How to Customize Record Previews in Hubspot
Configuring record preview cards in Hubspot lets your team see the most important CRM details at a glance, directly from object indexes and records without opening every single file. This guide walks you through how to set up and manage these previews for different objects and teams.
What is a record preview in Hubspot?
A record preview is a compact view of key properties that appears when you hover over or open records in object index pages. It helps users quickly scan crucial details without going into the full record profile.
In Hubspot, record previews are made up of:
- Sidebar preview on the object index page
- Highlight cards at the top of individual records (for some objects)
You can adjust which properties show here so that reps see the data that matters most to their role.
Where record previews appear in Hubspot
Record preview behavior is slightly different depending on the object type.
Hubspot CRM objects with preview sidebars
The following objects support a preview sidebar on their index pages:
- Contacts
- Companies
- Deals
- Tickets
- Custom objects
When a user clicks a record in these object tables, a right-hand sidebar opens, displaying the selected preview properties and any highlight cards you configured.
Hubspot single-object vs multi-object previews
Preview configuration is applied per object. For example, the properties shown for contact previews are managed separately from deal previews. This allows teams to define different layouts that align with their workflows.
Permissions required for Hubspot preview settings
Only users with the right level of access in Hubspot can edit record preview configurations.
- You must have Account access permissions to customize record previews.
- If you only need to view previews, standard CRM access is enough; no extra permission is required to use them.
Before continuing, confirm that your user profile has permission to edit Object settings for the relevant CRM objects.
How to open record preview settings in Hubspot
To start customizing record previews for an object:
- In your Hubspot account, click the settings icon in the main navigation bar.
- In the left sidebar menu, go to Objects and select the object you want to edit, such as Contacts, Companies, Deals, Tickets, or a custom object.
- Within that object’s settings, open the Record customization or Record view section, then locate the Record preview area.
All available preview configuration options for that object will be visible in this panel.
Configure preview sidebars in Hubspot
The preview sidebar is the main section you see when you click a record in an index table. You can add, remove, and reorder fields to match your sales, service, or operations process.
Steps to edit record preview sidebars in Hubspot
- Open the object’s settings page and go to the Record preview configuration.
- Find the Preview sidebar editor.
- Use the Add properties option to choose the fields you want to display.
- Drag and drop properties within the list to change their order.
- Remove properties that are not essential by clicking the remove or delete icon next to each field.
- When finished, click Save to apply the new preview layout.
Changes take effect immediately for all users who share that layout or team assignment.
Choosing the right properties for Hubspot previews
When deciding what to show in the preview sidebar, focus on high-value information such as:
- Lifecycle stage and lead status for contacts
- Deal stage, amount, and close date for deals
- Ticket status, priority, and source for tickets
- Custom object fields that indicate health, value, or deadlines
Keep the list compact so users can scan it quickly.
Customize highlight cards in Hubspot
Highlight cards are special components that appear at the top of a record and surface a small set of the most critical properties. For some objects, you can manage these cards separately from the sidebar.
How to edit highlight cards in Hubspot
- In the same object settings area where you configured the preview sidebar, locate the Highlight cards section.
- Click to edit the card layout.
- Select which properties should be featured in the highlight cards.
- Arrange the properties into logical groups, such as contact identity, deal revenue details, or ticket urgency.
- Save your changes.
Highlight cards are best used for data points users must see immediately, such as owner, stage, value, and key dates.
Assign different Hubspot previews to teams
Not every team needs the same information in their record previews. Hubspot lets you assign different sidebar and highlight card layouts to specific teams.
Creating team-based preview layouts in Hubspot
- In the object’s record preview settings, locate the area for Team assignments or layout assignment.
- Create a new layout or duplicate an existing one that you want to tailor for a team.
- Edit the preview sidebar and highlight cards for that layout so they match that team’s workflow.
- Assign the layout to the appropriate team or teams.
- Save the configuration.
Once assigned, members of that team will see the custom preview layout while other users continue to see the default layout for the object.
Best practices for Hubspot record previews
To keep your CRM clean and efficient, follow these best practices when configuring record previews:
- Limit the number of properties so previews remain readable.
- Use consistent ordering for similar objects to reduce confusion.
- Prioritize frequently referenced fields near the top of the preview sidebar.
- Review layouts regularly as your sales or service process changes.
- Test with users from multiple teams to confirm the previews support their day-to-day tasks.
Learn more about Hubspot record previews
You can find the original platform documentation about customizing record previews directly on Hubspot’s help center at this official guide. It includes object-specific notes and any recent interface changes.
If you need strategic help designing CRM layouts, processes, and automations around these previews, consider consulting specialists such as Consultevo, who focus on optimizing revenue operations and platform configuration.
By tailoring record previews for each key object and team, your Hubspot instance can surface better context with fewer clicks, improving adoption, data quality, and decision-making across the organization.
Need Help With Hubspot?
If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your Hubspot , work with ConsultEvo, a team who has a decade of Hubspot experience.
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