Fix Overlapping Shopify Trust Badges & Layout Glitches with Custom CSS

Hey there, fellow store owners! Ever hit that "Update Theme" button on Shopify and then immediately spot something... a little off? It’s a common scenario, and it can be frustrating when perfectly good elements suddenly decide to play hide-and-seek or, worse, overlap each other. As your Shopify migration experts at Shopping Cart Mover, we see these kinds of post-update glitches all the time. Fortunately, many of these issues, especially visual layout problems, can be resolved with a targeted CSS tweak. Let’s dive into a common layout glitch and how the community helped solve it, offering you actionable insights for your own store.

Shopify theme editor with custom CSS code for fixing layout.

The Case of the Overlapping Trust Badge: A Common Shopify Conundrum

Our story starts with Backdraft86, a store owner from JP's Horror, who posted in the Shopify Community forums about a sticky situation. After a recent theme update, their crucial trust badge—you know, those little icons that build customer confidence by showing secure payments and trusted services—was overlapping the "More Payment Options" section on their product pages. Talk about a conversion killer! At Shopping Cart Mover, we emphasize that trust badges are vital for establishing credibility and reducing cart abandonment. When they're obscured or broken, it directly impacts customer confidence and your bottom line.

Backdraft86 shared a snippet of their code and a screenshot, which is always super helpful when troubleshooting. Here's what they were seeing:

    {{ form | payment_terms }}



        

     


As you can see, the trust badge was clearly encroaching on the payment options, making both elements harder to read and use. This kind of visual bug, while seemingly minor, can really impact user experience and trust, especially at the critical checkout stage.

Diagnosing the Problem: Why Do Overlaps Happen After Updates?
Layout issues like this often stem from changes in a theme's underlying CSS or HTML structure during an update. Theme developers might refactor code, introduce new styling rules, or adjust element dimensions to improve responsiveness or add new features. While these updates are generally beneficial, they can inadvertently clash with existing custom code or even default styles, leading to unexpected visual glitches.
In Backdraft86's case, it appeared the updated theme might have altered the default height or positioning of the payment buttons, causing the adjacent trust badge to shift and overlap. The key to fixing this is often to explicitly define the dimensions or spacing of the affected elements using custom CSS.

The Elegant Solution: A Simple CSS Tweak
Enter Dan-From-Ryviu, a helpful community member who provided a concise and effective CSS solution. The fix involved adjusting the height properties of the payment buttons and the add-to-cart button:
.purchase-details__buttons.purchase-details__spb--true .shopify-payment-button {
    height: auto;
}
.purchase-details__buttons.purchase-details__spb--true .add_to_cart {
    height: 44px;
}

Let's break down what this code does:

  .purchase-details__buttons.purchase-details__spb--true .shopify-payment-button: This targets the Shopify payment buttons (like Shop Pay, PayPal, etc.) within the purchase details section. Setting height: auto; allows the button to determine its own height based on its content, preventing it from being too rigid and potentially pushing other elements.
  .purchase-details__buttons.purchase-details__spb--true .add_to_cart: This targets the main "Add to Cart" button. Explicitly setting height: 44px; gives it a defined, consistent height. This consistency helps to create predictable spacing and prevents it from collapsing or expanding unexpectedly, which could cause the trust badge to overlap.

This small adjustment provides precise control over the height of these critical elements, ensuring they occupy their intended space without encroaching on the trust badge.

How to Implement Custom CSS in Your Shopify Store
Adding custom CSS is a powerful way to fine-tune your Shopify store's appearance without directly editing core theme files (which can be risky). Here’s how you can add the provided code, or any other custom CSS, to your theme:

  Access Your Theme Editor: From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
  Customize Your Theme: Find your current theme and click the Customize button.
  Navigate to Theme Settings: In the theme editor, look for Theme settings (usually a gear icon or a tab on the left sidebar).
  Find Custom CSS: Scroll down and locate the Custom CSS section. This is the safest and recommended place for minor CSS tweaks, as it's less likely to be overwritten during theme updates.
  Paste the Code: Paste the CSS snippet provided by Dan-From-Ryviu into the Custom CSS box.
  Save and Check: Click Save in the top right corner. Then, visit your product pages to ensure the overlapping issue is resolved.

If your theme doesn't have a dedicated "Custom CSS" section in the customizer, you can add it directly to your theme's stylesheet:

  Duplicate Your Theme: Before editing code, always duplicate your live theme (Actions > Duplicate) as a backup.
  Edit Code: On your live theme (or the duplicated one for testing), click Actions > Edit code.
  Locate Stylesheet: In the `Assets` folder, find your main CSS file, often named theme.scss.liquid, base.css, or styles.css.
  Add Code: Scroll to the very bottom of the file and paste the CSS code.
  Save: Click Save.


Preventing Future Layout Headaches: Best Practices for Shopify Development
While a quick CSS fix can save the day, preventing these issues is always better. Here are some best practices we recommend at Shopping Cart Mover:

  Always Backup Your Theme: Before any major theme update or code modification, duplicate your theme. This provides a quick rollback option if something breaks.
  Test on an Unpublished Theme: If your theme offers a new version, install it as an unpublished theme first. Migrate your customizations and test thoroughly before publishing.
  Document Customizations: Keep a clear record of all custom CSS, JavaScript, and Liquid code you add. Note where it was added and why. This makes troubleshooting and re-applying changes after updates much easier.
  Use Browser Developer Tools: Learn to use your browser's inspect element tool (usually F12 or right-click > Inspect). It's invaluable for identifying conflicting styles, element IDs, and classes.
  Understand CSS Specificity: When writing custom CSS, be aware of specificity rules. Sometimes, your custom styles might not apply because a more specific rule is overriding them.
  Consider a Staging Environment: For complex stores or major changes, a dedicated staging environment (a copy of your store for testing) can save a lot of headaches.
  Seek Expert Help: If you're unsure about making code changes or encounter persistent issues, don't hesitate to reach out to Shopify experts or a development partner like Shopping Cart Mover. We specialize in ensuring your store functions flawlessly, especially during migrations and updates.


Conclusion
The case of the overlapping trust badge is a perfect example of how small, targeted code adjustments can resolve frustrating visual glitches on your Shopify store. By understanding the basics of custom CSS and adopting best practices for theme management, you can maintain a professional, trustworthy, and conversion-optimized storefront. Remember, a seamless user experience builds trust, and trust drives sales. If you ever find yourself struggling with complex Shopify development, theme issues, or considering a migration, the Shopping Cart Mover team is here to help ensure your e-commerce journey is smooth and successful.