How to Convert Figma Designs to Shopify: The Complete Guide

You hired a designer. They delivered beautiful Figma mockups. Your brand looks premium, the UX is thoughtful, everything is perfect.

Now comes the hard part: turning those static designs into a working Shopify store.

This is where most projects hit a wall.

Designers hand off Figma files. Developers look at them and say "this will take 8 weeks and cost $40,000." Business owners are confused: "It's just copying the design, right?"

No. It's not.

Here's what actually happens when you convert Figma to Shopify—the process, the challenges, the approaches, and what you need to know before you start.

Why This Is Harder Than It Looks

Let me show you why "just make it look like Figma" is more complicated than it seems.

Figma Is Static. Shopify Is Dynamic.

In Figma:

• You design one perfect homepage with 6 featured products
• You create one product page with sample content
• Everything is manually positioned
• Text is exactly as long as you want it
• Images are perfectly sized and cropped
• Nothing moves, nothing changes

In Shopify:

• Homepage needs to work with 6 products OR 60 products
• Product pages need to handle 1 image OR 15 images
• Product titles can be 5 words or 25 words
• Descriptions can be 3 sentences or 30 paragraphs
• Merchants add content, and it might break your perfect layout
• Everything is responsive (mobile, tablet, desktop)

The challenge: You need to build a system that looks perfect no matter what content merchants add.

Figma Shows Best Case. Shopify Needs Worst Case.

What designers show in Figma:

• Product with perfect 5-word title
• Description that's exactly 3 lines
• Reviews showing 5 stars
• "In Stock" badge
• Professional product photo

What actually happens in Shopify:

• Product title: "Women's Organic Cotton Blend Relaxed Fit Casual Summer Dress with Pockets and Adjustable Straps Available in Multiple Colors"
• Description: Empty (merchant forgot to add it)
• Reviews: 2.5 stars with angry customer complaints
• Out of stock for 6 weeks
• Product photo: Blurry mirror selfie from someone's bedroom

The challenge: Your design needs to handle all these edge cases gracefully.

Figma Is One Page. Shopify Is a System.

What you design in Figma:

• Homepage
• Collection page
• Product page
• Cart
• Maybe checkout

What you actually need to build in Shopify:

• Homepage (multiple layouts for different campaigns)
• Collection pages (12+ different collection types)
• Product pages (simple, variant, bundled, pre-order, out-of-stock states)
• Cart (empty state, full state, upsells, free shipping threshold)
• Account pages (login, register, order history, addresses)
• 404 error page
• Search results
• Blog (if applicable)
• Policy pages
• Email templates (order confirmation, shipping, etc.)

Most Figma files only show 5-6 screens. Real Shopify stores need 30+ templates.

This is why "converting Figma to Shopify" is more complex than it looks.

The 4 Approaches to Figma-to-Shopify Conversion

There are 4 ways to convert Figma designs to Shopify. Each has trade-offs.

Approach 1: Modify an Existing Theme

What this means:

• Start with a Shopify theme (Dawn, Refresh, or premium theme)
• Customize CSS to match Figma designs
• Keep theme structure but change appearance

Best for:

• Designs that are relatively standard
• Budget under $15,000
• Need to launch quickly (3-5 weeks)
• Don't need custom functionality

Pros:

• Fastest approach
• Most affordable ($5,000-15,000)
• Built-in responsive design
• Easier to maintain

Cons:

• Limited by theme structure
• Can't achieve pixel-perfect match to Figma
• Some design elements won't be possible
• Might need to compromise on design vision

Real example:

A fashion brand had beautiful Figma designs with unique hover animations and custom product page layouts.

We started with Shopify's Dawn theme:

• Customized color palette, typography, spacing
• Modified product page layout with CSS
• Added custom sections for homepage
• 70-80% match to Figma designs
• Cost: $8,000
• Timeline: 4 weeks

They had to compromise on some custom animations and exact spacing, but got a beautiful store quickly.

Approach 2: Build Custom Sections on Existing Theme

What this means:

• Use a theme as foundation
• Build custom Liquid sections for unique designs
• Mix theme sections with custom sections

Best for:

• Designs with some unique elements but mostly standard
• Budget: $15,000-30,000
• Timeline: 5-8 weeks
• Want flexibility without full custom build

Pros:

• More design flexibility than pure theme customization
• Still benefits from theme's responsive framework
• Can achieve 85-90% match to Figma
• Maintainable by developers

Cons:

• More expensive than pure theme customization
• Some technical limitations remain
• Need developer for updates

Real example:

A home goods brand had Figma designs with custom collection layouts and unique product filtering.

