Whether you’re an independent bookseller or managing a large inventory, the perfect theme can make browsing a pleasure and turn casual visitors into loyal customers.
In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best Shopify themes for book stores in 2024.
We gathered the details of each theme using the theme detector feature of our custom tool Koala Inspector. You can try our Shopify theme detector feature for free to detect the Shopify theme in use for any store.
10 Best Shopify Themes for Book Stores
Rank | Theme | Price | Rating | Mobile Speed | Developer | Customization Level | Theme Styles | Shopify 2.0 Compatible |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Combine | $360 | 89% (18 reviews) | 57/100 | Krown Themes | Medium | 5 Styles (Books, Objects, Beauty, Electronics, Restaurant) | Yes |
2 | Polyform | $290 | NA | 63/100 | SmartBase® | Medium | NA | Yes |
3 | Craft | Free | 53% (19 reviews) | 79/100 | Shopify | Medium | NA | Yes |
4 | Sense | Free | 41% (55 reviews) | 70/100 | Shopify | Medium | 3 styles (Default, Beauty, Luxury) | Yes |
5 | Motion | $360 | 89% (18 reviews) | 61/100 | Krown Themes | High | 5 Styles (Objects, Electronics, Beauty, Books, Restaurant) | Yes |
6 | Publisher | Free | NA | 71/100 | Shopify | Medium | NA | Yes |
7 | Be Yours | $320 | 99% (471 reviews) | 54/100 | RoarTheme | Medium | 4 Styles (Beauty, Trendy, Peace, Dark) | Yes |
8 | Symmetry | $360 | 93% (330 reviews) | 53/100 | Clean Canvas Ltd | Medium | 4 styles (Chantilly, Salt Yard, Beatnik, Duke) | Yes |
9 | Broadcast | $360 | 94% (219 reviews) | 53/100 | Invisible Themes | High | 4 Styles (Clean, Modern, Bright, Bold) | Yes |
10 | Empire | $340 | 79% (414 reviews) | 51/100 | Pixel Union | Low | 4 Styles (Industrial, Supply, Depot, Graphic) | Yes |
Combine
Combine organizes your book collection beautifully. Its flexible layout lets you group books by genre, author, or series, making it easy for readers to explore your inventory.
Developer – Krown Themes
Price – $360
Theme Styles – 5 Styles (Books, Objects, Beauty, Electronics, Restaurant)
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 57/100
Customization Level: Medium
Rating – 89% (18 reviews)
Theme Features
Color swatches and styles
Support for five EU languages
Vertical slider
Bundle builder
Visual storytelling features
Stock counter
Collections pages
Cross-selling features
Pros
Animation and video product presentation
In-menu promos, banners, and badges
Blog and FAQ sections
Product filtering
Advanced sorting
Product recommendations
Cons
Individual sellers may dislike the vertical slider
The price point can be too high for smaller bookstores
Who Is the Theme For
Independent book publishers
Old book resellers
Enterprise publishers
Bookstores with online sales
Polyform
Polyform’s adaptable design showcases books creatively. Its unique display options let you feature book covers prominently, drawing customers into your literary world.
Developer – SmartBase®
Price – $290
Theme Styles – NA
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 63/100
Customization Level: Medium
Rating – No Reviews
Theme Features
Color swatches
Various styles available
Mega menu
Stock counter
Straightforward navigation
Image zoom
High-resolution visuals
Advanced search and filtering
Pros
Mobile-friendly design
Abandoned cart recovery
Blog and FAQs
Review and testimonial sections
Promotional features
Cons
Limited customization
May not fit well with large publishers
Who Is the Theme For
Independent book stores
Second-hand booksellers
Writers and authors
Craft
Craft creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere for book lovers. Its warm design and customizable sections help you recreate the feel of a neighborhood bookshop online.
