What a countdown bar is good for
A countdown bar is a thin strip across the top or bottom of your store with a message, a timer and usually a link. Because it can appear on every page, it's the simplest way to make sure every visitor knows a sale is on and when it ends, wherever they land.
A sticky bar stays on screen while the shopper scrolls. That keeps the deadline visible on long collection pages, without covering your header.
Your options on Shopify
Most Shopify themes, including the free ones, have an announcement bar section in the header. It's great for static text and a link, but it doesn't count down, and it can't be scheduled or limited to certain countries.
| Option | Countdown | Page targeting | Sticky |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme announcement bar | No | Usually every page | Depends on the theme |
| Top/bottom bar timer | Yes, any of the three timer types | Every page with exclusions, home, products, collections | Optional, top or bottom |
You can use both: keep your announcement bar for free shipping info and add a countdown bar only while a sale runs.
Step by step
- Create a bar timer
Click Create timer, then Select this timer type on Top/bottom bar.
- Write the message
Enter a short Title such as "Sale ends in" and an optional Subheading. Keep it to one line on mobile.
- Add a call to action
Under Call to action, choose Button (then Button text and Link URL) or Make entire bar clickable (then Link URL). Tick Open link in a new tab only if the link leaves your store.
- Allow closing
Tick Close icon if shoppers should be able to dismiss the bar. It stays closed for the rest of their browser session.
- Set the countdown
Choose a Timer Type and set the end time and the Once it ends action.
- Position it
On the Design tab, under Positioning, pick Top of the page or Bottom of the page and tick Sticky (always visible while scrolling).
- Choose pages and publish
On the Placement tab, choose where the bar shows, then click Save and Publish.
Bar settings at a glance
| Setting | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Placement: Top of the page / Bottom of the page | Design → Positioning | Which edge of the screen the bar uses |
| Sticky (always visible while scrolling) | Design → Positioning | Keeps the bar on screen and pushes page content so your header isn't covered |
| Close icon | Content | Shows a × to dismiss the bar for the session; size and color under Button on Design |
| Button / Make entire bar clickable | Content → Call to action | A button, or the whole bar as a link |
| Show on every page | Placement | With Exclude to skip pages such as Cart or Search |
| Show on home page only | Placement | Only on the home page |
| Show on all product pages / Show on specific product pages | Placement | Product pages, with exclusions or a chosen list |
| Show on all collection pages / Show on specific collection pages | Placement | Collection pages, with exclusions or a chosen list |
| Custom position | Placement | Place the bar with the Countdown Timer — Bar block or snippet |
A bar placed with the Countdown Timer — Bar block or the code snippet shows at that spot in the page, instead of sticking to the top or bottom of the screen.
Hiding the bar on some pages
With Show on every page, click Exclude to open Exclude pages. Tick Home, Collections, All product pages, Blogs, Blog posts, Cart, Search or 404, or add Specific URLs or Pages that contain specific keywords in URL, then click Select.
A common choice is to exclude Cart if you already use a cart timer, so shoppers don't see two countdowns at once.
Example: a 48-hour sale bar
- Title "48-hour sale: 25% off everything", Subheading "Ends in".
- Call to action: Make entire bar clickable, Link URL
/collections/sale. - Close icon ticked.
- Countdown to a date, Schedule to start later on Friday 9:00 AM, ending Sunday 9:00 AM; Once it ends: Unpublish timer.
- Top of the page, sticky; Layout Inline for a slim bar.
- Show on every page, excluding Cart.
Tips and common mistakes
- Keep it short. A long title wraps onto two or three lines on phones. Check on mobile before publishing.
- Bottom bars on mobile can overlap your theme's own sticky add-to-cart bar or chat widget. Try Top of the page if they clash.
- Bar not showing? Check the app embed is on, the timer is Published, and the page isn't excluded. If the shopper closed it, it stays closed for that session.
- Measure it. The Analytics page shows impressions and CTA clicks for each bar.
Frequently asked questions
Will a sticky bar cover my store header?
No. A sticky bar pushes the page content so your header stays visible.
If a shopper closes the bar, does it come back?
It stays closed for the rest of that shopper's browser session.
Can I make the whole bar a link?
Yes. Set Call to action to Make entire bar clickable and enter a Link URL.
Can I show the bar only on product pages?
Yes. Choose Show on all product pages or Show on specific product pages on the Placement tab.
Can I put the bar in the middle of a page?
Yes. Choose Custom position and add the Countdown Timer — Bar block where you want it. It then shows at that spot instead of sticking to the screen edge.
