diff --git a/butane_codegen/src/lib.rs b/butane_codegen/src/lib.rs
index 525e1a93..3e81e655 100644
--- a/butane_codegen/src/lib.rs
+++ b/butane_codegen/src/lib.rs
@@ -34,8 +34,13 @@ mod test_field_type;
 /// * `#[pk]` on a field to specify that it is the primary key.
 /// * `#[unique]` on a field indicates that the field's value must be unique
 ///   (perhaps implemented as the SQL UNIQUE constraint by some backends).
-/// * `#[default]` should be used on fields added by later migrations to avoid errors on existing objects.
-///   Unnecessary if the new field is an `Option<>`
+/// * `#[default]` or `#[default = value]` should be used on fields added by later migrations to avoid errors on existing objects.
+///   - `#[default = value]`: Explicitly specify a default value (e.g., `#[default = false]`, `#[default = "draft"]`)
+///   - `#[serde(default)]`: For fields with primitive types or custom types backed by primitive SQL types,
+///     Butane will automatically infer the appropriate default value for migrations. This works for:
+///     bool, integers, floats, String, Vec<u8>, and custom types that wrap these primitives.
+///   - For custom types not backed by primitives, use an explicit `#[default = value]` instead.
+///   - Unnecessary if the new field is an `Option<>`
 ///
 /// For example
 /// ```ignore
diff --git a/butane_core/src/codegen/mod.rs b/butane_core/src/codegen/mod.rs
index e5f76b41..976af4b7 100644
--- a/butane_core/src/codegen/mod.rs
+++ b/butane_core/src/codegen/mod.rs
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ use desynt::{create_static_resolver, PathResolver, StripRaw};
 use phf::{phf_map, Map};
 use proc_macro2::TokenStream as TokenStream2;
 use proc_macro2::{Ident, Span, TokenTree};
-use quote::{quote, ToTokens};
+use quote::{quote, quote_spanned, ToTokens};
 use regex::Regex;
 use syn::parse_quote;
+use syn::spanned::Spanned;
 use syn::{
     punctuated::Punctuated, Attribute, Field, ItemEnum, ItemStruct, ItemType, Lit, LitStr, Meta,
     MetaNameValue,
@@ -449,26 +450,153 @@ pub fn get_deferred_sql_type(path: &syn::Path) -> DeferredSqlType {
         })
 }
 
+/// Check if a field has `#[serde(default)]` attribute.
+fn has_serde_default_attribute(field: &Field) -> bool {
+    for attr in &field.attrs {
+        if attr.path().is_ident("serde") {
+            // Try to parse as a meta list (for attributes like #[serde(default)])
+            if let Ok(meta) = attr.meta.require_list() {
+                for nested in meta.tokens.clone() {
+                    // Check if any token is the identifier "default"
+                    if let TokenTree::Ident(ident) = nested {
+                        if ident == "default" {
+                            return true;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    false
+}
+
+/// Infer the default SqlVal for primitive types and simple custom types.
+/// For custom types, attempts to look up their underlying SQL type and use that type's default.
+/// Returns None for types where we cannot infer the default.
+fn infer_primitive_default(path: &syn::Path) -> Option<SqlVal> {
+    let path = path.strip_raw();
+
+    // Check built-in primitives first
+    if path == parse_quote!(bool) {
+        Some(SqlVal::Bool(false))
+    } else if path == parse_quote!(i8)
+        || path == parse_quote!(u8)
+        || path == parse_quote!(i16)
+        || path == parse_quote!(u16)
+        || path == parse_quote!(i32)
+    {
+        Some(SqlVal::Int(0))
+    } else if path == parse_quote!(u32) || path == parse_quote!(i64) || path == parse_quote!(u64) {
+        Some(SqlVal::Int(0))
+    } else if path == parse_quote!(f32) || path == parse_quote!(f64) {
+        Some(SqlVal::Real(0.0))
+    } else if path == parse_quote!(String)
+        || path == parse_quote!(std::string::String)
+        || path == parse_quote!(::std::string::String)
+    {
+        Some(SqlVal::Text(String::new()))
+    } else if path == parse_quote!(Vec<u8>)
+        || path == parse_quote!(std::vec::Vec<u8>)
+        || path == parse_quote!(::std::vec::Vec<u8>)
+    {
+        Some(SqlVal::Blob(Vec::new()))
+    } else {
+        // Check if it's a custom type by looking up its SQL type
+        infer_default_from_custom_type(&path)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Try to infer default for a custom type by looking up its underlying SQL type.
