Cart abandonment is your silent killer.

I’ve written 10 proven abandoned cart emails you can literally copy, paste, and plug into your sequence today.

Each one is dialed in to hit a different trigger: urgency, scarcity, social proof, you name it.

Use them in order or mix and match depending on how aggressive (or gentle) you want your follow-up to be.

The Templates

1. The Gentle Nudge (1 Hour Post-Abandonment)
Subject: Forget something?
Body:
Hey [First Name],
Looks like you left something behind. Your cart’s still here, waiting patiently.
[CTA: Return to Cart]
Need help? Just reply—we’re here for you.

2. The Personal Callout
Subject: [First Name], your [Product Name] is almost gone
Body:
Still thinking about [Product Name]? Smart pick.
It’s a popular item—and it might sell out soon.
Snag it before someone else does.
[CTA: Complete Checkout]

3. Urgency With a Countdown (24 Hours Post-Abandonment)
Subject: Your cart is expiring in 24 hours
Body:
Hey [First Name],
We’re holding your items for the next 24 hours. After that, we release them back into the wild.
Still want them?
[CTA: Grab Them Now]

4. Discount Tease (36–48 Hours Post)
Subject: A little something to sweeten the deal
Body:
We get it—sometimes you need a nudge.
Here’s 10% off if you complete your order in the next 24 hours.
Use code: FINISHLINE10
[CTA: Redeem & Checkout]

5. Social Proof Play
Subject: Join 1,000+ happy customers who chose [Product Name]
Body:
Still on the fence about [Product Name]?
Here’s what our customers say:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Best purchase I’ve made all year.”
Ready to love it too?
[CTA: Return to Cart]

6. Free Shipping Trigger
Subject: Free shipping? You’ve got it
Body:
We’d hate for shipping costs to ruin a good thing.
So here’s free shipping—automatically applied at checkout.
Your cart’s waiting.
[CTA: Checkout Now]

7. Mystery Incentive
Subject: Your cart has a surprise inside
Body:
We added something extra to your cart.
But it won’t be there forever.
Open it before it disappears.
[CTA: Reveal & Checkout]

8. Plaintext Human Touch
Subject: Any questions about your order?
Body:
Hey [First Name],
Saw you left some items behind. Got any questions or ran into issues?
Reply here—I’m happy to help.
If you’re ready to wrap it up, just head here:
[CTA: Return to Cart]
– [Your Name] from [Brand Name]

9. Final Warning (Last Call)
Subject: Your cart disappears at midnight
Body:
Last chance, [First Name].
Your items are about to be released.
Complete your purchase before midnight to keep them.
[CTA: Final Checkout]

10. Product Recs Follow-Up (Post-Sequence Re-Engagement)
Subject: Still thinking it over?
Body:
Totally fine if [Product Name] wasn’t quite right.
Here are a few other things we think you’ll love:
[Product 1]
[Product 2]
[Product 3]
Take another look:
[CTA: Browse Recommendations]

PS: Your abandoned cart flow can be your highest ROI email sequence.
Use these templates to test, tweak, and recover the sales you're currently leaving behind.

With kind regards / 🇳🇱 Met vriendelijke groet,

Philip Wallage — BTNG.studio
Experience World-Class UX Design — every month

🛄 Don’t be a stranger — find me on LinkedIn to stay connected!
👉 Heads up, fellow human: I hit 'send' when it fits my schedule, even if that's not 9-to-5. No stress if you're off the clock — reply whenever you like, no rush!