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How to Collect Holiday Gift Messages at Checkout with Checkout Plus

Add a gift message field to checkout with Custom Input, give shoppers room to write, and set length limits so every note fits the card.

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Written by Darian Bia

A lot of Black Friday and holiday orders are gifts. With a Checkout Plus Custom Input, shoppers can type a gift message right in checkout, so you have it with the order instead of chasing it by email later.

This guide walks you through setting up a gift message field, giving shoppers room to write, keeping messages to a length that fits your card, and testing it before the rush.

Checkout Editor showing a Checkout Plus Custom Input text area above the Contact section on the Information step

Prefer video? Here's a quick walkthrough: How to Add Gift Message Options to Shopify Checkout.

Before you start

  • Checkout Plus installed on your Shopify store

  • Access to the Shopify Checkout Editor. A Custom Input on the checkout steps requires Shopify Plus.

  • A plan for the messages. Decide who reads them (your packing team, a gift card printer) and how long a message can be.

  • Not sure what needs Shopify Plus? See Which Checkout Plus Features Require Shopify Plus?.

Step 1: Open your Custom Input settings

  1. In Shopify admin, open Apps → Checkout Plus.

  2. Under App blocks, select Customize your Checkout.

  3. On Browse checkout app blocks, search for input.

  4. Find the Custom Input block and select Manage.

Checkout Plus home with Customize your Checkout highlighted under App blocks

[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Browse checkout app blocks filtered by input, with the Custom Input block and its Manage button highlighted]

Step 2: Set up your gift message field

  1. Give the field a clear label shoppers understand at a glance, like Gift message (optional). Not every order is a gift, so saying it's optional keeps everyone else moving.

  2. Add helper or placeholder text with a quick example, like Happy holidays, love Sam.

  3. Switch the field to the multi-line text area type, so shoppers have room to write a real note instead of cramming it into one line.

  4. Select Save.

[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Custom Input settings with the field label, placeholder text, and text area input type highlighted]

Step 3: Set a length that fits your card (optional)

Gift cards and packing slips only have so much space. Use Input Validation to keep messages to a length you can actually print.

  1. In your Custom Input settings, find Input Validation.

  2. To cap the length, pick the maximum option and set a limit that fits your card.

  3. To ask for at least a few words, choose Text Field - Character Minimum and set Minimum characters. Buyers must enter at least that many characters.

  4. To set both, pick the range option and enter a minimum and a maximum.

  5. Select Save.

Custom Input Input Validation set to Text Field - Character Minimum, with the Minimum characters field below

Tip: a minimum makes the field harder to skip. If the message is optional, a maximum on its own is usually the better fit.

Step 4: Add the Custom Input block to checkout

  1. In the Checkout Editor, go to the step where you want the field, like Information.

  2. Under Main, select Add block.

  3. Search for input and choose Custom Input under Checkout Plus.

  4. In the block settings, point the block at the gift message settings you saved in Step 2.

  5. Select Save.

[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Checkout Editor with Add block under Main, an input search, and Custom Input under Checkout Plus highlighted]

Step 5: Test it

  1. From your storefront, add a product to your cart and go to checkout.

  2. Check the gift message field on desktop and mobile, then try a message that's too short or too long to see your Input Validation in action.

  3. Place a test order and confirm the message comes through on the order in your Shopify admin, so your team knows where to find it when they pack.

[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Shopper view of checkout with the gift message field filled in]

BFCM tips

Troubleshooting

  • Field doesn't show: Make sure the Custom Input block is added and saved in the Checkout Editor, on the step you're testing.

  • Shoppers can't continue: Check Input Validation. A Minimum characters value makes the field harder to skip, so lower it or use a maximum only.

  • Label is in the wrong language: Update the translated text for your Custom Input too.

  • Can't place it on checkout: Placing blocks on the checkout steps requires Shopify Plus.

Need help? Contact Checkout Plus support from the app (Need Help? / Contact Us), and tell us about the gift message field you're setting up.

Ready to try it? Install Checkout Plus from the Shopify App Store.

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