How to create custom fields on Salesforce

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Custom fields in Salesforce are created through Setup by navigating to Object Manager, selecting your target object, and using the Fields & Relationships section. You'll choose a field type, configure properties, and set field-level security before deploying to page layouts.

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Prerequisites

Salesforce admin or system administrator privileges
Access to Setup menu in Salesforce org
Basic understanding of Salesforce objects and data types
Knowledge of your organization's data requirements

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access Salesforce Setup

Log into your Salesforce org and click the Setup gear icon in the top-right corner. Select Setup from the dropdown menu to access the administration interface.

Bookmark the Setup page for quick access when making frequent customizations.

Navigate to Object Manager

In the Setup menu, locate and click Object Manager in the left sidebar under Platform Tools. This displays all standard and custom objects in your org where you can add custom fields.

Select Your Target Object

Find and click on the object where you want to create the custom field (e.g., Account, Contact, Opportunity, or any custom object). This opens the object's detail page with various customization options.

Use the search box to quickly find objects in large orgs with many custom objects.

Access Fields & Relationships

On the object detail page, click Fields & Relationships in the left sidebar. This section shows all existing fields for the object. Click the New button in the top-right to start creating your custom field.

Review existing fields first to avoid creating duplicates or similar fields.

Choose Field Data Type

Select the appropriate data type for your custom field from options like Text, Number, Date, Picklist, Checkbox, or Lookup Relationship. Click Next to proceed to field configuration.

Consider future data needs - it's harder to change field types after data is entered.

Configure Field Properties

Enter the Field Label (display name) and Field Name (API name). Set field length, decimal places if applicable, and configure options like Required, Unique, or External ID. Add a Help Text description for users. Click Next.

Use clear, descriptive field labels and consistent naming conventions across your org.

Set Field-Level Security

Configure which user profiles can view and edit this field by checking the appropriate Visible and Read-Only boxes for each profile. Ensure proper access controls align with your organization's data security requirements. Click Next.

Start with restrictive permissions and grant access as needed rather than giving broad access initially.

Add to Page Layouts

Select which page layouts should display your new custom field by checking the boxes next to relevant layouts. Choose the appropriate section and position where the field should appear. Click Save to create the field and deploy it to your selected layouts.

Test the new field in a sandbox environment first before deploying to production if possible.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Cannot see the New button in Fields & Relationships

Verify you have Customize Application permission or System Administrator profile. Standard objects may have different permission requirements than custom objects.

Field is created but not visible to users

Check Field-Level Security settings and ensure the field is added to the appropriate Page Layouts. Users need both field access and the field must be on their assigned page layout.

Getting 'Field name already exists' error

Field API names must be unique per object. Try a different Field Name or check if a similar field already exists in the Fields & Relationships list, including deleted fields in the Recycle Bin.

Custom field not appearing in reports or list views

Newly created fields may take a few minutes to appear in report builders. Refresh the page or log out and back in. Also verify the field has proper Field-Level Security permissions for your profile.

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