How to create a form in Microsoft Excel in 2026

Though the popular spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel touts many features, one of the most useful is the ability to create fillable forms.

Primarily used to easily enter and edit data, fillable forms help users know exactly where to enter their information without scrolling through an entire worksheet — resulting in greater efficiency and fewer chances for human error. It also provides a convenient way to both enter and display data, especially if that data is added to multiple columns.

Fillable forms are also useful in helping you stay organized. For example, if you’re in human resources and you want to track each job candidate’s application, interview stage, and contact information, fillable forms can make the process easier. Or, if you’re building a form to improve your asset and inventory management (especially if your company struggles with overstock or shortages), fillable forms can help.

Fortunately, if you want to learn how to create a form in Excel, the process is pretty easy.

How to create a form in Microsoft Excel

Imagine you’re collecting customer feedback on a recently launched product. Here’s how to create a feedback form in Excel in just a few simple steps.

1. First, make an Excel table.

• Open an Excel spreadsheet.

• Create column headers for your feedback form (like Name, Email, City, and Feedback/Comments).

• To convert your column names into a table, select the column headers, then select Insert from the top menu, then Table.

• Within the dialog box, tick the My table has headers checkbox.

• Click OK to create your Excel table.

2. Next, add the data entry form option to the Excel sheet ribbon (that’s the top of your Excel window full of icons and menus).

• Click on File > Options > Customize Ribbon.

• Under Choose commands from, select Commands Not in the Ribbon.

• Select Form, then Add, and then hit the OK button. You’ll now notice the Form button near the green area at the top of the Excel workbook.

3. Finally, it’s time to enter some data into your newly created form.

• To input data, click on any cell in your table and then on the Form button.
• A dialog box should appear with your original column headers (Name, Email, City, and Feedback/Comments) and a few button options: New, Delete, Criteria, and Close.
• Enter your collected data in the form fields.
• Select New, prompting the data to appear in your Excel table.
• Select Close to leave the dialog box and view your data or repeat the process until you have entered all your data.

Level up your forms with Jotform’s Microsoft Excel integration

Now that you know how to create a form in Excel, there’s a faster and more scalable way to collect and manage your data: using Jotform’s native Microsoft Excel integration.

While Excel forms can help with basic data entry, they’re often limited when it comes to usability, automation, and real-time collaboration. Jotform removes those limitations by letting you build powerful online forms and automatically send every submission directly to Excel, no manual entry or third-party tools required.

With Jotform, you can create fully customizable, code-free forms and connect them to Excel in just a few clicks. Once connected, your data flows instantly into your spreadsheet, helping you stay organized, reduce errors, and keep everything up to date.

The Microsoft Excel integration gives you flexible ways to structure and manage your data:

• Add Row to New Worksheet: Automatically create a new worksheet and send each form submission as a new row
• Add Row to Existing Table: Keep your existing Excel tables updated by adding new submissions in real time
• Create Table and Add Submissions: Turn your existing form responses into a structured table and continue syncing new data automatically

This means you can skip the repetitive process of copying and pasting data into Excel and instead build an automated workflow that works in the background. Whether you’re collecting customer feedback, managing applications, or tracking internal requests, your spreadsheet stays accurate and ready for reporting at all times.

Jotform also gives you more control over your data. You can choose which fields to send to Excel, include submission metadata, and even import past responses so everything lives in one place from the start.

How to use Jotform Tables as an Excel alternative

What’s more, if you really want to keep everything centralized in one digital workspace, you can use Jotform Tables and Jotform together as a great Microsoft Excel alternative.

Here’s what you can do with Jotform Tables:

• Collect accurate data quickly and easily through customizable online forms, ensuring better organization, quality assurance, and decision-making
• Auto-populate tables with your collected form data to reduce the chance of human error
• Search and filter your data to provide a quicker, easier user experience
• Add formulas and calculations to save time
• Import CSV or Excel files directly into Jotform Tables, allowing you to access shared documents with ease to complete various tasks
• Share your tables with your colleagues for open communication and collaboration
• Organize your data in columns that correspond to form fields, making it easy to search and manage for everyone on your team

And with access to 300-plus free table templates for your next project (including templates for equipment inventories, marketing plans, and budgets), the possibilities are truly endless.

There are various spreadsheet software options on the market ready and willing to help you collect, filter, and sort data as well as design charts like bar and line graphs. So, be sure to select the tool that’s best for your specific spreadsheet needs, and you’ll be equipped to design exactly what you’re envisioning.

Photo by Antoni Shkraba Studio