How to customize pipeline stages on Pipedrive

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Customize pipeline stages in Pipedrive by navigating to Settings > Pipelines, selecting your pipeline, and using the stage editor to add, remove, rename, or reorder stages. You can also set probability percentages and stage requirements for each stage.

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Prerequisites

Active Pipedrive account
Admin or sufficient user permissions
Basic understanding of sales processes
Access to pipeline management settings

Step-by-Step Instructions

Navigate to Pipeline Settings

Click on your profile avatar in the top-right corner and select Settings from the dropdown menu. In the left sidebar, locate and click on Pipelines and stages under the Company settings section.

If you don't see pipeline settings, check with your admin as you may need additional permissions.

Select the Pipeline to Customize

On the Pipelines page, you'll see a list of all your pipelines. Click on the Edit button (pencil icon) next to the pipeline you want to customize. If you only have one pipeline, it will be selected automatically.

Create separate pipelines for different sales processes or product lines for better organization.

Add New Stages

To add a new stage, click the + Add stage button at the bottom of the stage list. Enter the stage name in the text field and press Enter. The new stage will appear at the end of your pipeline by default.

Use clear, action-oriented stage names like 'Qualified Lead' or 'Proposal Sent' rather than vague terms.

Edit Existing Stages

Click on any existing stage to edit its properties. You can modify the Stage name, set the Win probability percentage (0-100%), and configure whether the stage is Rotting time enabled. Click Save when finished with each stage.

Set realistic win probabilities based on your historical data - this helps with accurate forecasting.

Reorder Pipeline Stages

To change the order of stages, simply drag and drop them using the handle icon (six dots) on the left side of each stage. Arrange them in the logical sequence of your sales process from initial contact to closed deals.

The stage order should reflect your actual sales process flow for maximum team adoption.

Delete Unwanted Stages

To remove a stage, click on the stage to select it, then click the Delete stage button (trash icon) that appears. Confirm the deletion in the popup dialog. Note that deals in deleted stages will be moved to the nearest appropriate stage.

Before deleting, check if any active deals are currently in that stage to avoid disruption.

Configure Stage Requirements

For each stage, you can set mandatory fields that must be completed before a deal can progress. Click Stage requirements and select which fields are required. This ensures data quality and process compliance.

Use stage requirements strategically - too many mandatory fields can slow down your sales team.

Save and Apply Changes

Once you've finished customizing all stages, click the Save button at the bottom of the page. Your changes will be applied immediately and affect all deals in this pipeline. Team members will see the updated stages in their deal views.

Notify your team about pipeline changes and provide training if the modifications significantly alter your sales process.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Cannot see pipeline settings option

Check your user permissions with your Pipedrive admin. Only users with appropriate permissions can modify pipeline settings. Regular users may only have view access.

Changes not reflecting in deal views

Refresh your browser page or log out and back in. Pipeline changes should be immediate, but browser caching might delay updates. Clear browser cache if issues persist.

Deals disappeared after deleting a stage

Check the next logical stage in your pipeline - Pipedrive automatically moves deals to the closest appropriate stage. You can also check your Activities log for the move history.

Cannot delete a specific stage

Some stages cannot be deleted if they contain active deals or are system-required stages. Move all deals out of the stage first, or contact Pipedrive support if it's a system limitation.

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