How to Create Custom Fields in HubSpot Free CRM

Yes. HubSpot Free lets you create custom fields, called properties in HubSpot, to track information missing from the default CRM fields. You can add a property to contacts, companies, deals, or other CRM records available in your account. For example, if the standard Lead source field is too broad, create a `Lead source detail` property to record the referral partner, event, or campaign that produced a contact.

Check that HubSpot Free supports the field you need

Custom properties are available in HubSpot Free. A property is a field attached to a CRM object, such as a contact or company, and each record can have its own value.

Before you start, make sure you have:

• A HubSpot Free account with access to Settings.
• Permission to edit property settings. In many accounts, an admin grants this permission.
• A decision about which record should hold the information: contact, company, deal, ticket, or another object shown in your account.
• A few example values that users will enter.

Choose the object based on what the value describes. Put Lead source detail on the contact object if each person can arrive through a different source. Put it on the company object if the source applies to the business as a whole. Use a deal property for information that can change from one sales opportunity to another.

HubSpot shows only the objects available in your portal, so your list may differ from another account's list. Free accounts can use properties for manual entry, record views, lists or filters where available, imports, and exports. Advanced workflow automation, reporting options, permission controls, and some object-specific features may require a paid subscription.

If you can't find Create property, first confirm that you are in Settings and on the selected object's Properties page. If the button is still missing, ask a Super Admin or account admin to check your user permissions and subscription access. An integration can also manage a property, which can restrict changes to it.

Create your custom property step by step

For this example, create a contact property named Lead source detail. It records the specific source behind a broader lead-source category.

1. Open Settings from the gear icon in HubSpot.

2. In the left sidebar, open Data Management, then select Properties.

Settings > Data Management > Properties

3. Select Contact properties from the object selector. Select another object only if the field belongs on that type of record.

4. Click Create property.

5. Select a group for the property. Contact information can work, but a clearly named internal group can make custom fields easier to find later.

6. Enter Lead source detail as the label. HubSpot creates an internal name from the label, so use wording your team will recognize on records, imports, and filters.

7. Add a description explaining what belongs in the field, such as Specific campaign, referral partner, event, or source behind the primary lead source.

8. Choose the field type that fits the values people will enter.

For a controlled set of repeatable values, choose a dropdown select field. Options could include Referral partner, Trade show, Webinar, and Local event. If the detail varies widely, such as a campaign name or referring URL, use a single-line text field instead.

9. Add the dropdown options if you selected a dropdown field. Keep the labels distinct and use terms your team will recognize in filters and exports.

10. Review the settings and click Create.

The property now exists. Add it to the record view so your team can enter and see its value.

Add the field to records so your team can use it

Add the property to the relevant record sidebar so users do not have to search the full property list.

1. Return to Settings and open the object you used for the property, such as Objects > Contacts.

2. Open the record customization or record view settings for that object.

Settings > Objects > Contacts > Record customization

3. Edit the default record view or sidebar configuration your team uses.

4. Add Lead source detail to an appropriate property section, such as a marketing or qualification section.

5. Save the record layout changes.

6. Open a contact record and find the new field in the sidebar or property section.

7. Click the field, enter a value, and save the record.

If you need to fill the field for many existing contacts, use an import rather than opening records one at a time. Prepare a spreadsheet with a unique identifier, usually the contact email address, and a column headed Lead source detail. During import mapping, map that column to the new HubSpot property.

For dropdown properties, each imported value must match an existing option closely enough for HubSpot to map it. If a value is not an approved option, update the spreadsheet or add the option before importing. Text properties can store the text supplied in the file.

Make sure the field works before you build around it

Test the property on one sample record before asking the team to use it or depending on it in a process.

1. Open a sample record for the object where you created the property.

2. Enter a recognizable test value, such as Webinar for a dropdown or Spring partner webinar for a text field.

3. Save the record and refresh the page if the value does not appear immediately.

4. Confirm that the property appears in the record section where you placed it.

5. Create or open a filtered record view and confirm that the property can be selected as a filter, where that feature is available in your account.

6. Export a small set of records and include the new property in the export selection to confirm that the value appears in the downloaded file.

The setup worked if the value remains after a refresh, appears in the expected sidebar section, and is available in the places you plan to use it. If it is missing from a filter or export, check that you created it on the correct object. A contact property will not appear when you filter companies or deals.

A new property does not automatically trigger automation or appear in every report. The available automation actions, workflow triggers, reporting options, and permission controls depend on the tools and subscription features in your HubSpot account. Check the specific workflow, automation, report, or permission screen before making the field part of a team process.

Avoid property choices that are hard to fix later

A little planning helps prevent near-duplicate properties and fields your team does not trust.

Use a specific label. Lead source detail is clearer than Source notes, especially when someone is mapping a spreadsheet or building a filtered view. Check the existing property list before creating a new field; your portal may already have a standard or previously created property that serves the same purpose.

Use dropdown fields for values that need to stay consistent. A dropdown makes it easier to filter contacts labeled Webinar because everyone selects the same option. Use text fields when the value genuinely needs to vary. Entries such as webinar, Webinar, and April webinar can make filtering less reliable.

Treat required fields carefully. Requiring a property can improve data completeness, but it can also slow record creation when users do not know the answer yet. If the detail is collected later in your process, leave it optional and document when it should be completed.

Avoid deleting options or changing a field type without checking where the property is used. Existing records, imports, saved views, forms, integrations, and reports may depend on its current setup. If you need a substantially different format, creating a new property and migrating values is often safer than repurposing an old one.

Conclusion

Create the property on the object that owns the information, add it to the record sidebar, and test it on one record before rolling it out. If the field becomes part of a repeatable process, give your team a short definition and a few valid examples. That guidance keeps the data usable when you filter, export, or move to more advanced HubSpot features.