Checkouts can fail at the last moment—not because something was wrong with the product or the price was too high but because the checkout screen was too confusing, too slow, or did not feel trustworthy. Customers who decide not to complete their purchase because they are uncomfortable giving a site their credit card information account for 19% of abandoned carts. And that directly affects revenue.

Below, we’ll explain what makes a checkout screen effective, what gets in the way, and how to handle common issues.

What’s in this article?

• What is a checkout screen?
  
• What are the most important components of a high-converting checkout screen?
  
• How do visual simplicity and trust signals affect the checkout screen?
  
• How should you handle validation errors and payment failures on the checkout screen?
  

What is a checkout screen?

The checkout screen is the final step in the buying journey. It’s where customers enter their payment information, review their order, and confirm payment.

A typical checkout screen includes:

• A summary of what the customer is buying

• Form fields for contact, shipping, and billing information

• A section to input payment details

• A call-to-action button to complete the order

The checkout screen is the moment when customers pause and decide whether your site feels credible enough for them to hand over personal data and payment details. Everything about the screen—its layout, language, and polish—confirms or undermines that confidence.

What are the most important components of a high-converting checkout screen?

A checkout screen’s job is to close the sale. Every design choice should support that job by making it easier, reassuring, and less interruptive for customers to finish the transaction.

Every checkout screen should include these design elements:

Well-structured input forms

Poorly organized or overly demanding forms can drive customers away. You should include:

• Unambiguous field labels

• Logical grouping

• Defaults that reduce effort (e.g., autofilling billing address as shipping unless otherwise specified)

• A consistent input pattern (e.g., dropdowns for country, numeric inputs for postal code)

Every field should justify its presence. Ask only for what you need to fulfill the order, and ask for it in a way that avoids confusion or repetition.

Visible and accurate order summaries

This is where customers validate what they’re buying and whether the total is correct. A good order summary includes:

• Item names and quantities

• Individual and subtotal pricing

• Taxes and shipping fees

• Applied discounts or promo codes

• The final total cost

Ideally, the summary is displayed throughout the process, especially during payment. Surprise charges or a new total at the last second can lose sales.

Flexible payment sections

Credit and debit cards are the bare minimum, but offering alternative payment methods, such as digital wallets, bank transfers, and local payment methods, gives customers more flexibility. Let users choose among available methods, then prefill what information you can (e.g., saved card details for returning users), and use formatting helpers, such as autospacing card numbers or smart expiration date inputs.

Visually distinct CTAs

This is the moment of commitment. The primary action (e.g., “Place Order,” “Complete Purchase”) should be positioned logically at the end of the flow and be clearly visible with contrasting colors or a distinct size. The button should be explicit: “Pay $64.99 and place order” is more effective than “Pay now.”

Visually downplay secondary actions (such as “Back to Cart”) to avoid competing with the main call to action (CTA).

Progress indicators for multistep flows

If your checkout spans multiple pages, show the user where they are in that process. Use a simple visual timeline that lists each step, highlights the current step, and shows what’s next. This gives users a sense of forward motion.

Guest checkout options

Forcing customers to create an account before buying can lead to lost sales.

A better approach is to allow guest checkout as a default and offer account creation after purchase (e.g., “Save your info for next time?”). If accounts are necessary, support fast options such as Google or Apple login.

Strategic promo code fields

If your business uses discount codes, you need a place on your checkout page to enter them without letting this area dominate the screen.

A good format includes:

• A small link (e.g., “Have a promo code?”) that expands when clicked

• Immediate validation of entered codes

• Instant reflection of any applied discount in the order total

Error handling that helps

When something goes wrong, clarity matters more than design. Flag invalid or missing fields right next to or in the field, and use plain language that explains what needs to be fixed. Preserve user input when errors occur, and focus the user’s cursor on the first field with an issue. Your error messages should help your users succeed, not force them to start over.

Subtle but meaningful security signals

Customers sometimes hesitate before entering sensitive information. Smart checkout screens give them reasons to feel safe. Trust cues might include:

• A lock icon with “Secure checkout – TLS encrypted” (Transport Layer Security)

• Logos of accepted payment methods

• Short reminders of return or refund policies

• Mentions of Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance

If you’re using a solution such as Stripe Checkout, a small “Powered by Stripe” note can provide extra reassurance.

Access to support and policies

Anticipate customers’ questions and concerns, and show users you’ll be there if something goes wrong. Include a “Need help?” link, phone number, or chat widget, and add links to return policy, shipping details, and privacy terms. Position these near the CTA or in the page footer.

