent invisible text during load
• Host fonts locally instead of Google Fonts (faster, privacy-friendly)

Each redirect adds HTTP requests and latency. Common culprits: www vs non-www, HTTP to HTTPS, old URLs.

What to do:

• Audit redirects in your Shopify admin
• Update internal links to point directly (no redirects)
• Avoid redirect chains (A → B → C)
• Use Shopify's URL redirects sparingly

Layout shift happens when elements move after page load. Super annoying for users.

Common causes & fixes:

• Images without dimensions: Set width/height attributes
• Ads or embeds: Reserve space with min-height
• Web fonts loading: Use font-display: swap
• Banners injected by apps: Remove or optimize app

Speed optimization is not one-and-done. New apps, theme changes, and content additions can slow you down.

What to do:

• Test with Google PageSpeed Insights monthly
• Monitor Core Web Vitals in Google Search Console
• Test on real mobile devices (not just desktop)
• Set up performance budgets (max page weight, max load time)
• Re-optimize after major changes (new theme, apps, features)