We used Dawn theme as base:

• Built 8 custom sections (hero, featured collections, testimonials, etc.)
• Created custom collection template with advanced filtering
• Used theme sections for standard pages (cart, account, etc.)
• 85% match to Figma designs
• Cost: $22,000
• Timeline: 7 weeks

Homepage looked exactly like Figma. Some secondary pages used theme defaults.

Approach 3: Full Custom Theme Development

What this means:

• Build entire theme from scratch
• Every template custom-coded in Liquid
• Pixel-perfect match to Figma (or close to it)

Best for:

• Unique designs that can't be achieved with themes
• Budget: $30,000-60,000
• Timeline: 8-12 weeks
• Brand needs custom functionality

Pros:

• Complete design control
• 95%+ match to Figma possible
• Custom functionality built-in
• No theme limitations

Cons:

• Expensive
• Longer timeline
• Requires ongoing developer support
• More complex maintenance

Real example:

A luxury skincare brand had completely unique Figma designs—nothing like existing themes.

We built custom theme from scratch:

• Custom homepage with scroll-triggered animations
• Unique product page with ingredient spotlight
• Custom collection grid with filter overlays
• Mobile-first responsive design
• 95% match to Figma (some adjustments for technical feasibility)
• Cost: $48,000
• Timeline: 11 weeks

Pixel-perfect execution of their brand vision.

Approach 4: Headless with Custom Frontend

What this means:

• Shopify handles products, checkout, orders (backend only)
• Build completely custom frontend with React/Next.js
• Design freedom limited only by web standards

Best for:

• Highly unique designs requiring complete control
• Budget: $50,000-150,000+
• Timeline: 12-20 weeks
• Need app-like performance and interactions

Pros:

• Unlimited design possibilities
• Can match Figma 100% (if design is technically feasible)
• Best performance
• Custom functionality without constraints

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Long timeline
• Requires specialized developers
• Ongoing maintenance critical

Real example:

A fashion brand had Figma designs with custom product configurator, 3D viewer, and unique navigation patterns.

We built headless store:

• Next.js frontend
• Shopify backend via Storefront API
• 100% match to Figma designs
• Custom animations and interactions
• Cost: $95,000
• Timeline: 16 weeks

Achieved everything from Figma, plus some enhancements.

The Conversion Process: Step-by-Step

Regardless of approach, here's the actual process we follow.

Phase 1: Design Audit & Technical Review (Week 1)

Before writing code, we audit Figma files.

What we check:

1. Responsive Design

• Are there mobile mockups? (most Figma files only show desktop)
• How should layouts adapt at 768px, 425px?
• What happens to navigation on mobile?
• Does card grid work on small screens?

2. Interactive States

• Hover states for buttons, links, products
• Loading states (what happens while page loads?)
• Error states (out of stock, form errors)
• Empty states (empty cart, no search results)

Most Figma files miss 80% of these states.

3. Content Variability

• How does design handle long product titles?
• What if product has 1 image vs 10 images?
• What if there are 6 products vs 60?
• What if description is empty?

4. Shopify Constraints

• Does design require checkout customization? (need Shopify Plus)
• Are there features Shopify doesn't support natively?
• Does design conflict with Shopify's structure?

5. Technical Feasibility

• Can animations be built with CSS/JS?
• Are custom fonts optimized for web?
• Is design performant? (image-heavy designs slow sites)

Output: Technical specification document listing:

• What can be built exactly as designed
• What needs slight modifications
• What's not technically feasible
• Questions for designer/client

We offer a comprehensive design review to identify these issues early.

Phase 2: Component Breakdown (Week 1)

We break Figma designs into reusable components.

Example breakdown:

Homepage might include:

• Hero section (multiple layout variants)
• Featured collection grid (2-column, 3-column, 4-column)
• Testimonial carousel
• Newsletter signup
• Featured products slider
• Instagram feed
• Text + image block (left/right variants)

Product page might include:

• Image gallery (slider, grid, stacked variants)
• Product information (title, price, description)
• Variant selector (dropdowns, swatches, buttons)
• Add-to-cart section
• Accordion (details, shipping, returns)
• Reviews section
• Recommended products

Each component becomes a Liquid section or block.

Phase 3: Style System Setup (Week 1-2)

Before building pages, we establish the design system in code.

