How to Convert Figma to Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide for Ecommerce Designers

The handoff from design to development can be where good ecommerce websites fall apart. Figma files are often pixel-perfect, highly polished, and crafted with the user in mind — but when they’re handed off to a developer without a clear process, the final Shopify site can feel off-brand, clunky, or just slow.

Whether you’re a designer, agency, or ecommerce founder, the goal is the same: maintain the design integrity of your Figma mockup while launching a performant Shopify store that converts.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the full process of converting a Figma design into a fully functional Shopify store. We’ll also look at the tools, workflows, and best practices that experienced Shopify developers use to make this transition smooth and scalable.

Why You Can Trust This Guide

This isn’t generic advice pulled from forums or automated tools. It’s based on over a decade of hands-on experience building Shopify stores from scratch — using high-fidelity Figma designs — for brands that care deeply about performance, design integrity, and user experience.

I’ve developed Shopify themes and custom builds for brands of all sizes — from early-stage DTC startups to high-volume Shopify Plus stores doing millions in revenue. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with designers, creative directors, and agencies to bring bold, on-brand ecommerce experiences to life — and I’ve seen what works (and what breaks) during the Figma-to-Shopify process.

But beyond just personal experience, this guide is published for ecomm.design — the ecommerce design gallery where we curate some of the best-designed ecommerce stores on the internet. Every site featured on ecomm.design has been hand-picked for visual polish, UX, layout, and branding.

So this isn’t just about how to turn a design into a Shopify build — it’s about doing it at the highest possible standard.

The brands featured on ecomm.design are not using cookie-cutter templates or no-code hacks that look the same as every other store. They’re using thoughtful design systems, polished interactions, and real development workflows.

This guide was created with that same level of quality in mind — made for:

• Designers who want their work built exactly as designed
• Agencies who need scalable handoff processes
• Founders who care about both design and conversion
• Developers who want a repeatable process for premium builds

If you’re trying to build a Shopify store that looks good and performs, this guide reflects the process used by top-tier teams — not shortcuts, not hacks, just real experience from the field.

1. Preparing Your Figma File for Handoff

Before you even think about code, your Figma file needs to be set up properly. A disorganized design file slows down the build, introduces miscommunication, and increases development costs. Clean design = clean code.

Key Principles:

• Use Auto Layout: Make sure all sections and components use auto layout. This ensures spacing and alignment is maintained consistently, especially across responsive views.
• Define a Design System: Stick to a consistent type scale, color palette, button styles, form fields, and spacing units. Create components and use them across your file.
• Label Everything Clearly: Layers should be named accurately. Use folders and hierarchies. For example, use Header > Navigation > Menu Item instead of Frame 12 > Frame 21.
• Create Separate Frames for Mobile & Desktop: Don’t rely solely on constraints. Design the full mobile layout separately so developers can reference exactly what should appear.
• Spacing & Grids: Use consistent grids, column layouts, and spacing. Define these early and apply them across your page templates.

Here’s a quick checklist of how to prep your Figma file:

2. Choosing the Right Build Path: No-code vs Custom Theme Development

Not every Figma to Shopify project is built the same way. Depending on budget, timeline, complexity, and team skill set, you’ll want to choose the right development approach.

Let’s explore the main options:

A. No-Code Builders (Fast, Visual)

• Replo – Powerful drag-and-drop tool made for Shopify. Great for landing pages and section-based designs. Ideal for marketers and designers who want control without coding.
• Instant.so – Simpler interface, best used for one-pagers, coming soon pages, or quick launches.

Pros:

• Quick to launch
• No developer needed
• Visual editing

Cons:

• Limited design flexibility
• Can slow down page load if overused
• Can’t handle advanced Shopify logic (custom apps, logic-based content)

Pricing (USD):

• Replo starts at $99/month for the Pro plan
• Instant.so has a free tier, with paid plans from $19/month

B. Theme Customization (Balanced Approach)

Edit an existing Shopify theme like Dawn or a premium theme from the Shopify Theme Store or ThemeForest. Customize the Liquid files, CSS, and sections to match your Figma design.

