WooCommerce: Add Custom Meta Box @ Order Admin

When you edit an order as an admin, you’re presented with the usual WooCommerce layout: order details on the left, order action on the right, the list of order items on the bottom left, and – possibly – additional meta boxes added by third party plugins (e.g. the PDF Invoice and Packing List plugin order meta box where you can define the invoice date and number).

On top of that, it’s also possible, of course, to define our own custom meta boxes, so that the administrator and/or shop managers can view (or even enter) additional information.

I’ve used it on a client website to show a custom field, but you can print anything you wish – even documentation for shop managers (how to complete the order for example).

So, here’s how we add a new “section” (meta box) to the single order edit page in the WordPress dashboard, and how we display some content in it. Enjoy!

PHP Snippet: Custom Meta Box @ WooCommerce Edit Order Page

/**
 * @snippet       Add Meta Box @ WooCommerce Edit Order
 * @how-to        Get CustomizeWoo.com FREE
 * @author        Rodolfo Melogli
 * @compatible    WooCommerce 7
 * @community     https://businessbloomer.com/club/
 */

add_action( 'add_meta_boxes', 'bbloomer_order_meta_box' );

function bbloomer_order_meta_box() {
    add_meta_box( 'custom_box', 'Custom Box', 'bbloomer_single_order_meta_box', 'shop_order', 'advanced', 'high' );
}

function bbloomer_single_order_meta_box() {
    // global $post; // OPTIONALLY USE TO ACCESS ORDER POST
    echo 'Whatever HTML content';
}

Where to add custom code?

You should place custom PHP in functions.php and custom CSS in style.css of your child theme: where to place WooCommerce customization?

This code still works, unless you report otherwise. To exclude conflicts, temporarily switch to the Storefront theme, disable all plugins except WooCommerce, and test the snippet again: WooCommerce troubleshooting 101

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Rodolfo Melogli

Business Bloomer Founder

Author, WooCommerce expert and WordCamp speaker, Rodolfo has worked as an independent WooCommerce freelancer since 2011. His goal is to help entrepreneurs and developers overcome their WooCommerce nightmares. Rodolfo loves travelling, chasing tennis & soccer balls and, of course, wood fired oven pizza. Follow @rmelogli