What we set up:

1. Typography

[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],, sans-serif;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],, sans-serif;

,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;    ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;   ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;     ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;   ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;    ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;    ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;  ,[object Object],

,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;

2. Color Palette

[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;

3. Spacing Scale

[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;   ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;    ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;      ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;    ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;      ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;     ,[object Object],
,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;     ,[object Object],

4. Component Styles

[object Object],
,[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--color-primary);
  ,[object Object],: white;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--space-md) ,[object Object],(--space-xl);
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--font-semibold);
  ,[object Object],: background ,[object Object],;
}

,[object Object],[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--color-primary-hover);
}

This style system ensures consistency across all pages.

Phase 4: Template Development (Weeks 2-8)

Now we build actual templates.

Development order (prioritized by importance):

Week 2-3: Core Pages

1. Homepage
2. Collection page
3. Product page
4. Cart

Week 4-5: Secondary Pages 5. Search results 6. Account pages (login, register, orders) 7. 404 page 8. Blog (if applicable)

Week 6-7: Checkout (if custom) 9. Checkout customization (Shopify Plus only) 10. Thank you page

Week 8: Polish 11. Animations 12. Microinteractions 13. Loading states 14. Error handling

Example: Building a Product Page

Here's what actually goes into coding a product page from Figma:

HTML Structure (Liquid):

<div class="product-page">
  <div class="product-gallery">
    {% for image in product.images %}
      <img src="{{ image | img_url: '800x' }}" alt="{{ image.alt }}">
    {% endfor %}
  </div>

  <div class="product-info">
    <h1 class="product-title">{{ product.title }}</h1>

    <div class="product-price">
      {% if product.compare_at_price > product.price %}
        <span class="price-compare">{{ product.compare_at_price | money }}</span>
      {% endif %}
      <span class="price-current">{{ product.price | money }}</span>
    </div>

    {% if product.available %}
      <form action="/cart/add" method="post">
        <!-- Variant selector -->
        <!-- Quantity selector -->
        <button type="submit">Add to Cart</button>
      </form>
    {% else %}
      <button disabled>Out of Stock</button>
    {% endif %}

    <div class="product-description">
      {{ product.description }}
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

CSS (matching Figma styles):

[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: grid;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],fr ,[object Object],fr;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--space-,[object Object],xl);
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--space-,[object Object],xl);
}

,[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--font-heading);
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--text-,[object Object],xl);
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--font-bold);
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--color-text);
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(--space-md);
}

,[object Object],
,[object Object], (,[object Object],: ,[object Object],) {
  ,[object Object], {
    ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],fr;
  }
}

JavaScript (for interactions):

[object Object],
,[object Object], variantSelectors = ,[object Object],.,[object Object],(,[object Object],);
variantSelectors.,[object Object],(,[object Object], {
  selector.,[object Object],(,[object Object],, updateVariant);
});

,[object Object], ,[object Object],(,[object Object],) {
  ,[object Object],
  ,[object Object],
  ,[object Object],
}

,[object Object],
,[object Object], images = ,[object Object],.,[object Object],(,[object Object],);
images.,[object Object],(,[object Object], {
  image.,[object Object],(,[object Object],, openLightbox);
});

This one page requires:

• Liquid templates (for dynamic content)
• CSS (for styling matching Figma)
• JavaScript (for interactions)
• Responsive design (not in Figma)
• Edge case handling (out of stock, no images, etc.)

Phase 5: Responsiveness (Throughout Development)

Figma usually shows desktop only. We need to design mobile experience.

Our mobile-first approach:

1. Start with Mobile Design mobile layout first (even if not in Figma), then enhance for desktop.

2. Breakpoint Strategy

[object Object],
,[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object], ,[object Object],;
}

,[object Object],
,[object Object], (,[object Object],: ,[object Object],) {
  ,[object Object], {
    ,[object Object],: ,[object Object], ,[object Object],;
  }
}

,[object Object],
,[object Object], (,[object Object],: ,[object Object],) {
  ,[object Object], {
    ,[object Object],: ,[object Object], ,[object Object],;
  }
}

3. Component Adaptation

Navigation:

• Desktop: Horizontal menu
• Mobile: Hamburger menu

Product Grid:

• Desktop: 4 columns
• Tablet: 3 columns
• Mobile: 2 columns (or 1 for large images)

Hero Section:

• Desktop: Large text, side-by-side layout
• Mobile: Stacked layout, smaller text

Phase 6: Testing & QA (Week 9-10)

Before launch, extensive testing.