How do visual simplicity and trust signals affect the checkout screen?

By the time the customer is checking out, your focus should be on removing final doubts and delays. Two factors have a major influence here: visual simplicity and trust.

Here’s how each one can affect the customer at this critical moment.

Visual simplicity

Simplicity on the checkout screen reduces the amount of work a customer must do to complete the transaction.

Here’s what matters most:

• No clutter: When the screen is crowded, it’s harder to focus, and next steps can be unclear. That uncertainty can slow people down or stop them.

• Clean layout: If a user can instantly scan and understand what they’re buying, what it costs, where to enter their information, and how to finish, it’s easier to complete the process.

• Speed: Simpler web pages tend to load faster. A few seconds shaved off the load time can mean fewer abandoned carts, especially when users are on slower networks or checking out on the go.

The checkout screen should feel like one clear, simple path from “Review” to “Pay” with no distractions competing for the user’s attention.

Trust signals

At checkout, the customer is handing over sensitive information and payment details. No matter how strong your project is, that last step can trigger doubt. Subtle signals on the checkout screen help close that gap.

Here’s what works:

• Familiarity: Including logos from Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay, and other common payment methods can help users feel comfortable because it shows your site works with the same systems they use elsewhere.

• Security cues: A lock icon with “Secure checkout,” Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/TLS certification badges, or a note about encrypted payments can boost confidence, especially for new customers.

• Transparency: Hidden fees or surprise charges are an instant red flag. Show users shipping costs, taxes, and return policies before they pay.

• Professional polish: Visual quality matters. A checkout screen with typos, poor formatting, or misaligned elements can look suspicious. Clean design and straightforward copy signal that the business is competent and legitimate.

• Social proof: A subtle line, such as “Rated 4.8/5 by 10,000+ customers,” or a short testimonial can further boost the sense of security—if placed thoughtfully and used sparingly.

Reassurance after failure: Even when a payment fails, how you handle it matters. A simple message explaining what went wrong makes the user feel secure and gives them a way forward. Confusing or generic error messages do the opposite.

How should you handle validation errors and payment failures on the checkout screen?

No matter how well designed your checkout is, people will make mistakes, and some payments won’t go through. It’s your job to help customers recover from those moments without losing the sale.

Here’s how to handle validation errors (issues with the data the user enters) and payment failures (when the transaction doesn’t go through).

Validation errors

Common validation errors include typos, skipped fields, and incorrect formatting. When these happen, you need to flag them quickly and clearly in a way that keeps the user moving forward.

Here are some tips:

• Flag errors right away: If the user mistypes their email or leaves a required field blank, highlight it immediately, not after they hit “Pay.”

• Be specific: Tell them exactly what’s wrong and how to fix it. For example, “Please enter a valid postal code” or “This card number is too short.”

• Show messages in or next to the field: Don’t use a generic banner. Users should never have to scroll or hunt to find what went wrong.

• Preserve their input: If someone makes a mistake in one field, don’t wipe the rest of the form. Reentering everything adds time to the checkout process.

• Plan around common issues: Accept multiple phone number formats. Autofill the city based on the postal code. Let users paste in their card number, even if it includes spaces. Design for how people behave.

Payment failures

At this point in the process, the customer has filled in their information and committed to the purchase. If something breaks now, they’ll probably be frustrated, anxious, or both.

To keep that moment from turning into a lost order:

• Be direct and transparent: State plainly that the payment didn’t go through, and confirm they haven’t been charged. Avoid vague errors or technical codes.

• Explain what to do next: Tell them whether they should reenter their payment details, try a different payment method, or contact their bank.

• Retain their information and cart: If their payment fails, they should be able to try again immediately without starting from scratch.

• Give them options: If one payment fails, suggest an alternative method. If a card is declined, prompt them to check for typos or try a different one.

• Avoid endless retry loops: If the same payment fails more than once, step in with more guidance or escalate to support. Don’t let them hit “Pay” again and again with no feedback.

• Provide a fallback: Show a support link or contact method if they don’t know how to proceed. Add messaging such as: “Still having trouble? Our team can help.”

• Communicate on timing: If inventory or timing is sensitive (e.g., event tickets, flash sales), let users know you’re holding the order for a limited time. A line such as “We’re saving your items for 10 minutes while you complete payment” creates space to resolve the issue.

When payment fails, it’s a moment that tests whether your system supports the customer or leaves them stranded. At this point, small details can make a big difference.