Custom CSS

Use custom CSS to fine-tune the visual design of a form beyond the standard theme controls.

When to use custom CSS

Use custom CSS when the built-in design controls are not enough.

Good examples:

• Match a brand system exactly.
• Adjust spacing for a dense application form.
• Style buttons, inputs, or labels for a specific campaign.
• Add small polish to embedded forms.

Do not use custom CSS as the first option for basic design changes. Start with the Customize panel, then add CSS only for the details it cannot cover.

Add custom CSS

1. Open your form in the builder.
2. Go to Customize.
3. Find Custom CSS.
4. Enter your CSS in the editor.
5. Preview the form.
6. Publish the form when the styling is ready.

Example:

button {
  border-radius: 999px;
}
 
input,
textarea {
  border-width: 2px;
}

What custom CSS affects

Custom CSS applies to the form experience. It is useful for form-level styling, not for changing dashboard UI.

Because CSS can affect many elements at once, keep selectors specific and test every page of the form.

Best practices

• Keep CSS short and targeted.
• Prefer existing theme controls for colors, fonts, and border radius.
• Test mobile and desktop.
• Test embedded forms separately from direct form links.
• Avoid hiding required labels, error messages, submit buttons, or payment content.

Safety notes

Makeform sanitizes custom CSS before rendering it on published forms.

Still, bad CSS can make a form hard to use. If a form suddenly looks broken, remove the latest CSS change and publish again.

Testing checklist

• Preview the form before publishing.
• Check every page and ending.
• Test required field errors.
• Test the submit button.
• Test mobile width.
• If the form is embedded, test it inside the host page.

Troubleshooting

CSS previews but does not publish

Custom CSS publishing requires a Pro plan. Free users can preview CSS in the builder.

A style does not apply

Your selector may be too broad, too weak, or targeting the wrong element. Inspect the rendered form and make the selector more specific.

The form layout breaks

Remove recent CSS, publish again, then reapply changes one at a time.