How to Add Custom Fields to WooCommerce Checkout Page [With and Without Plugins]

WooCommerce provides a good starting point for online stores. However, its standard checkout page might not meet all your specific business needs. 

For example, you might want to collect extra details to personalize products, improve shipping, or better understand your customers. Unfortunately, the default WooCommerce setup doesn’t have these advanced options.

Thankfully, there are ways to enhance your WooCommerce checkout page with custom fields. In this article, we’ll show you how to use plugins or add custom code to create a checkout experience tailored to your business.

Why Add Custom Fields to WooCommerce Checkout?

The checkout page is crucial. It is where customers finalize their purchases. For businesses, this can be a perfect opportunity to gather valuable information.

Want to know how customers found your store? Curious about their delivery preferences? Just add a field and ask away. Or, imagine giving your customers the option to leave special instructions for a gift order. With custom fields, you can ask targeted questions that really matter to your business.

Adding custom fields might also make things better for everyone. With the right details, you can easily streamline your operations. For example, you don’t need to send back-and-forth emails asking for missing info. Orders get processed more efficiently, which means happier customers and less stress for you.

From a marketing perspective, the data you collect can be incredibly valuable. It allows you to segment your audience more effectively and create targeted promotions that resonate. You can identify which products are popular in different regions and customize your marketing efforts to boost sales and build customer loyalty.

Overall, adding custom fields to your WooCommerce checkout can make a big difference for both you and your customers. It’s a simple step, yet comes with powerful benefits for your business.

Adding Custom Fields to WooCommerce Checkout with Plugins

If coding isn’t your forte, we suggest using a plugin, which is easy to set up and use.

In this guide, we assume you already have WooCommerce installed and running on your website. 

For this walkthrough, we’ll be using a free plugin called Checkout Field Editor (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce. Go ahead and install it on your WordPress site. 

Note: Checkout Field Editor (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce also comes with a pro version. If you’re interested, please visit their official website for the pricing.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

First, let's get the Checkout Field Editor plugin up and running. Go to your WordPress admin dashboard. Click on "Plugins", then "Add New." 

Search for "Checkout Field Editor." Click "Install Now", then "Activate."

Once activated, you should now see new options in your WooCommerce settings.

Step 2: Open the Plugin Settings

Go to WooCommerce > Checkout Form in the left-hand menu of your dashboard. This is where you’re going to customize your checkout page.

Step 3: Configure the Plugin

On the settings page, you'll see two main tabs, "Checkout Fields" and "Advanced Settings." Under these tabs, you'll find sections for billing fields, shipping fields, and additional fields.

Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with these settings. You can drag and drop fields to reorder them or enable and disable them as needed. This flexibility allows you to customize each section of your checkout form to your specific needs.

Step 4: Add Your Custom Field

Now, time to add your custom field! Click on the "Add Field" button at the top of any section.

A popup should appear where you can specify the type of field (e.g., text, checkbox, date picker) and enter the details like label, placeholder text, and whether the field is required.

Select and fill in the details, then click "Save." Your new field will appear in the list, and you can drag it to wherever you want it to appear on the form.

Step 5: Fine-Tune with Advanced Settings

Before wrapping up, click on the "Advanced Settings" tab. Here, you can make more detailed adjustments to how your fields behave. For example, you might enable class override for additional styling options.

Make sure everything is set up just right for your site's needs. Then, save the changes.

And there you have it! Your custom fields are now live on your WooCommerce checkout page. Now you can gather the extra information you need from your customers. Feel free to play around with different fields and options. Don't be afraid to make adjustments based on customer feedback or your changing business needs.

Adding Custom Fields to WooCommerce Checkout with Code

If you prefer a hands-on approach and have some coding knowledge, you can add custom fields directly through code. This method gives you greater flexibility and keeps your site lean.

Before we begin, make sure you're comfortable editing your theme files. And don’t forget, always back up your site before making any code changes!

Note: We've used CodeWP to create the code snippets you'll see below. It's a handy tool, but feel free to adjust the code to fit your specific needs.

