# Checkout Layout and Order Summary

> A checkout needs a clear way to enter contact and delivery details, choose shipping and payment, review the order and place it. One page or several steps can each work if progress and costs remain understandable throughout.

- Type: Merchant guide
- Level: Intermediate
- Reading time: About 4 minutes
- Audience: Written for store owners, builders, and designers refining high-performance ecommerce stores.
- Last updated: 2026-11-04
- Canonical page: https://academy.getzenbasket.com/merchant-questions/checkout-layout-and-order-summary/
- Part of: [Merchant Questions](https://academy.getzenbasket.com/merchant-questions/) on ZenBasket Academy

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## What you need to know

### One page or multiple steps?

Either can work depending on the order complexity and device. Test completion on both phone and desktop. A step that hides the order total or loses previously entered information is the problem to fix, not the number of steps itself.

### How should progress work?

Name the current stage, show where a shopper can go back and keep their selections. A progress indicator helps when there are genuinely distinct stages; do not invent steps to fill a bar.

### What should remain visible?

Show an accessible order summary with the product, quantity, shipping choice and current total. On mobile, the summary may collapse, but the buyer must be able to inspect it before paying.

### A quick store check

Move forward and back through every checkout step. Confirm the progress label, order summary and editable choices remain accurate and visible throughout.

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## Frequently asked questions

### How many steps should checkout have?

Use only the steps needed for a clear purchase. Test completion rather than aiming for a universal count.

### Where do I change checkout layout?

Use the verified checkout Build Guide for supported layouts and test progress and editing on phones and computers.

## Related articles

- **Necessary Checkout Fields**
- **Checkout Trust and Order Review**
- [ZenBasket Build Guide](https://help.getzenbasket.com/zenbasket-builder/)