How to create a registration form with limited spots in Makeform
Limit registration for free with a whole-form submission cap under Settings > Access, or limits on individual choice options. Use the whole-form limit for an overall response cap and option limits for sessions, classes, or time slots.
Is it free? Yes. Submission limits, option limits, scheduled closing, and duplicate prevention are free on every plan.
Steps
- Describe your registration form at makeform.ai/create, with no account needed to start. You can adjust it with AI or build it manually with + (Add form element).
- For a whole-form cap, go to Settings > Access. Turn on Limit number of submissions and enter Maximum submissions. The form automatically closes when the submission limit is reached.
- Turn on Show custom message on closed form. Fill in Title and Description so people arriving after the limit know what to do next. The default closed message is “This form is now closed”.
- For a session, class, or time-slot limit, add a choice field such as Single Select from Input blocks. Enable Limit responses per option and enter a number for each option. Options show Full when taken.
- If registration also has a deadline, enable Close on scheduled date under Settings > Access. Set Timezone, Date, and Time.
- To prevent one person from taking two spots, use Prevent duplicate submissions with the email field. This option is not available on forms with a Payment field.
- Test the registration limits, then delete your test responses before sharing the form. Test submissions count toward the limits.
Choose what the limit counts
The whole-form setting caps the number of submissions. The per-option setting limits responses to a particular session, class, or slot. Choose the limit that matches the registration you are collecting; use the option setting when each choice needs its own capacity.
Offer a waitlist
Makeform does not have an automatic waitlist. As a workaround, create a second form for the waitlist and link to it in the closed-form message. The AI chat includes a Create Waitlist starter.
Makeform is a free AI form builder: describe what you want to collect and it builds the form for you, with unlimited forms and submissions on the free plan.
FAQ
Can I close registration after a fixed number of submissions?
Yes, enable Limit number of submissions and enter Maximum submissions. The form closes automatically when that limit is reached.
Can each class have a different number of spots?
Yes, use Limit responses per option on the class choice field. Enter a number per option; a full option shows Full.
Does Makeform automatically move people to a waitlist?
No, there is no automatic waitlist. Link to a separate waitlist form in your custom closed-form message.
Can I prevent duplicate registrations on a paid ticket form?
Prevent duplicate submissions is not available on forms with a Payment field. On forms without that field, use duplicate prevention with the email field.