How to customize form entry layouts in WordPress

First decide whether you are changing the WordPress admin entry screen or displaying entries on a public or logged-in page. Gravity Forms lets administrators manage entries in wp-admin, but it does not include a built-in front-end entry display or layout builder.

For an admin-only list, you may only need to choose visible columns and adjust styling. For a directory, dashboard, client portal or profile page, you need a custom display method.

Open the form's Entries screen and use its column controls to decide which fields appear in the list. This is suitable when staff only need a more useful back-office list, rather than a redesigned public page.

For developer-led changes, Gravity Forms documents filters such as gform_entries_column_filter, gform_entries_field_value and gform_entry_detail_grid_display_empty_fields. These can alter values, columns or empty-field display, but they do not provide a visual drag-and-drop layout editor.

If your entry display already exists, use CSS to change spacing, colours, typography, borders and responsive behaviour. Add the CSS in your child theme or the relevant custom CSS area, and scope it to the page or entry container so it does not change every form on the site.

CSS can rearrange simple blocks with grid or flexbox, but it cannot reliably create missing fields, add search and pagination, or control who can see each entry. Test at mobile width as well as desktop width.

A developer can retrieve entries with Gravity Forms' GFAPI::get_entries(), then render the values in a custom WordPress template, shortcode or block. This gives you full control over the HTML and field order.

You must also build and maintain access checks, escaping, pagination, filtering, search, empty states and any front-end editing. Do not print raw entry values without escaping them, and do not expose private fields simply because the page URL is hard to guess.

For a custom display, separate the list view from the detail view. A table works for dense records, while cards or a two-column layout suit directories and profiles. Keep important identifying information near the top and hide sensitive fields unless the viewer has permission to see them.

If you use GravityView, its editor supports separate Multiple Entries, Single Entry and Edit Entry layouts, so the listing, detail page and editing form do not have to share the same arrangement.

For most site owners, install GravityView, connect it to the relevant Gravity Forms form, choose a view layout and place the fields in the Multiple Entries or Single Entry area. Then set the view's permissions, add the page or post where it should appear, and test it while logged out.

When you need field-level styling and more flexible rows, columns or cards, the GravityView DIY Layout Extension is the faster route. It adds a drag-and-drop layout interface, responsive layouts, field ordering and styling controls, live preview and display options such as lists, tables and grids. Use the manual route when the admin list or a small CSS change is enough; use the extension when building the markup yourself would take longer than maintaining the view.