Turning a regular PDF into a fillable form can make life easier — for you and anyone filling it out. Instead of dealing with printing, scanning, or handwriting, users can directly type their information into the PDF document. So, let's learn how it's done.
This guide will walk you through the steps to add fillable fields to PDF files.
What is a fillable PDF?
A fillable PDF is a digital form that people can complete right on their computer, tablet, or phone. It can include fields such as text boxes for typing, checkboxes to mark, and dropdown menus for selecting options. These are commonly used for job applications, surveys, contracts, and other forms.
The main advantage of a fillable PDF is convenience: you don’t need to print or scan the document. Simply open it, fill it out, and save or send it.
How do you create a fillable PDF?
As a quick option, you can use PDF Guru to make fillable PDF forms. Follow these steps:
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- Go to the Create PDF tool or find it under the Edit & Sign option in the top menu.
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- Choose Create new PDF.
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- In the PDF editor, use the necessary tools to add input form fields.
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- Review your file and then hit Done.
What if you want your PDF to be fillable but only have an image file or a scanned document? We have a solution! You can use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to convert images and scanned PDFs into editable and searchable text in just seconds.
How to add fillable fields in Google Docs
Before you begin, you need to consider one thing: do you need to make a fillable document from scratch or do you need to add text fields to an existing PDF file? If it's the latter, we highly recommend converting PDF to Word — our tool makes this process quick and easy.
And here is how you can add form fields using Google Docs.
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- Open the document.
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- Go to the Insert menu > Table, and choose the number of rows and columns based on your field needs.
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- To add dropdowns, go to Insert > Dropdown and customize the list options. For checkboxes, type out options, highlight them, and select Checklist — for that, choose Format > Bullets & numbering.
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- Adjust fonts, sizes, and colors for better readability.
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- Save your document in the desired format.
Suggestion: For longer responses, insert a larger, single-cell table to allow space for extensive text input.
That's how you convert PDF into a fillable form — it might not be the simplest method, but Google’s functionality makes it highly effective.
How to make PDF fillable in Word
To create a fillable form, use the desktop version of Microsoft Word since the online version doesn’t support it. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
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- Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon, check the box for Developer Tab, and click OK.
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- You’ll see the Developer Tab in the ribbon — сlick it to access the tools.
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- Use Design Mode and Properties to add and customize text boxes, checkboxes, drop-down menus, and other form elements.
How to make an existing PDF fillable
If you already have a PDF and want to add fillable fields, here’s a straightforward way to do it:
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- Go to the Edit PDF tool or find it under the Edit & Sign category in the top menu.
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- Hit the + button or drag & drop your image file into the window.
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- In editing mode, go to the More tools option and choose Textbox.
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- Find the appropriate place to attach the textbox within the content.
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- Review your file and then hit Done.
Choose any PDF form from our database
We’re proud of our extensive Forms database, which makes creating fillable forms even easier. Instead of starting from scratch, you can select from a wide range of ready-to-use templates.
This feature is ideal for HR managers, healthcare workers, finance professionals, or anyone who regularly needs to create forms. Our database saves time and helps you organize information quickly and hassle-free.
Each form includes detailed information about its intended use, submission requirements, and more. Plus, new options are added regularly to meet your evolving needs.
Final thoughts
By now, you should have a clear understanding of how to make a fillable PDF that meets your specific needs and enhances your workflow. With these practical tips, you’re well on your way to transforming how you work with PDFs — making your tasks simpler, faster, and more efficient.