Made-to-Measure on Shopify: Line Item Properties Explained

Shopify line item properties are extra pieces of information attached to a single product in the cart, such as a chest measurement, a monogram or a fit note. They are how most made-to-measure stores collect custom details without building a new checkout. The values travel with the item to the order.

This guide explains how they work for store owners and developers. If you only want a size recommendation, start with adding virtual try-on to Shopify instead.

What is a line item property?

A line item is one product in the cart or order. A property is a name and a value attached to that line. The shopper fills in a field on the product page, and the name and value show in the cart, in the order in your admin and in your notification emails if the template includes them.

Typical uses in fashion:

• Body measurements for a made-to-measure shirt or suit
• A name or initials to embroider
• A fit preference such as slim or relaxed
• A date needed for an event

How do you add one to a product form?

Inside your theme's product form, an input named properties[Name] creates a property called "Name". For example:

• properties[Chest] for a chest measurement
• properties[Sleeve] for sleeve length
• properties[Fit note] for a free-text comment

Add the required attribute to fields you cannot do without. Then place a short measuring guide next to them. The step-by-step version for measurements is in our guide on collecting customer measurements on Shopify.

If you are unsure about editing theme code, work on a duplicate of your theme first.

What are the limits of line item properties?

They are simple, which means a few things are left to you:

• No built-in validation. Add your own checks for units and ranges.
• Plain text. Values arrive as text, so copying them into a production sheet is a manual step unless you automate it.
• One set per line. Two of the same garment in one cart line share the same properties, so ask shoppers to add each person's garment separately.
• Hidden properties. A name starting with an underscore is hidden from the cart view. It is useful for internal data.
• No price changes by default. A property does not alter the price. Charge extras with a variant or a separate product.

What does a made-to-measure product form look like?

A simple shirt form might include these fields, in this order:

1. A short line saying which unit to use
2. Chest, waist, shoulder width and sleeve length, as number inputs
3. A dropdown for fit: slim, regular or relaxed
4. A text box for anything the tailor should know, such as posture
5. A checkbox confirming the shopper has read the measuring guide

Each field gets a properties[...] name, and the required ones are marked. Put the measuring guide, with diagrams, directly above them. Shoppers who see the instructions next to the field make fewer mistakes.

How do you read and use the values after an order?

Open the order in your Shopify admin. The properties appear under the product line. Copy them into your production sheet or tailor software, and confirm them with the client before you cut.

A read-back step is worth the effort. Send the key measurements to the client in an email or message, and ask them to confirm. It catches typos and unit mix-ups early.

If you handle orders in volume, think about how the values reach your workshop. A manual copy works for a handful of orders a week, but errors creep in as numbers grow.

When should you use metafields instead?

Line item properties capture what a shopper enters for one order. Metafields store fixed information about a product, such as fabric or fit notes. Use properties for shopper input and metafields for product facts. The guide to Shopify metafields for fit notes covers the second case.

How do properties fit with pre-orders?

Many made-to-measure items are made after the order, so they behave like pre-orders. Set a clear lead time on the page and state the deposit terms. For apps that handle this, see Shopify pre-order apps for fashion drops.

Should you collect measurements or recommend a size?

It depends on what you sell:

Situation	Better approach
Garment is cut to the client's numbers	Line item properties for measurements
Ready-to-wear with standard sizes	A size recommendation from the shopper's body scan
Both	Offer a standard size picker plus a custom option

ZeDaq.ai's Shopify app gives a size recommendation from a 30-second body scan, one photo plus height, matched to your own size chart. It does not replace measurement fields for fully custom garments. Brands that mix both can read about size recommendation for made-to-measure brands.

FAQs

Do line item properties work on any Shopify theme?

They work on themes where you can edit the product form. Check that the field names carry through to the cart.

Can customers edit properties in the cart?

That depends on your theme code. By default they are set when the item is added.

Will properties show on invoices and emails?

Only if your templates print them. Test an order and check each document.

Can I limit the values a shopper types?

Yes, with input types such as numbers or dropdowns, plus your own validation script. Properties do not enforce it alone.