How To Place Woocommerce Form Side By Side

How to Place WooCommerce Form Fields Side-by-Side for Better User Experience

Introduction:

In the competitive world of e-commerce, providing a smooth and intuitive user experience is paramount. Optimizing your WooCommerce checkout form is a critical aspect of this. One simple yet effective way to improve the user experience is by arranging form fields side-by-side. This visually appealing layout can reduce scrolling, make the form less intimidating, and ultimately boost conversion rates. This article will guide you through various methods on how to place WooCommerce form fields side-by-side, ranging from CSS solutions to plugin options and even basic PHP customization. We’ll explore the pros and cons of each approach to help you choose the best method for your specific needs.

Main Part:

There are several ways to achieve the desired side-by-side layout for WooCommerce form fields. Here’s a breakdown of the most common methods:

1. Using Custom CSS: The Simplest Approach

This method is suitable for simple layout changes and requires basic CSS knowledge. It involves targeting the specific form field containers and applying appropriate CSS properties.

Steps:

1. Inspect the Form: Use your browser’s developer tools (usually by right-clicking and selecting “Inspect”) to identify the CSS classes or IDs of the form field containers you want to arrange side-by-side. Pay attention to the `form-row` class.

2. Add Custom CSS: You can add custom CSS to your theme via:

• Theme Customizer: Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
• Child Theme’s `style.css`: (Recommended for long-term maintainability).
• Plugins: Many plugins are available to add custom CSS.

3. CSS Code Example:

.form-row {

display: inline-block; /* Or ‘inline-flex’ for better alignment */

width: 48%; /* Adjust percentage for spacing */

margin-right: 2%; /* Optional: Add spacing between fields */

box-sizing: border-box; /* Prevents padding/border from affecting width */

}

.form-row:last-child {

margin-right: 0; /* Remove right margin from the last field */

}

/* Responsive Adjustments (Optional) */

@media (max-width: 768px) {

.form-row {

width: 100%;

margin-right: 0;

}

}

Explanation:

• `display: inline-block;` allows the form fields to sit next to each other. `inline-flex` is a more modern alternative that offers finer control over alignment.
• `width: 48%;` sets the width of each field to approximately half the container width, allowing two fields to fit side-by-side. Adjust this percentage as needed.
• `margin-right: 2%;` adds a small gap between the fields.
• `box-sizing: border-box;` ensures that any padding or border added to the field doesn’t affect the overall width.
• The `@media` query makes the layout responsive, so that on smaller screens, the fields stack vertically.

Pros:

• Simple to implement with basic CSS knowledge.
• No plugin required.
• Lightweight.

Cons:

• Requires identifying the correct CSS classes/IDs.
• Can become complex for more intricate layouts.
• Requires you to modify your theme CSS, potentially breaking on theme updates if you are not using a child theme.

2. Using WooCommerce Hooks and PHP Customization

For more advanced customization, you can leverage WooCommerce hooks to modify the form field structure directly. This method requires PHP knowledge.

Steps:

1. Identify the Hooks: WooCommerce provides several hooks that allow you to modify the checkout form. Some relevant hooks include:

• `woocommerce_before_checkout_billing_form`
• `woocommerce_after_checkout_billing_form`
• `woocommerce_before_checkout_shipping_form`
• `woocommerce_after_checkout_shipping_form`
• `woocommerce_form_field_{$key}` (filter for individual fields)

2. Create a Child Theme: Important: Always make customizations within a child theme to prevent your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.

3. Add Custom Code to `functions.php`: In your child theme’s `functions.php` file, add the code to modify the form fields.

Code Example:

<?php
/**
Add custom classes to billing address fields.
*/
add_filter( 'woocommerce_form_field_args', 'prefix_add_custom_class_to_billing_fields', 10, 3 );
function prefix_add_custom_class_to_billing_fields( $args, $key, $field_id ) {

$billing_fields_to_change = array(

‘billing_first_name’,

‘billing_last_name’

);

if ( in_array( $field_id, $billing_fields_to_change ) ) {

$args[‘class’][] = ‘form-row-wide’; // Example: Add a class for styling

$args[‘class’][] = ‘form-row-first’; // Example: Add a class for “first” field

}

return $args;

}

//Remove the inline styles added by WooCommerce

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_form_field’, ‘prefix_woocommerce_form_field’, 10, 4 );

function prefix_woocommerce_form_field( $field, $key, $args, $value ) {

$field = str_replace( ‘form-row validate-required’, ‘form-row’, $field );

return $field;

}

?>

Explanation:

• This example adds custom CSS classes (`form-row-wide` and `form-row-first`) to the `billing_first_name` and `billing_last_name` fields.
• You would then need to define the styling for these classes in your CSS file.
• The second function strips out the “validate-required” class that is added to some forms so that our inline CSS can be applied.

Pros:

• More control over the form structure.
• Can be used for complex customizations.

Cons:

• Requires PHP knowledge.
• More complex to implement.
• Potential for errors if not handled carefully.

3. Using WooCommerce Plugins

Several plugins are available that simplify the process of customizing the WooCommerce checkout form. These plugins often provide a drag-and-drop interface or pre-built templates for easy customization.

Examples of Plugins:

• Checkout Field Editor (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce: This popular plugin allows you to add, edit, or remove checkout fields and rearrange their positions.
• WooCommerce Checkout Field Editor by ThemeHigh: Another excellent plugin that offers similar functionality for managing checkout fields.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.
• No coding required (in most cases).
• Pre-built templates and options.

Cons:

• May incur a cost (premium plugins).
• Can add extra overhead to your website.
• Limited flexibility compared to custom code in some cases.

Choosing the Right Method:

• For simple layout changes (like placing two fields side-by-side), custom CSS is often the best option due to its simplicity and lightweight nature.
• If you need more advanced customization or want to change the structure of the form significantly, using WooCommerce hooks and PHP customization is the way to go. However, be prepared to write code.
• If you prefer a user-friendly, no-code approach, a WooCommerce plugin is a good choice.

Conclusion:

Optimizing your WooCommerce checkout form is essential for improving user experience and increasing conversion rates. Placing form fields side-by-side can make the form less daunting and more visually appealing. By understanding the different methods available – CSS, PHP customization via hooks, and plugins – you can choose the most appropriate approach for your needs and technical expertise. Remember to test your changes thoroughly to ensure they work correctly across different devices and browsers. By implementing these strategies, you can create a seamless checkout experience that encourages customers to complete their purchases.