Meta Box Tabs

Long meta boxes with dozens of custom fields are tiring to scroll through. Meta Box Tabs splits those fields into separate tabs, so editors see one logical group at a time. Developers set it up by adding tab titles and assigning fields to them, without rewriting existing meta box code. The tabs follow the default WordPress admin styling, so the screen looks familiar to clients and content teams.

The plugin offers top tabs and left tabs, and tabs can carry icons from Dashicons, icon fonts or custom images. You can also remove the default meta box wrapper for a cleaner look on edit pages. It works with complementary extensions such as MB Columns, which lets you combine tabs with a 12-column grid. It suits WordPress 6 and later with PHP 7 or newer.

Features

• Group fields into tabs: Organize custom fields into tabs within the WordPress admin, turning long, crowded meta boxes into a structured interface that is easier to navigate.
• Default WordPress tab styling: Tabs use the default WordPress tab styles, so they blend with the admin dashboard and feel familiar to developers, clients and editors.
• Top and left tab styles: Choose top tabs or left-positioned tabs, similar to the layout seen in WooCommerce, to match how much content each meta box holds.
• Icons on tabs: Add icons using Dashicons by default, or bring in icon fonts and custom images to match a brand or a client's preferences.
• Simple setup: Add tab titles and assign fields to them. Existing meta box code does not need to be rewritten, which keeps development time short.
• Optional wrapper removal: Remove the default meta box wrapper to get a cleaner tab display on edit pages, with less visual clutter around your fields.
• Works with MB Columns: Pair tabs with MB Columns to build layouts that combine tabbed sections with a flexible 12-column grid for detailed field arrangements.
• Validation errors stay visible: When a field fails validation on another tab, the screen scrolls to the error after switching to the tab that contains it.

Best for

• Developers building custom meta boxes with many fields
• Agencies handing over tidy admin screens to clients
• Sites that already use the Meta Box plugin