Custom Fields

The article outlines the process for adding custom fields in BambooHR, applicable to all employees. It includes a table of contents with sections on important notes, adding custom fields, granting access, archiving, and restoring fields. Key considerations include ensuring custom fields do not duplicate existing ones and managing data security. The custom field builder allows users to define field names, types, and statuses. Users can grant access to custom fields beyond Account Owners and Full Admins. Archived fields can be restored, retaining all associated data. The article emphasizes the importance of tailoring custom fields to meet organizational needs while adhering to security guidelines. For further assistance, the Customer Support team is available.

  • Jul 8, 2026
  • Knowledge

Title
Custom Fields
Article Text
This feature is included in the Core, Pro, and Elite packages.

Purpose: To show you how you can add your own custom fields in your BambooHR account.

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Table of Contents

Important notes

  • Applies to all employees: Please keep in mind that when you add or remove a custom field, the change will apply to ALL employee profiles in your company account.
  • Data security: When adding a custom field, make sure it is not a duplicate, a privacy issue, or a legal no-no. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Customer Support team.
  • Access: Once added, new custom fields are visible only to Account Owners and Full Admins by default. You can edit access level settings to ensure employees have the right permissions for the new fields.
  • Reordering: You can reorder custom fields on a tab by clicking Customize Layout on the right side of an employee profile.
  • Reporting: Custom fields do not appear in standard reports, but you can include them in a custom report to view and export their data.
  • Dropdown fields: For custom dropdown-type fields, you can add, edit, or delete options in Settings > Employee Fields.

Add a custom field

If you need to add a field that is not available in the standard fields library, the Account Owner or Full Admins can open the custom field builder from two locations within your BambooHR account: Settings or the employee profile. Both options will bring you to the custom field builder, where you can enter the field type, status, location, and several other details. 

From Settings, click Custom Fields & Tables and then select +Add Custom Field or Custom Field from the +Add dropdown menu. Notice on this page you will also be able to edit or archive any custom fields you have added to your account, as well as restore archived fields.

On an employee profile, navigate to the same place you go for the standard fields library. Click Customize Layout > Add Custom Field.

Please note that custom fields under the Benefits tab in an employee's profile are not visible on the BambooHR mobile app. 

Custom field builder

Within the custom field builder, enter all key information about your custom field:

  1. *Field Name: Choose a name for your field. The character limit is 200.
  2. Type: Determine what type of field this will be. Once you create and save a custom field, its field type cannot be edited. See a description of the custom field types below. The options are:
    • Short Answer
    • Long Answer
    • List (Single Answer and Multiple Answer)
    • Checkbox
    • Employee List
    • Currency
    • Date
    • Number
    • Percentage
    • State
  3. Field Status: Mark this field as required or optional. Required will add an asterisk to the field.
  4. Where will this new field appear?: Determine where the field will appear in your account. Please note that custom fields are not allowed on the following tabs—Time Off, Documents, Performance, Notes, and Emergency.
  5. Just Checking...: Make sure the field you are creating isn't a duplicate, privacy issue, or legal no-no. This box must be checked for you to be able to save your field.
  6. Preview: As you fill out the above fields, you will see an evolving preview of your field here.
  7. Save: Add your field to your account. Remember to update your access levels to allow the appropriate people to view or edit this field.

*Field Name: The system will prevent the addition of a custom field with the same name as an existing standard or custom field.

List values for both custom and standard fields are sorted alphabetically by default, regardless of the order in which they were entered. To ensure they appear in your desired order, consider prefixing each list value with a number or letter (e.g., shirt sizes as 1-Small, 2-Medium, 3-Large, etc.) to manage the sequence in which they are displayed.

Need customization ideas? BambooHR offers several customization options for storing your data and creating a system that can help you track the information that is important to your company and your employees. Watch this video for some ideas on what you can track in BambooHR.

Custom field types

You can create a custom field, selecting from the following field types. 

  • Checkbox
    • A single checkbox
  • Currency 
    • Currency field
    • Uses the account's default currency information but can be modified if needed
  • Date 
  • Employee list
    • A dropdown list of all active employees within the account
  • Information field
    • The set text that appears on each employee profile
  • List
    • A dropdown list that is editable in Settings
  • Multi-row line paragraph
    • Text field
    • Provides space for typing a paragraph
  • Multiple selection list
    • A set of multiple checkboxes that are editable in Settings
  • Number
  • Percentage
    • A standard percentage format field
  • Phone number
    • Text field
    • Formats phone numbers 
  • Section header
    • A title heading that separates information
  • Single line text
    • Text field
    • Holds letters, numbers, and symbols
  • State
    • A dropdown list that is defined by the account's default country setting. If the country is the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, the list will contain the applicable states (or equivalent).

We encourage you to create your own custom fields in BambooHR, tailoring your account to meet your company's needs. Our Customer Support team is available to answer questions, guide you through the process, or provide assistance as needed. However, please be aware there are certain customizations we do not support, as they may compromise user experience or data security. These include:

  • Usernames and passwords
  • Full credit card numbers
    • We only store the last four digits.
  • Bank PIN
  • Custom Social Security or personal identifying numbers
  • Custom Time Tracking tabs and fields
  • Custom Performance tabs and fields
  • Custom development work
    • BambooHR does not provide custom development work to modify your account.
  • Editing existing standard fields tables
    • These must remain consistent for filtering purposes.

Grant access to custom fields

US Employees (5)

By default, only the Account Owner and Full Admin users can access custom fields. If you would like users in other access levels to view and/or edit new custom fields or tables, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Click Access Levels
  3. Navigate to the specific access level you are editing.
  4. Click on the gear icon.
  5. Select Access Level Settings from the dropdown menu.
  6. Determine what type of access users should have to the custom field.

Archive a custom field

Custom Fields

If you need to delete or remove a custom field from view, you can archive it in BambooHR. The system will save all data associated with the archived field and allow you to restore it in the future.

Restore archived fields

Custom Fields

If you have archived fields in the past, you can add them back to your account through the Restore Archived Fields button.

This will pull up a list of all fields that you have archived in your account. Check the box next to any you would like to restore, and click Next.

On the next page, you will determine where you would like the fields to appear. Keep in mind that all the fields you have selected will show in this location. If you need any on a different page, you will need to restore them separately. Click Restore Fields, and you will see a success banner letting you know that you have restored the fields to the selected location.

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