Custom Metafields Explained: When to Use Them for Products vs Categories

If you have been working on a Shopify store and felt limited by the default fields available for your products or collections, you are not alone. Whether you want to display extra details like care instructions, technical specs, or promotional banners, custom metafields give you the power to add and manage data exactly the way you need.

Shopify has come a long way with how it handles metafields. With the Online Store 2.0 update, merchants can now add metafields directly through the admin without relying on third party apps or developers. But knowing when to use metafields for products versus categories (called collections in Shopify) is key to building a well structured, dynamic storefront.

In this blog, we will break down what metafields are, how they work for products and collections, and when you should use each one. Let’s get started.

What Are Custom Metafields?

Custom metafields are extra pieces of information that you can attach to products, collections, orders, customers, and more within Shopify. Think of them as custom fields that allow you to store and display content that is not supported by Shopify’s default fields.

For example, if you want to show a “Material Type” field on your product page or display a special “Promo Banner” on a category landing page, custom metafields let you do that without cluttering up your product description or relying on hard-coded templates.

Metafields can store different types of content, such as text, numbers, images, URLs, and even references to other parts of your store. Shopify also allows you to define the namespace and key for each metafield, so you can stay organized and keep your data structured. Once a metafield is created and filled in, you can pull it into your storefront using the Shopify theme editor or Liquid code.

Now that we understand what metafields are, let’s look at how they apply specifically to products and categories.

Product Metafields

Product metafields are one of the most commonly used types in Shopify. They allow you to add custom details to individual products that go beyond the default fields like title, description, and price.

Common Use Cases for Product Metafields:

• Technical specifications – Ideal for electronics or machinery

• Ingredients or nutrition facts – For food, supplements, or skincare

• Care instructions – Useful for clothing, home decor, or furniture

• Custom labels – Like “Ships in 2 days” or “Limited Edition”

• Size charts or PDFs – Adding download links specific to each product

Product metafields are perfect when you need to display unique information that changes from product to product. For example, a fashion store may want to include fabric details on each item, or a pet store might want to show breed-specific suitability.

In Shopify, you can define product metafields through the admin by navigating to a product, scrolling to the “Metafields” section, and entering the custom data. You can then connect these fields to your theme using the theme editor or reference them in code using:

By using product metafields, you keep your product pages cleaner and more structured while giving customers the information they care about.

Category (or Collection) Metafields

In Shopify, categories are referred to as collections. Just like products, collections can also have custom metafields that allow you to personalize and enhance the content shown on collection pages.

While product metafields focus on details specific to a single item, collection metafields are ideal for adding content that applies to a group of products or helps shape the layout and experience of a collection landing page.

Common Use Cases for Collection Metafields:

• Promotional banners – Add a seasonal sale banner or announcement above product listings

• Category-specific descriptions or images – Ideal for SEO or storytelling

• FAQs for a product range – Useful in categories like skincare or electronics

• Custom icons or badges – Show collection-wide tags like “Eco-Friendly” or “New Arrivals”

You can manage collection metafields in Shopify by opening a collection in your admin and scrolling to the Metafields section. Here, you can enter content based on the metafield definitions you’ve created, just like with products.

To display them in your storefront, you would reference them using:

These metafields are especially helpful when you want to control the design and messaging of your collection pages without editing your theme every time.

Key Differences Between Product and Category Metafields

While both product and category (collection) metafields serve a similar purpose — adding custom data — they are used in different ways and for different types of content. Understanding these differences helps you decide where to store specific information and how to organize your storefront more effectively.

1. Scope and Purpose

• Product metafields apply to individual products. They’re meant for details that change from one item to another.

• Collection metafields apply to an entire group of products. They’re great for content that represents the theme or purpose of a product category.

2. Where They Appear

• Product metafields show up on product pages — usually near the buy box, product description, or in a tabbed layout.

• Collection metafields show up on collection pages — often used at the top of the page, in banners, or near collection descriptions.

3. How They Impact Layout

• Product metafields can adjust layouts for each individual item (like showing a unique label or chart).

