> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.swiftlywp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom Items

> Create text-based items that don't need WooCommerce products.

<Info>
  Custom Items is a **Pro feature**. [Upgrade to BoxBuilder Pro →](https://swiftlywp.com/plugin/boxbuilder-for-woocommerce/)
</Info>

Custom Items mode lets you create box items as simple text entries with prices — no WooCommerce products required. This is ideal for businesses where the items don't need individual product pages, stock tracking, or shipping calculations.

## When to Use Custom Items

| Use Case              | Example                                                            |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Food service**      | Pizza toppings, sandwich fillings, salad ingredients               |
| **Services**          | Spa treatments, workshop add-ons                                   |
| **Simple gift boxes** | Items that are only sold as part of a box, never individually      |
| **Quick setup**       | When you want to launch fast without creating WooCommerce products |

## Setting Up Custom Items

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable BoxBuilder on a product">
    Edit your box product and go to the **BoxBuilder** tab. Check **Enable BoxBuilder**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Switch to Custom Items mode">
    Set **Product Source** to **Custom Items**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create item groups">
    Add groups (like categories) to organize your items. For example:

    * "Chocolates"
    * "Sweets"
    * "Dried Fruits"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add items to each group">
    For each group, add items with:

    * **Name**: The item name customers see
    * **Price**: The price for this item (used with per-item or hybrid pricing)
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Custom Items vs WooCommerce Products

| Feature                | Custom Items | WooCommerce Products |
| ---------------------- | ------------ | -------------------- |
| Requires product pages | No           | Yes                  |
| Stock tracking         | No           | Yes                  |
| Product images         | No           | Yes                  |
| Individual product SEO | No           | Yes                  |
| Setup speed            | Fast         | Standard             |
| Reusable across boxes  | Per-box only | Yes                  |

<Tip>
  If you need stock tracking, product images, or want items to also be sold individually, use WooCommerce products as your product source instead.
</Tip>

## How Custom Items Work in Cart & Orders

Custom items appear in the cart and order just like regular product-based box items. The item name and price are displayed in:

* Cart page
* Order confirmation
* Order emails
* Admin order screen