The begin_checkout event
begin_checkout is a GA4 recommended e-commerce event that fires when a visitor starts checkout. It carries the items in the order plus currency, value, and an optional coupon. It marks the transition from cart to purchase flow and is the entry point for measuring checkout abandonment — the gap between starting checkout and completing a purchase.
What this means
begin_checkout is a GA4 recommended retail event fired when a visitor begins the checkout process. Populate the `items` array with the order contents and set `currency` and `value`; you may include a `coupon` if one is applied. GA4 uses it as a defined step in the shopping funnel.
It is the boundary between browsing/cart and the conversion flow, and the natural starting point for abandonment analysis.
Measuring abandonment
The classic checkout-abandonment view divides purchases by begin_checkout events for the same period. Between begin_checkout and purchase, GA4 also defines add_shipping_info and add_payment_info, so you can locate exactly which step loses people. Always send currency with value, and never load checkout events with the personal data the checkout form collects.
- Fires when the checkout flow starts
- Carries items, currency, value, optional coupon
- Anchors checkout-abandonment analysis
How it appears in analytics and logs
A begin_checkout event means a visitor entered the checkout flow. A large gap between begin_checkout and purchase points to friction in the steps that follow — shipping, payment, or unexpected costs.
Diagnostic use case
Measure how many shoppers enter checkout, then compare against purchase to quantify checkout abandonment and find friction in payment or shipping steps.
What WebmasterID can help detect
WebmasterID can record checkout-start events first-party with order context, so checkout abandonment is measurable without third-party e-commerce tags.
Common mistakes
- Including shipping/payment personal data in the event.
- Sending value without currency.
- Firing it on the cart page instead of checkout entry.
Privacy and accuracy notes
begin_checkout describes the order contents and value, not the shopper. Keep names, addresses, and payment details out of the analytics payload.
Related pages
- The add_to_cart event
add_to_cart is a GA4 recommended e-commerce event that fires when a visitor adds a product to the cart. It carries the items added plus currency and value. It is a strong mid-funnel intent signal — stronger than a product view — and the denominator for cart-to-checkout and cart-to-purchase analysis.
- The add_shipping_info event
add_shipping_info is a GA4 recommended e-commerce event that fires when a visitor provides shipping information during checkout. It carries the order items, currency, value, and a shipping_tier label such as 'Ground' or 'Express'. It is a mid-to-late checkout step, often where unexpected shipping costs cause abandonment, and like all checkout events it must avoid recording the address itself.
- The add_payment_info event
add_payment_info is a GA4 recommended e-commerce event that fires when a visitor submits payment information during checkout. It carries the order items, currency, value, and a payment_type label (such as the card brand or wallet). It is a late-funnel step, just before purchase, and one where privacy discipline matters most: it must record that payment was entered, never the payment details themselves.
- Event Explorer
Trace checkout funnel events.
Sources and verification notes
Last reviewed 2026-06-24. Facts are checked against primary/official sources where available; uncertain specifics are marked “Data not yet verified” rather than guessed.