Bento grids arrange content into modular tiles of different sizes, like the compartments of a Japanese bento box. You have probably seen them on Apple's product pages or across SaaS landing pages. The layout works because it lets you display several types of content — images, text, icons, stats — in a single section without the page feeling cluttered. For ecommerce stores, that means you can show off your brand story, product categories, trust signals, and a call-to-action all in one block. It is a more intentional layout than a basic product grid or collection list, and it gives visitors a reason to slow down and actually look at what you are presenting.
The problem is that no free Shopify theme includes a bento grid out of the box. Dawn, Refresh, Craft — they all give you image banners, basic grids, and text columns. If you want a proper bento-style layout with varied tile sizes, mixed content types, and responsive behaviour on mobile, you are either writing custom Liquid code or paying a developer. Section Store's bento grid Sections skip both of those options. Each one costs $9, installs in a couple of minutes, and works with any Online Store 2.0 theme.
WHEN TO USE A BENTO GRID ON YOUR STORE
A bento grid makes the most sense on pages where you need to communicate several things at once without forcing the customer to scroll through a stack of full-width sections. Homepages are the obvious candidate — you could use a bento grid to highlight your bestselling categories, a brand value proposition, a review count, and a seasonal promotion in one compact area. But they also work well on About Us pages, below a hero section, or even on landing pages where you want to build credibility quickly without writing paragraphs of copy.
If your store sells across multiple categories — say skincare, supplements, and accessories — a bento grid is a cleaner way to surface those product lines than three separate featured collection sections stacked on top of each other. It is also a strong option for stores that rely on visual storytelling. Lifestyle brands, food and drink companies, and fashion labels tend to get the most out of this layout because the mix of image tiles and text blocks mirrors how their customers already consume content on social media.
HOW TO ADD A BENTO GRID SECTION WITH SECTION STORE
Follow these steps to get a bento grid live on your store. It takes about five minutes from start to finish.
Install the Section Store app
Head to the Shopify App Store and install Section Store. It is free to install — you only pay when you purchase a specific Section.
Browse the bento grid designs
Inside the app, search for "Bento Grid" to see the available layouts. You can also preview them directly on the Bento Grid demo page and the Bento Grid #2 demo page before buying. Each design has a different tile arrangement, so pick the one that best suits the number of content blocks you need.
Purchase and install the Section
Complete the one-time $9 purchase within the app. Then go to My Sections, click the install button next to your bento grid Section, and select the theme you want to add it to. The app installs a .liquid file directly into your theme — no code copying, no file editing.
Add it to a page in the Theme Editor
Open the Shopify Theme Editor (Online Store → Themes → Customize). Navigate to the page where you want the bento grid — your homepage, a landing page, or wherever it fits. Click Add Section in the left sidebar and search for "ss - Bento Grid". All Section Store Sections are prefixed with "SS", so they are easy to spot.
Customise the content and styling
Click on the Section name in the sidebar to access its settings. Click on individual blocks within the Section to edit each tile — add images, update headings, change colours, adjust spacing. Everything is done inside the Theme Editor. No code needed. For the best results, use high-quality images — the Shopify image size guide covers recommended dimensions.
Save and preview
Hit Save in the Theme Editor, then preview the page on both desktop and mobile. Check that images look right in each tile, that text is readable on smaller screens, and that the overall layout fits with the rest of your page. Bento grids look best when the surrounding sections give them room to breathe, so consider the spacing between your grid and whatever sits above and below it.
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BENTO GRID
The biggest mistake with bento grids is treating every tile the same. The whole point of the layout is visual hierarchy — one or two tiles should be larger and act as anchors, while the smaller tiles support them with secondary content. If every tile is the same size and weight, you just have a regular grid with rounded corners.
Use the large tiles for your strongest imagery or your primary call-to-action. Use the smaller tiles for stats, short testimonials, trust signals, or category labels. Think of it as a magazine spread rather than a product listing. You can also pair a bento grid with other Section Store Sections — for example, a slider section above and an enhanced product section below to build a full landing page that looks custom-designed.
Because Section Store Sections are native .liquid files, they do not load any third-party scripts or affect your page speed — something worth considering if you have looked at page builder apps and decided the performance trade-off is not worth it. The Section stays in your theme even if you uninstall the app, so there is no lock-in.
WRAPPING UP
A bento grid is one of those design elements that looks like it required a developer, but with Section Store it takes about five minutes and costs $9. If your homepage feels like a stack of generic sections that could belong to any store, a well-designed bento grid is a quick way to make it feel more intentional. Browse the full library of 730+ Sections to find the right fit for your store.
