 <p>I prefer to set <strong><a href="https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.3/ref/settings/#date-input-formats">DATE_INPUT_FORMATS</a></strong> in settings.py and then define the field like:</p> <pre><code>dob = forms.DateField(input_formats=settings.DATE_INPUT_FORMATS) </code></pre> <p>This more DRY than setting it on a per form field basis.</p> <p>If it's a text field input, I almost always put the accepted format(s) in the field's <code>help_text</code> so that the user can know what format(s) is(are) accepted.</p>