Step 1: Locate Your Theme's functions.php File

Your theme's functions.php file is where we'll add our custom code.

To get there, go to Appearance > Theme Editor. Then, look for functions.php from the list of theme files.

Step 2: Add the Custom Field

Now, let's add something useful, like a dropdown menu asking customers how they heard about your store. 

Insert the following code snippet into your functions.php file: 

add_filter('woocommerce_checkout_fields', 'cwpai_add_custom_checkout_field');

function cwpai_add_custom_checkout_field($fields) {
    $fields['billing']['cwpai_how_hear_about_us'] = array(
        'type'        => 'select',
        'label'       => __('How did you hear about us?', 'codewp'),
        'options'     => array(
            ''          => __('Select an option', 'codewp'),
            'facebook'  => __('Facebook', 'codewp'),
            'instagram' => __('Instagram', 'codewp'),
            'google'    => __('Google', 'codewp'),
            'friends'   => __('Friends', 'codewp')
        ),
        'required'    => true,
        'class'       => array('form-row-wide'),
        'clear'       => true
    );

    return $fields;
}

This code adds a new dropdown field to the billing section of your checkout. It uses the woocommerce_checkout_fields filter to modify the checkout fields array.

Step 3: Sanitize and Save Data

To make sure the custom field is filled out correctly, we’ll add a validation function:

add_action('woocommerce_checkout_update_order_meta', 'cwpai_save_custom_checkout_field');

function cwpai_save_custom_checkout_field($order_id) {
    if (!empty($_POST['cwpai_how_hear_about_us'])) {
        update_post_meta(
            $order_id,
            '_cwpai_how_hear_about_us',
            sanitize_text_field($_POST['cwpai_how_hear_about_us'])
        );
    }
}

The code above checks if the field is empty and prompts the user to fill it out if necessary. It hooks into the woocommerce_checkout_update_order_meta action to update the order meta with the sanitized value of the custom field.

Step 4: Display the Custom Field on the Checkout Page

Finally, let's make sure your new field shows up where it should:

add_action('woocommerce_admin_order_data_after_billing_address', 'cwpai_display_custom_checkout_field_in_admin_order_meta', 10, 1);

function cwpai_display_custom_checkout_field_in_admin_order_meta($order) {
    $how_hear_about_us = get_post_meta(
        $order->get_id(),
        '_cwpai_how_hear_about_us',
        true
    );

    if (!empty($how_hear_about_us)) {
        echo '<p><strong>' . __('How did you hear about us?', 'codewp') . ':</strong> ' . esc_html($how_hear_about_us) . '</p>';
    }
}

The code above displays the value of the custom field in the WooCommerce admin order details. It hooks into the woocommerce_admin_order_data_after_billing_address action to retrieve and display the custom field value in the order details section.

That’s it! Here’s what the output looks like on the front end:

How to Add Custom Fields in WooCommerce - FAQs

1) What types of custom fields can I add to the WooCommerce checkout page?

You can add text fields, text areas, select menus, radio buttons, checkboxes, and date pickers. The choice depends on the information you need to collect from customers.

2) How can I validate custom fields added to the WooCommerce checkout page?

To validate custom fields, you need to add validation code to your functions.php file - you can copy and try the code we’ve shared in this tutorial. The code is designed to check if custom fields are filled out correctly and display error messages if needed.

3) Is it possible to reorder the fields on the WooCommerce checkout page?

Yes, you can reorder fields using the woocommerce_checkout_fields filter. Just add and adjust the “priority” attribute of each field to change its position on the checkout form. Additionally, if you prefer a more user-friendly approach, you can use a plugin, such as the one mentioned in this guide, which allows you to drag and drop the fields to reorder them easily.

Wrapping It Up

Now you know how to add custom fields to your WooCommerce checkout page. Don't be afraid to try out different options to see what works best for your store and shoppers. Keep track of how these changes affect your sales. Listen to what your customers say about them.

The goal is to make checkout easy and helpful for everyone. Collect the information you need, but be careful not to ask for too much. Find the right balance to streamline the checkout process and make your customers happy.