# Add Custom Fields to Shopify Checkout (Gift Messages, Delivery Notes and More)

URL: https://geofraudshield.com/blog/custom-fields-shopify-checkout
Published: 2026-09-22
Reading time: 7 min read
Category: Tutorial
Author: Robert John, Founder & CEO at Blockly (https://geofraudshield.com/about#robert-john)
Publisher: Blockly (https://geofraudshield.com)

## TL;DR

Gift messages, delivery instructions, tax IDs and preferred delivery dates all start as a custom checkout field. Learn where the data goes, how to validate it, and how to keep it useful for fulfillment.

## Key points

- Every order passes through it, including orders from express or direct checkout links that skip the cart.
- The shopper is already in "fill in details" mode, so an extra field feels natural.
- Data captured at checkout attaches directly to the order, which keeps fulfillment simple.
- The order note is a single field. If two apps or two fields both write to it, they can overwrite each other. Use it for one purpose only.
- Attributes show up on the order in the admin and can be included in order notifications and packing slips with template edits. They are the most common choice for simple fields.
- Metafields are the better choice when the data has a clear type (a date, a number, a tax ID) and needs to be used downstream, for example by a fulfillment app or a Shopify Flow automation.

## Questions this answers

- How does shopify work on Shopify?
- How does checkout customization work on Shopify?
- How does custom fields work on Shopify?
- How does checkout ui extensions work on Shopify?
- How does order attributes work on Shopify?

## Primary sources referenced

- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR): https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj

## Citation format

Blockly (2026). Add Custom Fields to Shopify Checkout (Gift Messages, Delivery Notes and More). https://geofraudshield.com/blog/custom-fields-shopify-checkout