Your restaurant average order value is probably the most underrated number in your online business. If you can lift the average value of each order by just a few euros, the impact at the end of the month is dramatic, and you will not have to spend a single extra euro on advertising. In this guide you will find practical, proven techniques to raise the average order value on your own online ordering channel.
The reason is simple: the customer has already decided to order from you. The hard part, convincing them, is done. All that is left is to help them order a little more.
What Average Order Value Is and Why It Matters
Average order value is your total revenue divided by the number of orders over a given period. If in one month you made 4,000 euros in revenue from 250 orders, your average order value is 16 euros.
This number matters because it shows how much value you extract from each customer you have already won. Attracting new customers costs money and time. Increasing what an existing customer spends is almost free.
A Quick Example
Say you raise your average order value from 16 to 19 euros. With 250 orders a month, that means an extra 750 euros in monthly revenue, or 9,000 euros a year. All of it from customers who already chose you.
Build a Menu That Drives Bigger Orders
Your online menu is not just a list. It is a sales tool that works 24 hours a day. The way it is structured directly affects how much a customer spends.
- Place your most profitable dishes at the top of each category, where the eye lands first.
- Use tempting menu descriptions that sell, not plain item names.
- Show great photos: food that looks delicious is ordered more easily.
- Create a "Chef's picks" or "Best sellers" category to guide the choice.
The Psychology of Pricing
A smart tactic is to place an expensive dish next to a mid priced one. The expensive option makes the mid priced one look like a reasonable choice, so the customer picks the middle instead of the cheapest. This technique, known as anchoring, quietly raises your average order value.
Upselling: The Art of the Smart Suggestion
Upselling means offering the customer an upgraded or larger version of what they already chose. It is not pressure, it is service.
- "Want the large portion for just 2 euros more?"
- "Add extra cheese or bacon to your burger."
- "Upgrade to premium ingredients for a richer taste."
The key is showing the suggestion at the right moment, exactly when the customer adds the item to the cart. A good online ordering system does this automatically and discreetly.
Cross-selling: Suggest the Right Add-ons
Cross-selling is offering complementary products. It is the online version of "would you like fries with that?". Done well, it noticeably increases the average value of each order.
- Suggest sides when the customer adds a main dish.
- Remind them about drinks before checkout: many people forget.
- Offer dessert at the final step, when the appetite is at its peak.
- Build combos that pair a main, a side and a drink at an attractive price.
Combos and Family Bundles
Family bundles and combos for two are among the most effective ways to raise the average order value. The customer feels they are getting a good deal and you sell more products in a single order. It is a genuine win for both sides.
Free Delivery Above a Minimum Order
One of the most powerful psychological incentives is free delivery above a certain amount. If the threshold for free delivery is 20 euros and the customer has a 17 euro cart, they will almost certainly add something more to avoid the fee.
Set the threshold slightly above your current average order value. If it is 16 euros today, put the limit at 20 or 22 euros. This naturally pushes customers to spend a little more.
Show Progress Toward Free Delivery
A progress bar that says "Add 3 more euros for free delivery" is extremely effective. It gives the customer a clear, easy goal and encourages them to top up their cart.
Loyalty Programs and Threshold Offers
Rewarding loyalty not only brings customers back, it also motivates them to spend more per order.
- Points that accumulate based on the order amount.
- A free gift (a dessert or a soft drink) on orders above a set amount.
- Discount coupons that unlock at a specific spending threshold.
- Time limited offers that create a sense of urgency.
You can see in our portfolio examples of restaurants that apply these tactics through their own ordering system, with no commissions paid to third party platforms.
Simplify the Ordering Experience
The easier and faster the process, the more comfortably a customer adds extra items. A confusing or slow cart makes customers want to finish quickly and order the bare minimum.
- Keep checkout steps to a minimum.
- Let customers easily adjust quantities and ingredients.
- Display suggestions with clean photos and prices.
- Make sure everything works flawlessly on mobile, where most orders happen.
Measure, Test and Improve
You cannot improve what you do not measure. Track your average order value monthly and test changes to see what works. For more ideas, keep an eye on our blog.
- Compare average order value before and after each menu change.
- Test different combos and free delivery thresholds.
- See which add-ons are suggested most often and which are ignored.
- Ask customers for feedback on what they would like to see.
Small, continuous improvements deliver steady results over time. A restaurant average order value does not climb with one big move, but through dozens of small, smart decisions.
Conclusion
Increasing your average order value is the most direct way to grow revenue without raising your advertising costs. With a smart menu, targeted upselling and cross-selling, threshold based free delivery and loyalty programs, every order can deliver more.
At Restaurant Guru we build online ordering systems designed precisely to maximize average order value, with no commissions eating into your profits. Contact us today and let us raise your restaurant average order value together.