The Text Area option type provides a multi-line text field for longer customer input. It’s the companion to Text Input — use Text Input for short entries (names, initials) and Text Area for longer messages.
When to Use Text Area
- Custom messages or dedications (gift cards, plaques, books)
- Special instructions or notes
- Longer personalization text (poems, quotes, vows)
How to Add a Text Area
- In the option set editor, click Add Option.
- Select Text Area from the list.
- Name your option (e.g., “Custom Message”, “Gift Note”).
- Set a character limit appropriate for your product.
- Optionally, add a price for the personalization service.
Configuration Options
Character Limit
Control the maximum text length. Common limits:
| Use Case | Suggested Limit |
|---|
| Gift card message | 150 characters |
| Engraving (multi-line) | 50 characters |
| Custom poem/quote | 300 characters |
| Special instructions | 500 characters |
Placeholder Text
Add example text to guide customers (e.g., “Write your message here…”).
Required Field
Make the text area required or optional depending on your product flow.
Additional Pricing
Charge extra for the personalization service (e.g., +$5 for custom message).
Text Area vs Text Input
| Text Area | Text Input |
|---|
| Lines | Multi-line | Single line |
| Best for | Messages, notes, quotes | Names, initials, short text |
| Character limit | Typically 50–500 | Typically 5–30 |
Best Practices
Always set a character limit. Without one, customers may enter text that doesn’t fit on your product or is impractical to produce.
Use placeholder text to show customers the expected format, especially for structured text like “Line 1: Name / Line 2: Date”.
