How to improve the user experience (UX) of your websites forms

As a business owner, your forms are essential. They’re often the gateway to a sale, a lead or a new customer. The problem? Far too many forms are clunky, confusing or just downright frustrating. Let's learn how we can improve your forms...

Why examine the usability of your forms?

Let’s be honest, website forms are no one’s favourite part of the internet. Whether you’re signing up for a newsletter, requesting a quote or making a booking, most of us just want to get in and out as quickly as possible.

But as a business owner, your forms are essential. They’re often the gateway to a sale, a lead or a new customer.

The problem? Far too many forms are clunky, confusing or just downright frustrating.

Think about the last time you tried to fill in a form on your phone and ended up pinching, zooming, mistyping and sighing in defeat. Or when you submitted a form only to be hit with vague error messages like “invalid input” but with no clue what was actually wrong.

We get it. You didn’t mean to make things hard for your users. But the truth is, poor form design drives people away.

Lost leads. Abandoned carts. Missed opportunities.

Let’s change that!

 

The ROI for usability and user experience is 9,900 in 2024.

UXCam

Typical UX issues with website forms

The good news?

Improving your form’s user experience doesn’t need to be a massive overhaul. Small, thoughtful tweaks can make a world of difference, for you and your users.

When your forms are simple, clear and intuitive, people are more likely to complete them. You’ll get more leads, happier customers and a better conversion rate. All without making anyone want to throw their phone across the room.

We’ve seen the pain, and we’re here to help.

This guide is packed with practical tips you can implement today, no jargon, no fluff! Just a smoother experience for your users.

Let’s get into the most common form UX issues and how to fix them.

Incorrect HTML markup

First off, let’s talk about the basics: your HTML markup. This is the code that structures your form behind the scenes.

If it’s messy or incomplete, your form becomes harder for browsers, screen readers and assistive tech to interpret.

• Poor semantics: Using <div>s where you should use <label>s or <input>s makes your form inaccessible.
• Missing labels: Every field should have a label. Not just placeholder text, but a proper <label> tag.
• Skipping for and name attributes: These attributes connect labels to fields and tell browsers how to process the data. Without them, your form's usability (and accessibility) takes a big hit.

Touch targets too small

On mobile and tablets, tiny checkboxes and slimline buttons are a nightmare!

Make sure your touch targets (like buttons, radio buttons and checkboxes) are at least 44–48px tall. This is the recommended minimum for comfortable finger-tapping.

Prototype your design

Before your form goes live, try testing it with real users. Tools like Figma, InVision or even a simple test page can help you spot friction points early. Testing the user experience of your design is important.

Watch how people interact with the form and ask for feedback, then use that feedback to refine and improve.

Keep to a single column

Multiple columns might look neat on desktop, but they’re confusing for users, especially on mobile.

Keep your form fields stacked in a single column where possible. It makes the form easier to scan and complete, especially for users with accessibility needs.

Forms with too many fields

You don’t need to know everything upfront. Only collect the data you actually need.

Asking for too much not only overwhelms users but could also land you in hot water with GDPR if you're holding unnecessary personal data.

For apps or SaaS platforms, you can collect more info later during onboarding when users are more invested.

Break up long forms into multiple steps

Long forms can feel like a chore, especially when everything is crammed onto a single screen. Break them into smaller, manageable chunks because:

• It’s less visually overwhelming.
• It allows you to show helpful, field-specific error messages.
• You can guide users through the process step-by-step.

You could even include a progress bar or step indicator so users know how far they’ve got.

Confusing labels

Clarity is king. Labels should tell the user exactly what’s required.

Don’t assume they’ll guess the format, especially for things like dates. Use clear guidance like “dd/mm/yyyy” or “First Name (as shown on your ID)”.

Poor error messages and placement

One of the biggest pain points? Error messages.

Help your users with the following tips:

• Put error messages under the field they relate to.
• Use plain language. Instead of “Invalid input”, try “Phone number must be in international format, e.g. +441234567890”.
• Use visual cues like a red (!) icon to make errors clear, even for colour-blind users.

Not designed for mobile

In 2025, there’s no excuse for forms that don’t work on mobile.

Here’s what to watch:

• Stack fields vertically.
• Use responsive text sizes.
• Increase touch target size (buttons, checkboxes) to at least 44–48px.
• Test, test, test! On real devices, not just simulators.

Visually group related items

Group related form elements together visually. This helps users scan and understand the form faster.

Keep labels close to their fields and make use of whitespace to avoid crowding.

For accessibility:

• Include the label attribute for screen readers.
• Ensure users can navigate using the tab key in a logical order.

Match field width to it's type and use

A date field doesn’t need to stretch across the page. Nor should a tiny field be used for something like an email address.

Keep your field widths in proportion with the expected input to guide users subconsciously.

Distinguish optional and required fields

Let users know what they have to fill in and what they can skip.

Use asterisks (*) for required fields (and explain what it means), or label optional fields clearly.

Use the correct field types

Don't use a text box when a radio button or dropdown would do.

If you're asking a yes/no question, give users those exact options. This helps with clarity and reduces errors.

Headings and paragraphs

If your form needs some context, add it.

A short heading or paragraph can explain why you’re asking for certain info, building trust and helping users feel more comfortable handing over their details.

Clear focus state

When users click or tab into a form field, it should be visually clear which one is “active”. This is especially important for keyboard users or those with visual impairments.

A strong border or highlight colour works well here.

Avoid form timeouts

Imagine filling out a 10-minute form, clicking “Submit” and being met with a timeout error. Nightmare!

If your form does timeout, at least warn the user. Or better yet, autosave progress as they go.

Autocorrect typos and formatting issues

Use JavaScript to catch common mistakes and fix them for the user, rather than just flagging errors.

Examples:

• Remove extra spaces.
• Automatically add “https://” to URLs.
• Catch common email typos like “gamil.com”.

Pre-fill fields if you can

Where appropriate, help your users out by pre-filling fields.

If you can detect a country by IP, go for it. Already know their email from a previous step? Fill it in.

Just be mindful of privacy.

What will improved UX get me?

Still wondering if it’s worth the effort? Here’s the deal:

Every time a user stumbles on your form — gets confused, annoyed, or stuck — you risk losing them.

Improving UX means:

• Higher conversion rates
• Lower abandonment
• Better brand perception
• And, crucially, happier customers

Although the website design is a big deal, we want to also increase revenue, build your reputation and get the results you want.

Need help?

If you’re worried that your forms might be turning users away, or you’re just not sure where to start, we’re here to help.

Get in touch or complete our UX review form, and we’ll take a look at your website, your forms and how we can help you make things better for your users (and your business).

Article by David Reeder. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-e-reeder/