How can I create a survey in Excel?

While Excel isn’t a dedicated survey tool, you can build simple questionnaires and collect responses directly into a spreadsheet. Here’s one approach using Microsoft 365:

1. Use Microsoft Forms. Although not strictly Excel, Microsoft Forms integrates seamlessly with Excel. Go to forms.office.com, create a new form, add questions (multiple choice, text, ratings) and then click “Open in Excel” to generate a linked workbook. Responses submitted through the form will appear automatically in the spreadsheet. This is the easiest method for most users.
2. Create dropdown lists and data validation. If you prefer to work entirely inside Excel, design your survey as a table. Use the Data > Data Validation feature to create dropdown lists for multiple choice questions. Leave free‑text cells for open responses. Protect the sheet so respondents can only edit the appropriate cells.
3. Share your survey. Save the workbook to OneDrive or SharePoint and click “Share.” Choose “Anyone with the link can edit” if you want external respondents. Make sure to explain how to complete the form and which cells to fill.

Excel surveys are best suited for small internal audiences or quick polls. For more polished surveys with branching logic and analytics, consider Microsoft Forms or other dedicated survey tools. To learn how to create surveys in Word, see How do I create a survey in Microsoft Word?. And if you’re looking for a more modern form builder that automatically saves responses to a database, check out our blog on Choosing the Right Poll Maker.