What we test:

1. Visual QA

• Compare every page to Figma side-by-side
• Check spacing, colors, fonts, borders
• Verify hover states, animations

2. Functional Testing

• Add to cart from every page type
• Test variant selection
• Verify cart updates correctly
• Complete checkout flow
• Test all forms (contact, newsletter, account)

3. Responsive Testing Test on actual devices:

• iPhone 12, 13, 14 (Safari)
• Samsung Galaxy (Chrome)
• iPad (Safari)
• Desktop (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)

4. Content Testing Test with real-world content:

• Product with 50-word title
• Product with 1 image
• Product with 15 images
• Collection with 200+ products
• Empty cart, full cart

5. Performance Testing

• Page load times (target: <2s)
• Largest Contentful Paint (target: <2.5s)
• First Input Delay (target: <100ms)
• Cumulative Layout Shift (target: <0.1)

Phase 7: Launch & Handoff (Week 10)

Pre-launch checklist:

• All templates built and tested
• Responsive design verified
• Performance optimized
• SEO tags configured
• Analytics installed
• Favicon and meta images set
• 404 page customized
• Test orders completed successfully

Handoff includes:

• Theme files (source code)
• Documentation (how to edit, where things are)
• Training (video walkthrough for client)
• Support period (typically 30 days)

Common Challenges & Solutions

Here are problems we encounter on every Figma-to-Shopify project.

Challenge #1: Figma Has Fixed Layouts, Shopify Needs Flexibility

The problem:

Designer creates homepage with 6 featured products in perfect grid.

Merchant wants to feature 8 products one month, 4 the next.

Fixed layout breaks.

The solution:

Build flexible sections with settings.

{% schema %}
{
  "name": "Featured Products",
  "settings": [
    {
      "type": "range",
      "id": "products_per_row",
      "label": "Products per row",
      "min": 2,
      "max": 5,
      "step": 1,
      "default": 4
    },
    {
      "type": "range",
      "id": "products_to_show",
      "label": "Number of products",
      "min": 4,
      "max": 20,
      "step": 2,
      "default": 8
    }
  ]
}
{% endschema %}

Now merchant can adjust without breaking design.

Challenge #2: Figma Shows Perfect Images, Reality Is Messy

The problem:

Figma shows perfect 1:1 square product images.

Merchant uploads mix of vertical, horizontal, and square images.

Layout breaks.

The solution:

CSS object-fit to handle any aspect ratio:

[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
  ,[object Object],: cover; ,[object Object],
  ,[object Object],: center;
}

Or use Shopify's image filters:

<img src="{{ product.featured_image | img_url: '600x600', crop: 'center' }}">

Challenge #3: Figma Animations Don't Translate to Code

The problem:

Designer creates complex animation in Figma (fade + slide + scale).

Expectation: Developer will "just copy it."

Reality: Animation requires custom JavaScript and impacts performance.

The solution:

Option 1: Simplify animation Use CSS-only animations (performant, easy to maintain):

[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
  ,[object Object],: fadeIn ,[object Object], ease-in forwards;
}

,[object Object], fadeIn {
  ,[object Object], { ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],; }
}

Option 2: Use lightweight library For complex animations, use GSAP or Framer Motion (adds ~20kb).

Option 3: Compromise Implement simplified version of animation that captures essence without complexity.

Challenge #4: Typography Doesn't Match Figma

The problem:

Figma uses custom font that looks perfect.

Web version looks slightly different (line-height, spacing, rendering).

The solution:

1. Use actual web fonts during design (designers should design with web fonts, not desktop fonts)

2. Adjust CSS properties

[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],, sans-serif;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],; ,[object Object],
  ,[object Object],: -,[object Object],; ,[object Object],
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object], ,[object Object],; ,[object Object],
  -webkit-,[object Object],: antialiased; ,[object Object],
}

3. Load fonts properly

[object Object],
,[object Object],

Challenge #5: Shopify Sections Don't Work Like Figma Layers

The problem:

Designer creates complex overlapping layouts in Figma (easy to do).

Shopify sections are stackable blocks, not overlapping layers.

The solution:

Option 1: Use negative margins

[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: -,[object Object],; ,[object Object],
  ,[object Object],: relative;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
}

Option 2: Use absolute positioning within section

[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: relative;
}

,[object Object], {
  ,[object Object],: absolute;
  ,[object Object],: -,[object Object],;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],;
  ,[object Object],: ,[object Object],(-,[object Object],);
}

Option 3: Redesign slightly Work with designer to adjust layout to work with Shopify's section system.

