How to Create a Fillable PDF from Excel (2 Suitable Ways)

Get FREE Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions!

If you are looking for how to create a fillable PDF form from Excel, then you have come to the right place. Today, in this article, I’m going to tell you how to create a fillable PDF form from Excel. For survey purposes or to gather the information you may want to use a PDF form. Actually, if you’re going to use a printed copy for filling up that one manually like using a pen or pencil, then this article will help you the most.

Furthermore, for conducting the session, I will use the Microsoft 365 version.

Here, I will demonstrate 2 suitable methods with detailed steps to create a fillable PDF form from Excel. Basically, I will show you both the manual process and the use of an Excel template to create a form in Excel and then convert it into a PDF file.


1. Manually Creating a Fillable PDF Form Using Excel

Now, let’s see the manual process for creating a fillable form. Here, for your better understanding, I’m going to create a form to get the student information for an Institute.


📌 Step 1: Create a Fillable Form in Excel

In this section, I will create the form. So, follow the process given below.

  • Firstly, write down all the information that you want to keep in your form. Here, you must write the information by following an orientation. Moreover, you have to keep enough space to fill in the details with the writers.

Here, you may see the following image. Where I have tried to show you a pattern.

Manually Create a Fillable PDF Form from Excel

  • Now, select cells C5:J5.
  • Then, from the Home tab >> choose Merge & Center.

  • Then, select that title cell and from the Home tab >> go to Borders.
  • After that, choose Thick Outside Borders.

In the below, you can see how I have organized the title cell (Student Information) of the form.

  • Similarly, choose the Thick Outside Borders for the other cell values.

  • Then, compress the gap between the two cells by changing the row’s height and column’s width.

Create a Fillable form in Excel

  • After that, from the Insert tab >> go to Shapes >> then select Rectangles.

  • Subsequently, you will see a cursor point. So, move that cursor, and where you need a box, set the rectangle there.
  • Then, click on the Shape.

As a result, you will see a new contextual design tab named Shape Format. With the help of this Shape Format tab, you can change the shape color.

Finally, I have created the form in Excel.

Showing a Pattern to Create a Fillable PDF from Excel

Now, I will add some colors to the form to look good.

  • So, select those cells where you want to add color.
  • Then, from the Home tab >> go to Fill Color.
  • Then, choose your preferred color. Here, try to select a light color otherwise, you may not get the filled information.

Lastly, your form is ready to convert into a PDF.

Finally Create a Fillable form in Excel to Convert to PDF


📌 Step 2: Convert Excel File into PDF

In this section, I will convert the Excel file into a PDF file. Let’s see the steps.

  • Firstly, go to the File tab.

Convert Excel File into PDF to Create a Fillable PDF Form

At this time, a new window will appear.

  • Then, go to the Save As option.

  • Now, from the drop-down arrow, choose PDF (*.pdf) extension.
  • Then, click on the Save button.

Lastly, you will see your fillable PDF form.

Create a Fillable PDF from Excel with Manual Process

Moreover, you can fill the form without any printed copy. To do so, you have to use any PDF editor. However, you can edit that form in Foxit PDF Reader too.

  • Here, from the Home tab >> click on Typewriter.

Create a Editable PDF from Excel

  • After that, click on the spaces where you want to insert information.

Below, I have attached the edited PDF. Here, I have inserted a Student ID. The A+ denotes the Font Size increment and A- denotes the Font Size decrement.

Read More: How to Convert Excel to PDF without Losing Formatting


2. Using Excel Template to Create a Fillable PDF

The most interesting part is that Excel has its own templates with which you can make your preferred fillable form. Moreover, those templates are so handy to edit. So, you can easily convert them into your own needed form. Now, let’s talk about how you will get the template.

  • Firstly, open an Excel workbook.
  • Secondly, go to the File tab from the top ribbon.
  • Thirdly, from the New menu >> choose More templates.

Use of Excel Template to Create a Fillable PDF

At this time, you will find an option named Search for online templates.

  • Then, write “form” in that search box.

As a result, you will find a lot of templates related to fillable forms.

  • Now, choose a form that will be nearly close to your target one. Here, you also may find your target form as an Excel template too. As I wanted to make a form for student information, so I have chosen the Sports team roster as my form.
  • Then, press the Create button.

Following, I have attached that template.

Below, I have attached my own format. As you can see, all those cells were editable so, I have converted that Team roster form to student information.

Create a Fillable Form using Excel Template

  • Then, follow Step-2 of the previous method and convert your Excel file to PDF file.

Lastly, you will be able to see your fillable PDF form.

Create a Fillable PDF Form using Excel Template

Read More: Export Excel to PDF with Hyperlinks


💬 Things to Remember

  • Here, the manual process is totally up to you. You can create your own form according to your choice. But you must keep space for the writers to fill that form.
  • Furthermore, for the Excel templates, you must use the Internet.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from here:


Conclusion

I hope you found this article helpful. Here, I have explained 2 suitable methods to create a Fillable PDF from Excel. Please, drop comments, suggestions, or queries if you have any in the comment section below.


Related Articles

<< Go Back to Export Excel to PDF | Export Data from Excel | Learn Excel

What is ExcelDemy?

ExcelDemy - Learn Excel & Get Excel Solutions Center provides online Excel training , Excel consultancy services , free Excel tutorials, free support , and free Excel Templates for Excel professionals and businesses. Feel free to contact us with your Excel problems.
Musiha Mahfuza Mukta
Musiha Mahfuza Mukta

Musiha Mahfuza Mukta is a marine engineer who loves exploring Excel and VBA programming. To her, programming is a time-saving tool for dealing with data, files, and the internet. She's skilled in Rhino3D, Maxsurf, C++, MS Office, AutoCAD, and Excel & VBA, going beyond the basics. With a B.Sc in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET, she's shifted gears and now works as a content developer. In this role, she creates techy content exclusively focused on Excel... Read Full Bio

2 Comments
  1. I don’t see the actual practice workbook to download. The only ones I found to download are the already complete form including the excel spreadsheet. I was hoping the practice workbook would start from the beginning like in step one: Step 1: Create a Fillable Form in Excel so that you could follow along and actually do the steps. Am I just missing where it is because there are three download files and none of them look like the screenshot for Step 1: Create a Fillable Form in Excel

    • Hi Haley,
      We have updated the Excel workbook and added a new raw worksheet. So now you can practice from scratch. Stay with us always.
      Regards
      -ExcelDemy Team
      Download File Link:
      Practice Workbook

Leave a reply

Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions PDF

 

 

ExcelDemy
Logo