On Etsy, you can help your buyers personalize items by adding Personalization to your listings. Personalization lets buyers tell you what they want customized on an item—like a name for an engraving or a special message. Thanks to your participation in the beta group, the personalization request process is becoming even more streamlined for both sellers and buyers. 

Sellers can also offer listing variations, like color or size, or custom listings, like a one-of-a-kind item based on a buyer’s detailed request. Learn more about the difference between variations, personalization, and custom listings.

What to expect as a beta participant

We're exploring updates that make it easier for you to collect complete personalization details from buyers at checkout, saving you time and helping you fulfill orders more efficiently.  As a beta participant, you can add up to 5 personalization fields (instead of the 1 field you’re used to), including both text boxes and lists of options for buyers to choose from.

Other considerations for beta participants: 

• Personalization settings can only be managed on Etsy.com. On the Etsy Seller app, you can view updated listing details and buyer order data.
• Third-party tools will be blocked during the beta. Examples of tools include Printify, Shipstation, eRank, Shopify Marketplace Connect, Gelato, and Corjl.
• This is an early beta, so some features may not work as expected.
• Final features may change or not launch at all.

How to enable personalization for listings

When you enable personalization on your listings, buyers can specify what they want to be personalized on an item before they can submit their order. 

As a beta participant, you can add up to 5 personalization fields for each listing. Each field should focus on a single detail of the item’s personalization.

To enable a personalization for a listing:

To edit a personalization, select Edit. To delete individual personalization fields, select Delete. To delete all personalization fields at once, select Remove personalization.

Sellers with existing personalization listings

Your personalization instructions are still saved. Now you can put them into multiple fields so buyers can easily provide the details you need to make their item special. Select Edit to make changes to the personalization field, or Delete to delete it. Select Add personalization to create more personalization fields.

What to include in personalization instructions

Text box personalization instructions

When creating a Text box personalization field, ensure the title and instructions are as clear and informational as possible. Each field should focus on one detail of the item’s personalization. Buyers should also be able to understand exactly what details they are supposed to provide. Include the following: 

Text box personalization instructions example

Examples of clear, informational Text box personalization fields for a personalized birthday card: 

1. Title: Name

Instructions: Enter the name you want to appear on the front of the card [Example: Clifton]

2. Title: Age

Instructions: Enter the number you want to appear on the front of the card [Example: 80]

3. Title: Message for inside (optional)

Instructions: Enter the text you would like to appear on the inside of the card 

List of options personalization instructions

If you reference options elsewhere in your listing, such as in listing images, make sure the option names match. For example, if your personalization field is labeled Font Style with options Font 1, Font 2, etc., an image showing font choices should also be titled Font Styles and each example labeled Font 1, Font 2, etc.

If you choose to include images showing personalization options, it’s recommended to create one image per personalization field, with each image showing the options for that specific field. For example, an image of font choices for the Font Styles personalization field would be separate from an image of colors for the Text Color field. You can add up to 20 images per listing. 

List of options personalization examples

Examples of clear, informational List of options personalization fields for a monogrammed sweatshirt: 

1. Title: Font style (see examples in photo)

Options: Font 1, Font 2, Font 3, etc. 

2. Title: Text color

Options: Black, White, Blue, Red

How to photograph personalized listings

You may use examples of other similar personalized items you have made to give your buyers the most accurate idea of what their personalized items will look like when they’re completed. When using photographs of previous work with options for personalization (like color choices), make it clear in your description that the photos shown are just examples.

Mockups and images created with the aid of computer software may be used in the additional listing images to give buyers examples of personalization options. Ensure any text used in these images has sufficient contrast with background colors and is in a font that is easy to read. This will make it easier for buyers to identify, understand, and select from their choices.

If listing personalized commercial items (such as monogrammed or engraved accessories), your first image must show a finished, personalized item similar to what buyers will receive. You cannot use a photo of the blank product or a mockup with placeholder text (e.g. “Your Text Here”) as the main image.

See our Listing Image Requirements for more information.

For the buyer, the required personalization fields appear on the listing with the other options for that listing, like color or quantity.

When a buyer adds personalization information for an item, you will see these details on the Orders page.

When to offer personalizations, variations, or custom listings

Personalization