---
schema_version: "1"
id: c856f294a50e04af1ad6713ddba9d52335186072b86d82554afcf60e90c7107a
title: Define Default Field Values
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/fields_defining_default_values.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_defining_default_values.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: e627c7dae0e11e5d3008fac597a25dc4892905117e91f892b420b3144b11a874
description: Define a default value for a field. Use a formula to generate dynamic values or constants for static values.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Define Default Field Values

Define a default value for a field. Use a formula to generate dynamic values or constants for static values.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <strong>Contact Manager</strong>, <strong>Group</strong>, <strong>Professional</strong>, <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong> Editions</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d199325e83">User Permissions Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d199325e83 ">To view default field values:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d199325e83 ">View Setup and Configuration</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d199325e83 ">To define or change default field values:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d199325e83 ">Customize Application</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

1. Create a custom field. See [Create Custom Fields](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.adding_fields.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Capture your unique business data by storing it in custom fields. When you create a custom field, you configure where you want it to appear and optionally control security at the field level."). You can also define a default value for an existing custom field. See [Edit Custom Fields](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.editing_fields.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "You can modify the field attributes of a custom field. The attributes vary according to the field data type.").
2. Choose the type of field and click **Next**. For a list of the types available for default values, see [Default Field Values](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_about_default_field_values.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Prepopulate field values with defaults to save your users time and improve consistency. Default field values make your users more productive by reducing the number of fields they must fill in manually.").
3. Enter the attributes for the field.
4. Enter a default value or [define a formula](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_formulas.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Your custom formula fields require special attributes.") to calculate the default value.
    
    ![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_click-264-0-0-production-enus/5f7d9219-b7b1-4552-8891-f1aba9b289fc/images/icon_note.png)
    
    Note You can define a formula for default values only where appropriate. For example, the default value options for a checkbox field are limited to the options available for those types of fields, such as Checked or Unchecked.
    
    For picklists, a valid formula result is either a constant or the API name of an entry in the Values list. The formula result has higher precedence than the default assigned in the Values list. If the formula doesn’t generate a valid result, the default assigned in the Values list is entered in the field. If a default isn’t assigned to the Values list, no value is entered in the picklist field.
5. Click **Next**.
6. Set the field-level security to determine whether the field is visible for specific profiles, and click **Next**.
7. Choose the page layouts that display the field. The field is added as the last field in the first two-column section on the page layout. For user custom fields, the field is added to the bottom of the user detail page.
8. Click **Save** to finish or **Save & New** to create more custom fields.

You must specify a [default value](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.custom_field_attributes.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "A custom field has different attributes depending on its field type.") for required campaign member custom fields.

To avoid uniqueness errors, don’t assign default values to fields that are both required and unique.

- **[Default Field Values](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_about_default_field_values.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Prepopulate field values with defaults to save your users time and improve consistency. Default field values make your users more productive by reducing the number of fields they must fill in manually.
- **[Useful Default Field Value Formulas](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_useful_default_field_values.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    How to apply default field values based on maximum discount rate, product language, or tax rate by city.
- **[Default Field Value Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_default_field_value_considerations.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Be aware of the behavior and rules when you assign default values to custom fields.