+fn infer_default_from_custom_type(path: &syn::Path) -> Option<SqlVal> {
+    let deferred_sql_type = get_deferred_sql_type(path);
+
+    match deferred_sql_type {
+        DeferredSqlType::KnownId(TypeIdentifier::Ty(sqltype)) => {
+            // We know the SQL type, infer default based on it
+            infer_default_from_sqltype(sqltype)
+        }
+        DeferredSqlType::KnownId(TypeIdentifier::Name(_)) => {
+            // Named type (e.g., Postgres custom type), can't infer
+            None
+        }
+        DeferredSqlType::Known(sqltype) => infer_default_from_sqltype(sqltype),
+        DeferredSqlType::Deferred(_) => {
+            // Type not yet resolved, can't infer
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Infer default SqlVal for a given SqlType.
+fn infer_default_from_sqltype(sqltype: SqlType) -> Option<SqlVal> {
+    match sqltype {
+        SqlType::Bool => Some(SqlVal::Bool(false)),
+        SqlType::Int => Some(SqlVal::Int(0)),
+        SqlType::BigInt => Some(SqlVal::Int(0)),
+        SqlType::Real => Some(SqlVal::Real(0.0)),
+        SqlType::Text => Some(SqlVal::Text(String::new())),
+        SqlType::Blob => Some(SqlVal::Blob(Vec::new())),
+        #[cfg(feature = "json")]
+        SqlType::Json => Some(SqlVal::Json(serde_json::Value::Null)),
+        #[cfg(feature = "datetime")]
+        SqlType::Timestamp => Some(SqlVal::Timestamp(
+            chrono::DateTime::from_timestamp(0, 0).unwrap().naive_utc(),
+        )),
+        #[cfg(feature = "datetime")]
+        SqlType::Date => Some(SqlVal::Date(
+            chrono::naive::NaiveDate::from_ymd_opt(1, 1, 1).unwrap(),
+        )),
+        #[cfg(feature = "pg")]
+        SqlType::Custom(_) => None, // Can't infer custom Postgres types
+    }
+}
+
 /// Defaults are used for fields added by later migrations.
 ///
-/// Example:
-/// `#[default = 42]`
+/// Examples:
+/// * `#[default = 42]` - Explicit default value
+/// * `#[serde(default)]` - Inferred from type (primitives only)
 fn get_default(field: &Field) -> std::result::Result<Option<SqlVal>, CompilerErrorMsg> {
-    let attr: Option<&Attribute> = field
+    // First, check for explicit #[default = value] attribute (highest priority)
+    let explicit_attr: Option<&Attribute> = field
         .attrs
         .iter()
         .find(|attr| attr.path().is_ident("default"));
-    let lit: Lit = match attr {
-        None => return Ok(None),
-        Some(attr) => match &attr.meta {
+
+    if let Some(attr) = explicit_attr {
+        let lit: Lit = match &attr.meta {
             Meta::NameValue(MetaNameValue {
                 value: syn::Expr::Lit(expr_lit),
                 ..
             }) => expr_lit.lit.clone(),
             _ => return Err(make_compile_error!("malformed default value").into()),
-        },
-    };
-    Ok(Some(sqlval_from_lit(lit)?))