Developer – Shopify
Price – Free
Theme Styles – NA
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 79/100
Customization Level: Medium
Rating – 53% (19 reviews)
Theme Features
Refined and attractive design
Easy to set and build
Attractive visuals
Elegant typography
SEO and marketing features
Mobile-responsive design
Matching brand aesthetics
Product filtering
Book sorting
Showing recommended products
Pros
Storytelling opportunities
Adjustable templates and styles
Advanced customization and flexibility
FAQ and blog pages
Completely free to use
Cons
Limited design adjustments
Not so unique as expected
Abandoned cart recovery is not available
Who Is the Theme For
Bookstores with limited stock
Book resellers
Authors and publishers
Sense
Sense appeals to the book lover’s senses. Its clean layout and focus on visuals let you present book covers and descriptions in an engaging, easy-to-browse format.
Developer – Shopify
Price – Free
Theme Styles – 3 styles (Default, Beauty, Luxury)
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 70/100
Customization Level: High
Rating – 41% (55 reviews)
Theme Features
Advanced customization
Bright and attractive design
Comprehensive product descriptions
Buyer guide
Mobile responsiveness
Visual storytelling
Integration with physical stores
Marketing tools and features
Image zoom
Recommended products
Promotions
Pros
Quick and easy to build and launch
Completely free to use
High-resolution visual elements
Easy to manage limited book stock
Product videos and animations
Blogs and FAQ pages
Cons
Limited in sales features
No control over typography and layout
Technical errors
Who Is the Theme For
Small stock bookstores
New book publishers
Individual booksellers
Authors and writers
Publisher
Publisher is tailor-made for bookstores. Its book-centric features, like author spotlights and reading lists, help you curate a rich literary experience for customers.
Developer – Shopify
Price – Free
Theme Styles – NA
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 71/100
Customization Level: Medium
Rating – No reviews
Theme Features
Minimalist but progressive design
Advanced customization
Flexible settings
Intuitive navigation
Book categorization
Store integration
Rich product descriptions
Image galleries
Pros
Quick setup and smooth launch
High-resolution theme visuals
Recommended products
Advanced filtering and sorting
Free to use
Cons
Limited mostly to publishers
Too many visuals
Slow loading time in cases of larger stores
Who Is the Theme For
Professional and independent publishers
Book authors who sell their own books
Smaller bookstores on a budget
Motion
Motion brings your bookstore to life. Its dynamic design elements create an engaging browsing experience, perfect for showcasing new releases and bestsellers.
Developer – Archetype Themes
Price – $360
Theme Styles – 3 Styles (Classic, Elegent, Minimal)
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 49/100
Customization Level: High
Rating – 97% (486 reviews)
Theme Features
Responsive on each screen size
Available in five EU languages
Color swatches and styles
Unlimited free trial
Customization options
Slideshows
Collections pages
Advanced search and filtering
Integration with physical bookstores
Customizable contact form
Pros
Showcase collections to easily sort the books
Rich visuals to capture attention
Premium look and feel while shopping
Quick and easy setup
Promo popups and in-menu promos
Cons
Can be pricey for smaller publishers
Not the best choice for independent authors
Overwhelmed by homepage visuals
Who Is the Theme For
Established book publishing brands
Sellers looking for the best Shopify theme for bookstores
Independent writers and publishers
Be Yours
Be Yours personalizes the book-buying journey. Its customizable features let you create themed collections and reading recommendations, enhancing customer engagement.
Developer – RoarTheme
Price – $320
Theme Styles – 4 Styles (Beauty, Trendy, Peace, Dark)
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 54/100
Customization Level: High
Rating – 99% (471 reviews)
Theme Features
Design made to sell
Unique user experience
One-product store opportunity
Intuitive design and navigation
Collection of templates and layouts
A few available styles
Multi-lingual store support
Countdown timer
Quick setup
Integrated SEO features and tools
Pros
Responsive design
Fast-loading pages
Color swatches
Different styles to match your aesthetics
Free high-resolution visuals
Cons
Higher price point for smaller bookstores
Limited customization
Not many features are available for the high price
Who Is the Theme For
Booksellers looking to build an online brand
Local bookstores
Physical bookstores with online sales
Symmetry
Symmetry’s balanced design organizes your book inventory neatly. Its grid layout and filtering options help readers find their next great read effortlessly.