Tools We Use

Design Handoff:

• Figma Dev Mode - Extract CSS, spacing, colors
• Zeplin (alternative) - Design specs for developers
• Avocode (alternative) - Design-to-code handoff

Development:

• Shopify CLI - Local development, faster iteration
• Theme Kit (legacy) - Alternative to CLI
• VS Code - Code editor with Liquid extension
• Browser DevTools - Debug and perfect styling

Asset Optimization:

• TinyPNG - Compress images
• SVGOMG - Optimize SVG files
• Google Fonts Helper - Self-host fonts for performance

Testing:

• BrowserStack - Cross-browser testing
• LambdaTest (alternative) - Device testing
• Lighthouse - Performance testing
• Responsively App - Test multiple screen sizes simultaneously

Best Practices for Designers (To Make Conversion Easier)

If you're a designer creating Figma files for Shopify development:

1. Design Mobile First Show mobile layouts, not just desktop. 70% of traffic is mobile.

2. Use Auto Layout Figma's Auto Layout mimics CSS flexbox/grid. Makes developer handoff easier.

3. Include All States

• Hover states for interactive elements
• Loading states
• Error states (out of stock, form errors)
• Empty states (empty cart, no search results)

4. Use Web-Safe Fonts Or at least specify which web font service you're using (Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts).

5. Document Spacing System Use consistent spacing (4px, 8px, 16px, 24px, 32px, etc.). Don't use random values.

6. Show Content Variability

• Product with long title
• Product with short title
• Many images vs one image
• Grid with odd number of items

7. Export Assets Properly

• SVG for icons and logos
• PNG/WebP for photos
• Optimize before handing off

8. Consider Shopify Constraints Understand what Shopify can/can't do natively. Work with developers early.

DIY vs Hiring Developers

Can you do this yourself?

You can DIY if:

• Designs are relatively simple
• You're comfortable with HTML/CSS
• You have 4-6 weeks to dedicate
• You're using approach #1 (theme customization)
• Budget is under $5,000

You should hire developers if:

• Designs are complex or unique
• You need custom functionality
• Timeline is critical
• You're using approach #2, #3, or #4
• You want ongoing support

Hybrid approach:

Many businesses do basic setup themselves, then hire developer for:

• Complex sections
• Custom functionality
• Performance optimization
• Mobile responsiveness polish

For custom Shopify development needs, consider working with experienced developers who understand both design and Shopify's technical requirements.

Realistic Budgets & Timelines

Here's what to actually expect:

What affects cost:

Higher cost:

• Complex animations
• Custom functionality
• Many templates/page types
• Tight deadline (rush fee)
• Ongoing support included

Lower cost:

• Simple, clean design
• Flexible timeline
• Fewer custom pages
• Standard functionality
• Self-service after launch

Red Flags (When to Push Back on Designs)

Sometimes Figma designs aren't feasible for Shopify. Here's when to challenge:

"This needs to look exactly like this video" Video/motion design is different from web implementation. Translation required.

Checkout completely redesigned Standard Shopify doesn't allow checkout customization. Needs Plus ($2,000/month) or headless (expensive).

Every page is completely unique Hard to maintain. Merchants can't add new pages without developer.

Heavily image-dependent designs Dozens of large images = slow site = lost sales.

Relies on auto-playing video backgrounds Performance nightmare, especially mobile.

Pixel-perfect spacing at all screen sizes Responsive design requires flexibility, not fixed pixel values.

Final Thoughts

Converting Figma to Shopify isn't just "copying the design."

It's:

• Understanding web constraints
• Building flexible systems
• Handling edge cases
• Optimizing performance
• Creating maintainable code
• Ensuring responsiveness
• Testing extensively

The gap between Figma and Shopify is real. But with the right approach, you can build stores that are:

• Beautiful (matching design vision)
• Functional (actually working for real content)
• Performant (fast loading)
• Maintainable (merchants can update without breaking)

Whether you DIY or hire developers, understanding this process helps you:

• Set realistic expectations
• Budget appropriately
• Make informed decisions
• Collaborate effectively

Need help converting your Figma designs to Shopify? We've built 100+ custom themes and know how to bridge the design-to-code gap. Our team specializes in custom Shopify development and can help you turn your design vision into reality.

Schedule a design review to discuss your project and get expert guidance on the best approach for your specific needs.