+        };
+        return Ok(Some(sqlval_from_lit(lit)?));
+    }
+
+    // Second, check for #[serde(default)] and try to infer the default
+    if has_serde_default_attribute(field) {
+        let field_type = extract_path_from_type(&field.ty);
+        if let Some(default_val) = infer_primitive_default(field_type) {
+            return Ok(Some(default_val));
+        } else {
+            let field_name = field
+                .ident
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|i| i.to_string())
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| "unnamed".to_string());
+            return Err(make_compile_error!(
+                field.span() =>
+                "Field '{}' has #[serde(default)] but Butane cannot infer the default value for this type. \
+                 Please add an explicit #[default = value] attribute for migration support.",
+                field_name
+            )
+            .into());
+        }
+    }
+
+    // No default specified
+    Ok(None)
 }
 
 fn some_id(ty: SqlType) -> Option<TypeIdentifier> {
diff --git a/butane_core/tests/migration.rs b/butane_core/tests/migration.rs
index 04f6879d..8ab6d5fa 100644
--- a/butane_core/tests/migration.rs
+++ b/butane_core/tests/migration.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,131 @@ fn current_migration_default_attribute() {
     assert_eq!(*barcol.default(), Some(SqlVal::Text("turtle".to_string())));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn current_migration_serde_default_bool() {
+    let tokens = quote! {
+        #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+        struct Foo {
+            id: i64,
+            #[serde(default)]
+            published: bool,
+        }
+    };
+
+    let mut ms = MemMigrations::new();
+    model_with_migrations(tokens, &mut ms);
+    let m = ms.current();
+    let db = m.db().unwrap();
+    let table = db.get_table("Foo").expect("No Foo table");
+    let col = table.column("published").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(*col.default(), Some(SqlVal::Bool(false)));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn current_migration_serde_default_int() {
+    let tokens = quote! {
+        #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+        struct Foo {
+            id: i64,
+            #[serde(default)]
+            count: i32,
+        }
+    };
+
+    let mut ms = MemMigrations::new();
+    model_with_migrations(tokens, &mut ms);
+    let m = ms.current();
+    let db = m.db().unwrap();
+    let table = db.get_table("Foo").expect("No Foo table");
+    let col = table.column("count").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(*col.default(), Some(SqlVal::Int(0)));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn current_migration_serde_default_string() {
+    let tokens = quote! {
+        #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+        struct Foo {
+            id: i64,
+            #[serde(default)]
+            name: String,
+        }
+    };
+
+    let mut ms = MemMigrations::new();
+    model_with_migrations(tokens, &mut ms);
+    let m = ms.current();
+    let db = m.db().unwrap();
+    let table = db.get_table("Foo").expect("No Foo table");
+    let col = table.column("name").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(*col.default(), Some(SqlVal::Text(String::new())));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn current_migration_explicit_default_overrides_serde() {
+    // Explicit #[default = value] should take precedence over #[serde(default)]
+    let tokens = quote! {
+        #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+        struct Foo {
+            id: i64,
+            #[serde(default)]
+            #[default = true]
+            published: bool,
+        }
+    };
+
+    let mut ms = MemMigrations::new();
+    model_with_migrations(tokens, &mut ms);
+    let m = ms.current();
+    let db = m.db().unwrap();
+    let table = db.get_table("Foo").expect("No Foo table");
+    let col = table.column("published").unwrap();
+    // Should use explicit value (true), not inferred (false)
+    assert_eq!(*col.default(), Some(SqlVal::Bool(true)));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn current_migration_serde_default_json_custom_type() {
+    // Test that custom JSON types can have their defaults inferred
+    #[cfg(feature = "json")]
+    {
+        let tokens = quote! {
+            #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
+            struct CustomData {
+                value: String,
+            }
+
+            #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
+            struct Foo {
+                id: i64,
+                #[serde(default)]
+                data: CustomData,
+            }
+        };
+
+        let mut ms = MemMigrations::new();
+        // Register CustomData as a JSON type
+        use butane_core::migrations::adb::{DeferredSqlType, TypeIdentifier, TypeKey};
+        use butane_core::SqlType;
+        ms.current()
+            .add_type(
+                TypeKey::CustomType("CustomData".to_string()),
+                DeferredSqlType::KnownId(TypeIdentifier::Ty(SqlType::Json)),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // Now create the model
+        model_with_migrations(tokens, &mut ms);
+
+        let m = ms.current();
+        let db = m.db().unwrap();
+        let table = db.get_table("Foo").expect("No Foo table");
+        let col = table.column("data").unwrap();
+        // Should infer default from the underlying Json type
+        assert_eq!(*col.default(), Some(SqlVal::Json(serde_json::Value::Null)));
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn current_migration_auto_attribute() {
     let tokens = quote! {