How to make a PDF fillable

A “flat” PDF looks like a form, but nobody can type into it. They have to print it, write on it, and scan it back. To make it fillable, you add form fields on top of the page: text boxes, checkboxes, date fields and a signature area. Here are three ways to do that, from free to done-for-you.

Before you start: is your PDF already fillable?

Open it in a free PDF reader or in Chrome and click where an answer should go. If a cursor appears and you can type, it already has fields. If nothing happens, or you can only add a comment, it is flat. Keep reading.

Option 1: Free, with LibreOffice (if you still have the original Word file)

LibreOffice is a free office suite for Windows, Mac and Linux.

1. Open your original form document (for example the .docx) in LibreOffice Writer.
2. Turn on the form toolbar: View → Toolbars → Form Controls.
3. Switch on Design Mode in that toolbar. Then draw a Text Box over each blank line, a Check Box for each tick box, and so on.
4. Right-click each control and choose Control Properties. Give it a clear name, like client_name or vaccinated_yes.
5. Choose File → Export As → Export as PDF. On the General tab, tick Create PDF form and export.
6. Open the new PDF in a browser or Adobe Reader and test every field.

Good for: simple forms when you have the source file.
Downsides: positioning boxes by hand is slow, and if all you have is the PDF, see adding fillable fields to a PDF instead.

Option 2: Adobe Acrobat's Prepare a form tool

Adobe Acrobat has a Prepare a form tool (All tools → Prepare a form) that analyzes your PDF and adds fields automatically. You then fix the ones it misses, rename fields and set the tab order. Adobe's pages describe both online and desktop versions. Full form editing is part of Acrobat's paid plans, so check Adobe's current pricing and trial terms before you start.

Good for: people who already pay for Acrobat.
Downsides: a subscription for a one-off job. Auto-detection still needs a careful pass: misaligned boxes, missed checkboxes and wrong field types are common on forms with tables.

Option 3: Have it done for you ($29)

If you have a form that clients need to fill in on a phone or laptop, and you'd rather not spend an afternoon lining up boxes, send it to us.

• $29 for 1–3 pages, $59 for 4–10 pages.
• Text fields sized to your lines, checkboxes, date fields and a signature area. Your layout and wording are left untouched.
• Tested in Chrome and Firefox, and returned within 24 hours as a Google Drive link. One free round of fixes.
• You share a link to the blank form. No uploads, and never a filled-in copy.

See prices →

Tips for a form people actually finish

• Size fields to the answer. Give an address box room for two lines. A ZIP box needs only a few characters.
• Use checkboxes for yes/no and “tick all that apply” so answers are consistent.
• Set the tab order so pressing Tab moves down the page the way people read it.
• Name fields clearly. It helps if you ever import the answers.
• Test on a phone. Many of your clients will open the link there.

FAQ

Can I make a PDF fillable without Adobe?

Yes. LibreOffice (Option 1) is free and creates real PDF form fields. Or have it done for you (Option 3). More in our no-Adobe guide.

Will my clients need special software to fill it in?

No. Fillable PDFs work in the free Adobe Reader and in modern browsers like Chrome and Edge, as well as in Apple's Preview.

Can a fillable PDF add up totals?

Yes. Calculated fields can sum prices or quantities. We offer this as a $19 add-on.

My form is a scan. Can it still be made fillable?

Usually yes, as long as the scan is readable. The fields are placed over the scanned image. See converting a scanned PDF.