How to Make Fillable PDF Forms from Word Documents for Free

While Microsoft Word allows you to create fillable form fields from developer options, these fillable areas will be lost after the Word document is converted to the PDF format.

On this page, you’ll learn the method to make fillable PDF forms from Word, just like this 👇:

TL;DR

Prepare Form Content and Layout in Microsoft Word

The first thing we need to do is to prepare the form content in Microsoft Word. You’ll need to type out the details of your form, and use, lines, spaces, underscores, etc to point out the areas that need to be filled.

I personally recommend using Microsoft Word’s online form template, which saves a lot of trouble.

Step 1. Open Microsoft Word, and go to File > New to create a new document. From there, you can browse for the document templates provided by Microsoft.

Step 2. Click on your preferred form template and click Create to download it and create the form in Microsoft Word.

Here we’ll use the “Client Intake Form” template for demonstration.

Step 3. Once the document is created, you can further use the editing tools to adjust the text, tables, lines, spaces, etc.

Step 4. When you’re satisfied with your Word document form, go to File > Export > Create PDF/XPS to save it as a .pdf document.

Note that the PDF is not fillable yet, so next move on to the next step.

Make a PDF Form Fillable Online

The next step is to manually insert fillable form fields to create fillable PDF forms from the .pdf file we exported from Microsoft Word.

For this, the most convenient method is using PDFgear fillable PDF form creator, with it, you can insert customizable fillable form fields like textbox, password, checkbox, dropdown, list box, radio button, etc. into any part of a PDF document.

PDFgear is a free and web-based tool, there’s no sign-up, and there’s no watermark.

Step 1. Open your web browser and navigate to PDFgear Online PDF Form Filler.

Step 2. Click “Upload PDF file” to upload the .pdf form we just exported in Microsoft Word.

Step 3. When the PDF is loaded, click the upper-right Add and Edit Form Fields button.

Choose the field type (e.g., fillable text field, checkbox) and click on the document where you want to add a form field. Drag the handles to adjust the size.

Step 4 (Optional). Double-click on each form field to customize its properties, such as field name, default value, formatting, and validation. Confirm by pressing ‘OK’.

Step 5. After adding and editing form fields, click the “Download file” button in the upper-right button to save the PDF form with fillable fields. Make sure to use the Download file instead of Print file.

Step 6. That’s it! As you can see, we’ve just successfully created a fillable PDF form!

FAQs

1. Can I create a fillable PDF directly in Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word allows you to create forms with fillable fields, but it does not save these forms as fillable PDFs directly. Instead, you need to first create your form in Word and then convert it to PDF using PDFgear or Adobe Acrobat to add the fillable fields.

2. What are the steps to create a fillable form in Word?

To create a fillable form in Word:

• Open Microsoft Word and start a new document.
• Enable the Developer tab by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and checking the Developer option.
• Add form fields such as text boxes, checkboxes, or dropdown lists from the Developer tab.
• Set properties for each field as needed.
• Save your document and then convert it to PDF using File > Save As and selecting PDF format.

3. How do I convert my Word document into a PDF?

To convert your Word document into a PDF:

• Go to File > Save As.
• Choose the location where you want to save the file.
• In the “Save as type” dropdown menu, select PDF.
• Click Save. Your document will now be saved as a PDF file.

4. Can I use Adobe Acrobat to make my PDF fillable after saving it from Word?

Yes, after saving your document as a PDF, you can open it in Adobe Acrobat and use its tools to add fillable fields. Select Tools > Prepare Form, and Acrobat will help identify areas for fillable fields based on your document layout.

5. What types of form fields can I add in Word?

In Microsoft Word, you can add various types of form fields including:

• Text boxes
• Checkboxes
• Radio buttons
• Dropdown lists
• Date pickers

These can be accessed through the Developer tab under “Controls”.

6. Can I distribute my fillable PDF for others to fill out?

Yes, once you have created your fillable PDF using Adobe Acrobat, you can distribute it via email or upload it online for others to complete. Recipients will be able to fill out the form fields and return it to you electronically.

7. What if I want my recipients to print the form instead of filling it out digitally?

If you want recipients to print the form, ensure that your design includes clear instructions for filling out the form manually. The form can be filled out digitally or printed for physical completion, depending on how you distribute it.