Developer – Clean Canvas Ltd
Price – $360
Theme Styles – 4 styles (Chantilly, Salt Yard, Beatnik, Duke)
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 53/100
Customization Level: High
Rating – 93% (330 reviews)
Theme Features
Undeniable aesthetics
Design that drives sales
Drag-and-drop builder
Premium theme for merchants
Physical store integration
Attractive visuals
Cross-selling features
Videos and animations
Collections pages
Pros
Promotional banners and tiles
Product reviews and descriptions
Related and recommended products
High-resolution galleries
Product options
Advanced filtering and sorting
Cons
Requires 3rd party apps to work well
Expensive theme
Some find the design too cluttered
Not suitable for large stores
Who Is the Theme For
Individuals looking for the best Shopify theme to sell a book
Book authors
Independent bookstores and publishers
Individual sellers and resellers
Smaller publishers
Online-only bookstores
Broadcast
Broadcast helps spread the word about your books. Its promotional sections are ideal for featuring author events, book signings, and new arrivals.
Developer – Invisible Themes
Price – $360
Theme Styles – 4 Styles (Clean, Modern, Bright, Bold)
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 53/100
Customization Level: High
Rating – 94% (219 reviews)
Theme Features
Designed for sales
Available in five EU languages
Multi-language store support
Intuitive design
Product showcasing
Vibrant and minimalist design
Free trial upon publishing
Physical store integration
Advanced cart features
Blog page
SEO features to optimize the store
Images, videos, and animations
Product tabs and collections
Advanced filtering
Pros
Mobile responsiveness
Feature-rich sections
Easy to add a book to the cart
Upselling and cross-selling features
In-menu and popup promotions
High conversion potential
FAQ sections
Cons
Lack of built-in product page features
Some stores may experience slow load speed
Visuals clutter
Problems renewing the stock
Who Is the Theme For
Independent booksellers
Used booksellers and resellers
Independent publishers
Physical bookstores with in-store pickup
Authors and writers
Empire
Empire builds a vast literary kingdom. Its robust features support large inventories, perfect for bookstores with extensive collections across multiple genres.
Developer – Pixel Union
Price – $340
Theme Styles – 4 Styles (Industrial, Supply, Depot, Graphic)
Shopify 2.0 compatible – Yes
Speed – 51/100
Customization Level: Low
Rating – 79% (414 reviews)
Theme Features
Multi-language store support
Intuitive design and layout
Easy to set and launch
Features match the price
Above-average value
Adaptable to industry trends
Marketing and SEO features
User-friendly color schemes
Product options
Collections pages
Pros
Attractive design
Blog and FAQ pages
Product recommendations
Promo tiles and banners
Image rollover
High-resolution visuals
Physical store locator
Concise contact form
Cons
Can be too slow for large stock stores
The price point too high for smaller brands
Lags and delays while browsing
Who Is the Theme For
Limited stock bookstores
Individual publishers
Independent writers and authors
Smaller stores with pickup options
Online-only bookstores
What Makes a Good Shopify Bookstore Theme?
While Shopify offers themes for any online store, finding the perfect one for selling books can be a challenge. There are several things to consider when searching for your theme.
Advanced Book Filtering and Sorting Options
Let customers find their favorite books according to title, author’s name, or genre. Choose a bookshop Shopify theme with advanced sorting and filtering to increase sales potential.
Enhanced Product Pages for Books
Find a theme with rich description options that allow you to include a brief excerpt from the book. That way, you can help the audience find the book according to characters or story details.
User-Friendly Navigation and Search
Include a search bar so potential buyers can enter the author’s name or book title for easier navigation. Find a theme with straightforward navigation to sort the inventory easily, making it accessible for customers.
Effective Visual Storytelling Tools
Include book covers to enhance the visual appeal of your online store. Find a Shopify book store theme with advanced SEO options to optimize the alt tags and make it easier for searchers to find the product with the book cover description.