• Collection metafields can influence the layout or messaging of a whole product group, such as changing the header image or text based on season or promotion.

4. Data Volume and Maintenance

• You’ll typically manage more product metafields because stores often have dozens or hundreds of products.

• You’ll deal with fewer collection metafields, but they can carry more weight in guiding the user experience and SEO for your main landing pages.

5. SEO and User Experience

• Product metafields can improve product-level search visibility and help customers make informed buying decisions.

• Collection metafields can enhance keyword targeting for category pages and improve engagement by displaying relevant content above the product grid.

By assigning data to the right metafield type, you avoid duplication, reduce maintenance time, and keep your storefront flexible and scalable.

Platform-Specific Behavior in Shopify

Shopify has made it easier than ever to create and manage custom metafields, thanks to the updates introduced with Online Store 2.0. Whether you are editing products or collections, Shopify offers a consistent and intuitive experience for working with metafields — all from within the admin dashboard.

1. Built-In Metafield Editor

You no longer need third party apps for most metafield use cases. Shopify lets you:

• Define metafields with custom names, types, and validations

• Add content directly on product or collection pages

• Use structured types like text, number, image, file, URL, and even references to other entries (like linking to a page or product)

2. Theme Integration with Metafields

With Online Store 2.0 themes (like Dawn), you can use the theme editor to dynamically connect metafields to blocks, banners, and sections — no coding required.

For example:

• Connect a product metafield called material_info to a collapsible tab on your product page

• Use a collection metafield called promo_banner_image to set a dynamic header background for each category page

3. Code Reference (Liquid Examples)

If you prefer to code or want finer control over your layout, metafields are accessible using Liquid:

Make sure your metafield definitions follow the correct namespace and key format. Using consistent naming helps keep your theme clean and maintainable.

4. Validation and Types

Shopify allows strict type enforcement for each metafield. For example, if you define a metafield as an image, the admin will only accept image files. This reduces errors and keeps your data structured correctly.

Best Practices for Using Metafields

Metafields are powerful tools, but to get the most value from them, you need to approach them with a clear structure and long-term mindset. Here are some best practices to follow when working with custom metafields in Shopify:

1. Use Clear Namespaces and Keys

Stick to simple and consistent naming. For example:

• Namespace: custom

• Key: material_info, banner_image, faq_section

Avoid using random or overly technical names — keeping it clean helps you and other team members understand what each metafield is for, especially when your store scales.

2. Group Related Fields Together

If you’re using multiple metafields for the same purpose (e.g., collection banners), use a shared namespace. This keeps your metafields organized and easy to manage.

Example:

3. Use Structured Types Whenever Possible

Shopify supports different content types like image, date, boolean (true/false), and references. Choosing the right type improves reliability and prevents user error during data entry.

4. Avoid Overloading with Too Many Metafields

Only add metafields when necessary. If something applies to all products or collections, consider using a global section or default template content instead of metafields.

5. Plan for Theme Integration

Before creating a metafield, ask yourself:

• Will this be used in the theme?

• If yes, where and how?
  Thinking this through in advance will help you structure your metafields to align with your design.

6. Document Your Metafields

Keep a simple document or spreadsheet that lists:

• Each metafield’s namespace and key

• Type of content

• Where it’s used in the theme

This becomes extremely helpful as your store grows or when handing off work to another developer.

Conclusion

Custom metafields in Shopify open up a world of flexibility for both developers and merchants. By understanding when to use them for products and when for categories, you can build a store that’s not only informative and well structured, but also easier to maintain.

Use product metafields when you need to show unique details about individual items — whether that’s materials, specifications, or special labels. Use collection metafields when you want to customize the look, messaging, or content of your category pages — like seasonal banners or SEO-friendly text.

With Shopify’s native metafield support, setting these up is easier than ever. Whether you’re customizing themes visually or using Liquid, metafields help you deliver a more personalized and organized shopping experience.

Need help setting up custom metafields or building advanced product and category layouts? Hire a freelance Shopify developer who understands both the platform and your business goals.