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Understanding Sections and Blocks

Sections and blocks are the foundational building elements your theme provides to help you design and customize your Shopify store—no coding required.

➕ Adding Sections​

A section represents a major content area on a page (e.g., a hero banner, product grid, or newsletter signup).

  • Shopify enforces a hard limit of 25 sections per theme (not per page—across all templates). This is a platform-level restriction that cannot be increased.

  • To add a section:

    1. Open the Theme Editor (Online Store > Themes > Customize).
    2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
    3. Click “Add section”.
    4. Choose a section from the list and click to insert it.

    Add section button in Shopify Theme Editor

📌 Tip: Not all sections are meant for every page. Some are designed specifically for the homepage, product pages, or collections.

🔄 Reordering Sections​

You can rearrange sections to control the layout flow:

  1. Hover over the section you want to move.
  2. Click and hold the six-dot icon (⋮⋮) on the left side of the section header.
  3. Drag the section to its new position.
  4. Release to drop it in place.

Reordering sections using drag handle

🗑️ Deleting Sections​

To remove a section:

  1. Select the section in the Theme Editor.

  2. Click the “Remove section” button at the bottom of the section settings panel.

    Delete a section

⚠️ Warning: Deleted sections cannot be recovered. If you only want to hide a section temporarily (e.g., for a seasonal campaign), click the eye icon 👁️ next to the section name instead. This toggles visibility without deleting it.

🧱 Managing Blocks​

Some sections support blocks—reusable sub-elements that let you add multiple instances of similar content within a single section.

Examples:​

  • A slideshow section uses blocks for individual slides.
  • A featured content section might use blocks for cards or testimonials.
  • A product grid section could use blocks to highlight specific items.

Working with Blocks:​

  • Add a block: After selecting a block-enabled section, click “Add block” and choose the type.

  • Reorder blocks: Use the six-dot drag handle next to each block.

  • Remove a block: Click the trash can icon or “Remove” button on the block.

    Adding and managing blocks in a section

⚠️ Block Limits Are Intentional​

Each page can have a maximum of 25 sections, and each section can have a maximum of 50 blocks. These limits exist for two key reasons:

1. Performance​

Too many blocks increase page weight and slow down load times—hurting both user experience and SEO.

2. User Experience & Conversion​

Research shows users rarely engage with content beyond the first few items. For example:

  • Most customers won’t wait to see slide #9 in a slideshow.
  • Long, repetitive sections dilute focus and reduce conversion rates.

✅ These constraints are based on real-world e-commerce data—not arbitrary rules. Working within them often leads to better-performing stores.

💡 Best Practice Reminder​

  • Use sections strategically, not excessively (aim for 10–15 per page).
  • Leverage blocks to repeat content efficiently, but respect built-in limits.
  • When in doubt, simplify—clarity drives conversions.

Need advanced customization? Consider hiring a Shopify Expert for tailored solutions that respect both design and performance best practices.