Shopify Checkout Customization: Adding Important Text to Cart & Checkout Pages

Hey everyone! It's your friendly Shopify expert here, and today I want to dive into a super common question that popped up in the community recently: adding custom text, like a customs disclaimer, to your cart or checkout page. It sounds straightforward, right? But as we saw in a recent thread, there are some really important nuances, especially when it comes to the checkout itself.

The discussion started with a user named Wegan, who was looking to add a specific message: “* International orders may be subject to customs duties upon delivery” to their store. They wanted it in italics, ideally right on top of the checkout page, under where “taxes included…” usually appears. Wegan even shared an image, showing exactly where they envisioned this crucial information:

This is a super important message for international customers, and making it visible at a critical point in the purchase journey is just smart business. But here's where the Shopify platform's structure comes into play.

The Crucial Distinction: Cart Page vs. Checkout Page

The most insightful part of the thread came from devcoders, who really hit the nail on the head regarding Shopify's customization capabilities. It boils down to this:

1. Customizing Your Cart Page:

• Good news! Adding text to your cart page (like above the checkout button) is generally quite possible.
• This usually involves a bit of theme code customization.

2. Customizing Your Shopify Checkout Page:

• Here's the catch: Shopify has significant limitations on what you can change directly on the checkout page itself.
• If you're on a Basic, Shopify, or Advanced plan, checkout customization is “very limited.” You can modify things like language strings, logos, and some styling through the theme customizer, but adding custom HTML or text directly into the main content flow (like under “taxes included”) is generally not allowed. This is a security and consistency measure by Shopify.
• If you're on a Shopify Plus plan, you get “fully customizable checkout.” This is the big differentiator for larger merchants who need complete control over their checkout experience.

So, for most store owners not on Plus, the dream of placing a custom message exactly where Wegan wanted it on the *checkout* page is often out of reach. But don't despair! There are still excellent ways to get your message across.

Adding Text to Your Cart Page (The Most Viable Option)

Since the cart page offers more flexibility, this is often the best place for important disclaimers or messages for non-Shopify Plus stores. Here's a general approach:

Step-by-Step: Editing Your Theme Code

1. Backup Your Theme: Always, always, always duplicate your theme before making any code changes. Go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Duplicate.

2. Access Theme Code: In your Shopify admin, navigate to Online Store > Themes. Find your active theme, click Actions > Edit code.

3. Locate the Cart Template: Look for files like cart.liquid, sections/cart-template.liquid, or a similar file that controls your cart page's content. The exact file name can vary depending on your theme.

4. Find the Right Spot: You'll want to place your message strategically. A good place is often right above the "Checkout" button or near the cart totals. Look for HTML elements like

   or sections related to totals.

5. Insert Your Text: Add your desired message using standard HTML. For Wegan's example, it would look something like this:

   * International orders may be subject to customs duties upon delivery

   You can wrap it in a

   or

   tag and use CSS to style it further if needed.

6. Save and Test: Save your changes and visit your cart page to ensure the message appears correctly and doesn't break anything.

If you're uncomfortable with code, consider reaching out to a Shopify expert or your theme's support team for assistance. Many themes also have dedicated sections in the Customizer for adding custom content to the cart page, so check there first!

Alternatives for Checkout-Specific Messages (When Direct Customization Isn't an Option)

Since placing custom HTML directly into the main checkout flow is mostly a Shopify Plus privilege, what are your other options for those critical messages?

• Use the Cart Page: As discussed, this is your strongest option. Make the message prominent here, perhaps even requiring a checkbox acknowledgment for international orders.

• Product Descriptions: For specific products, ensure customs information is clear in the product description.

• Shipping Policy Page: Link to a detailed shipping policy page that clearly outlines international shipping terms and potential duties. You can link to this page from your cart or footer.

• Order Confirmation Page: While post-purchase, you can definitely add custom text and links to your order confirmation page (the "Thank You" page). This isn't ideal for pre-purchase warnings, but it's another place to reinforce information.

• Checkout Language Editor: For *existing* labels and text on the checkout, you can go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit languages and then click the "Checkout & system" tab. You can modify phrases like "Taxes included" but you can't inject entirely new, custom HTML sections.

The community discussion highlighted a key aspect of Shopify: understanding where flexibility lies and where it doesn't. For most store owners, getting creative with your cart page and other informational pages is the way to go for important disclaimers like customs duties. While the full customization of Shopify Plus is a powerful tool, it's good to know there are still effective strategies for everyone to communicate clearly with their customers!