How to Create Fillable Forms in Google Docs

Whether you need to create a simple contact form, survey, application, or something else that requires user input, Google Docs makes it easy to build functional fillable forms right within your documents. With just a few clicks, you can add text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, date pickers, and more to collect information from others.

The best part is that Google automatically converts your document into an online form that people can access, fill out, and submit from anywhere – no downloads, attachments, or access to your Google account required! So if you need an easy way to gather data without building a full website or paying for an expensive form builder, using Google Docs is the way to go.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of making a fillable form in Google Docs, from structuring your form to customizing fields and settings. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or have used Google Forms before, you’re sure to pick up some helpful tips!

Structuring Your Google Doc Form

When building any type of form, it’s important to first plan out what information you need to collect and how you will organize the different fields. For a Google Doc form, I recommend structuring it into logical sections with headings and an introduction explaining what the form is for.

Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Add a title – Give your form a clear, descriptive title at the very top. This helps users understand what the form is for at a glance.

Write an introduction – Below the title, include a short paragraph explaining what information the user should provide and any key details about submitting the form.
Organize into sections – Group related fields into sections with headings, which helps break up long forms and guides users through filling it out.
List questions/fields – Under each heading, list out the actual questions and fields for users to provide input for. More details on field types are covered later in this article.

Close with a thank you – End your form with a sentence thanking users and letting them know what happens after they submit it. This provides a better user experience.

Thinking through this structure from the beginning makes it much easier to later add in fields and create clear user flows.

Adding Different Types of Fillable Fields

Once you have your Google Doc form structured, it’s time to insert fields for users to actually enter information into. Google Docs supports a wide variety of field types, giving you flexibility to collect different types of data.

Here are some of the most common types of fillable fields to use:

Text Fields

Paragraph text – For open-ended responses like comments, names, addresses, etc.
Short text – When you need just a word or short phrase.

Checkboxes and Dropdowns

Checkboxes – For multi-select questions when users can choose multiple options.
Drop-down menus – For single-select questions when users can only select one option.

Date and Time Pickers

Date picker – When you need a date like for a reservation or appointment.

Time picker – For events with set start/end times.
Date and time picker – Combines both date and time selection.

Other Specialized Fields

Scale – For rating questions on a linear scale.

Grid – For a table-style layout to collect multiple data points.
File upload – Allow users to upload documents or images.

To insert any field in Google Docs, place your cursor where you want it to go, open the Insert menu, and select the field type you want. A dialog box will appear for you to configure settings.

The types of fields you choose should directly align with the data you need to capture. Mix and match different ones to create a custom form tailored to your goals!

Customizing Form Fields and Options

Simply inserting form fields is just the first step. You also need to customize each one with helpful settings and options for an optimal user experience.

Here are some key ways to configure fields:

Set descriptive titles – Enter a clear question or field label that explains what goes in each field. Don’t leave titles generic.
Make fields required – Check the box to make important fields required to prevent missing data.
Add help text – Include descriptive help text under fields to guide proper input.

Limit response length – For text boxes, set character limits to get focused answers.
Create multiple-choice options – For checkboxes, dropdowns, etc., enter all the options users can pick from.
Set default values – Populate certain fields ahead of time for faster filling (like pre-selecting checkboxes).

Apply input validation – Use validation settings like number ranges to prevent faulty data upfront.

Taking the time to fully customize each field makes your Google Doc form more user-friendly and effective at capturing complete, accurate information.

Controlling Form Settings and Access

The final step is configuring the overall settings for your fillable Google Doc form. This includes access permissions, confirmation messages, and more.

Under the Form menu in Google Docs, open Form settings to access options like:

Collect email addresses – Require user emails on each submission.
Limit to one response – Only allow one submission per respondent.

Show link for respondents to edit responses – Allow resubmission/updating.
Send respondents a confirmation email – Automatically email users when they submit.
See a summary of responses – View response metrics and exports.

Accept responses – Toggle on/off to open or close form access.

I also recommend going to the Share menu and restricting editing access to only those who need to manage the form.

Between customizing fields and configuring settings, you have full control to make your form work exactly as needed!

Putting It All Together

While building fillable forms in Google Docs has a lot of pieces, the overall process boils down to just a few key steps:

Plan out the structure and fields you need.
Insert different types of form fields into your document.

Customize each field’s settings and options.
Configure form-wide permissions, confirmation messages, and response settings.

Following this process allows you to create customized, functional forms that are ready to collect and organize user submissions however you need them.

So the next time you need an easy way to gather information for contact forms, surveys, job applications, or any other use case requiring user input, look no further than Google Docs! The built-in forms feature makes it simple and free to build forms that work great on both desktop and mobile.