Pros:

• Faster than a full custom build
• Still allows for deep customization
• Keeps Shopify updates intact

Cons:

• Theme limitations may require workarounds
• Performance can suffer with too many edits

Best for:

• Brands with modest budgets who still want unique branding

C. Custom Theme Development (Best Quality, Most Control)

If your Figma design is highly custom, or you want complete control over the frontend experience, go with a custom theme build. This is where experienced Shopify developers use the Shopify CLI, Liquid, Tailwind CSS, and even Hydrogen for headless builds.

Pros:

• Fully matches your Figma design
• Performance-optimized
• No third-party bloat

Cons:

• Takes longer to build
• More expensive

Typical cost range:

• From $5,000 to $25,000+ depending on complexity

3. Tools That Help Translate Figma to Code

Even with a good Figma file and a plan, bridging the gap between design and Shopify takes the right tools. These platforms and plugins reduce friction in the handoff process.

Top Tools:

• Figma Inspect Mode – The built-in way for devs to see CSS, spacing, and asset info.
• Anima – Converts Figma designs into HTML/CSS code. Useful for simple, static components.
• Locofy – Another Figma-to-code tool that outputs clean HTML/CSS and React code.
• Zeplin – Not Figma-specific but still used in some dev workflows.
• Zeroheight – Helps you build a design system your devs can access and use consistently.

Here’s a comparison:

4. Developer Workflow: Shopify-Specific Build Process

Once the Figma design is ready and tools are selected, the development begins. A professional Shopify developer will usually follow a structured workflow.

Typical Build Stack:

• Shopify CLI – To scaffold the theme and work locally
• GitHub – For version control and team collaboration
• Theme Kit or Shopify GitHub integration – For deploying themes
• Liquid – Shopify’s templating language
• Tailwind CSS – Speeds up styling and ensures consistency
• Shopify Sections – To break content into reusable blocks

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Setup Shopify Dev Store
   Start with a fresh dev store to sandbox the project.
2. Install Shopify CLI
   Set up the local environment, connect to the store, and start live reloading.
3. Convert Figma Sections into Shopify Sections
   Each frame in Figma (Hero, Product Grid, Footer, etc.) gets turned into a separate .liquid section.
4. Apply Styles Using Tailwind or SCSS
   Recreate the spacing, colors, and typography from the Figma file using utility classes or custom stylesheets.
5. Hook in Dynamic Content
   Replace placeholders with Shopify dynamic content: product titles, images, collections, etc.
6. Add Mobile Responsiveness
   Ensure all sections work across breakpoints and devices.
7. Optimize for Speed
   Compress assets, remove unused CSS, lazy-load images.
8. QA and Cross-browser Testing
   Always test across browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) and devices (mobile, tablet, desktop).

5. Optimizing for Performance, SEO, and CRO

Design is only one part of the equation. If your Shopify store loads slowly or fails to convert, even the best Figma design won’t save you.

Performance Tips:

• Compress All Images – Use tools like TinyPNG before uploading.
• Limit Apps – Too many apps = slower load times. Choose wisely.
• Clean Up Liquid – Remove unused sections and code snippets.
• Use Lazy Loading – For below-the-fold images.

SEO Best Practices:

• Add alt text to images
• Use semantic HTML (h1, h2, p)
• Create clean URLs
• Install Shopify’s default sitemap and robots.txt
• Set up 301 redirects for any old URLs

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO):

• Make sure CTAs are above the fold
• Use trust badges and reviews near product pages
• Reduce form fields on checkout
• Offer free shipping thresholds
• Use urgency tactics (low stock alerts, timers)

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many teams get this process wrong by rushing or skipping steps. Here are the biggest mistakes we’ve seen over the years:

• Not designing for mobile – Over 70% of ecommerce traffic is mobile. Always design mobile-first.
• Forgetting about Shopify limitations – Certain animations, fonts, or transitions may need custom code to work on Shopify.
• Skipping QA – Minor spacing issues, broken hover states, or mismatched fonts kill the experience.
• Exporting assets in the wrong format – JPEG for photos, SVG for icons, PNG only when needed.

Here’s a quick reminder table:

Final Thoughts

The process of converting Figma to Shopify isn’t just about copying a design into code. It’s about preserving the design’s intent, optimizing it for real-world users, and ensuring it performs under pressure.

Whether you’re using tools like Replo or building everything from scratch, the foundation always starts with a clean Figma file, a smart workflow, and a developer who understands both ecommerce and design.

A successful build is one that looks exactly like the design — and performs even better.