How to Add Bullet Points in WordPress
Last updated: July 2026
* plus a space at the start of a line). Numbered lists work the same way with 1. plus a space. Classic Editor users click the list icon in the toolbar. Below we walk through every method, including how to style your lists so they match your brand.
Quick Answer
In the WordPress Block Editor, place your cursor on a new line, type an asterisk and a space, and WordPress automatically converts that line into a bulleted List block. For a numbered list, type 1. followed by a space instead. You can also click the plus icon, search “list,” and insert the block manually, then use the toolbar to toggle between bullets and numbers. At Canada Create, we get this question constantly from clients who just switched from the Classic Editor, so we keep this guide updated every time WordPress ships an editor change.
Steps
Step 1: Add Bullet Points with the Block Editor (Gutenberg)
Open any post or page in the WordPress editor. Click on an empty line where you want your list to begin, then do one of the following:
- Type
*or-followed by a space. WordPress will instantly convert the line into a bulleted List block. - Click the + (block inserter) icon, type “list” in the search box, and select the List block.
- Highlight existing text, click the toolbar’s List icon, and choose “Bulleted list” to convert paragraphs into list items.
[IMAGE: alt text showing the WordPress block editor list block toolbar, related to how to add bullet points in wordpress]
Once the List block is active, press Enter to add a new bullet, or press Enter twice to exit the list and return to a regular paragraph. This block editor lists tutorial approach works identically whether you’re editing a blog post, a landing page, or a product description in a WooCommerce inventory listing.
Step 2: Add Numbered Lists in WordPress
Numbered lists follow the same logic. Start a new line and type 1. followed by a space, and WordPress converts it into an ordered list automatically. Alternatively:
- Insert a List block as described above.
- Click the small dropdown arrow in the block toolbar next to the list icon.
- Select “Ordered” instead of “Unordered” to switch from bullets to numbers.
This numbered list wordpress editor workflow is handy for step-by-step tutorials, recipes, or any content (like this one) where sequence matters.
Step 3: Nest and Indent List Items
To create a sub-list, place your cursor at the end of a list item, press Enter to start a new item, then press Tab to indent it one level. Shift+Tab moves an item back out. Nested lists are useful for multi-part instructions, though we recommend keeping nesting to two levels for readability on mobile. The official WordPress Block Editor documentation covers additional keyboard shortcuts if you want to move faster inside long posts.
Step 4: Add Bullet Points with the Classic Editor
If your site still runs the Classic Editor (common on older WordPress installs or with certain page builders), the process is more visual:
- Highlight the text you want to turn into a list.
- Click the “Unordered list” icon in the toolbar (it looks like small dots next to lines) for bullets, or the “Ordered list” icon for numbers.
- If you don’t see the full toolbar, click the “Toggle toolbar” button (the icon on the far right of the first row) to reveal the second row of formatting options.
Step 5: Style Bullet Points to Match Your Brand
Default WordPress bullets are small black or gray dots, which do not always match a brand’s visual identity. To style bullet points wordpress themes support natively:
- Open the List block, click the block’s settings (gear icon) in the right sidebar, and adjust text color, which usually also affects bullet color depending on your theme.
- Use the Additional CSS panel under Appearance > Customize to target
ul li::markerand set a custom color or size. - Consider a popular WordPress list formatting guide plugin if you want icon-based bullets (checkmarks, arrows) without writing CSS yourself.
For a deeper reference on how markers and list styling work at the CSS level, the MDN Web Docs entry on the ::marker pseudo-element is a reliable technical resource, and accessibility guidance from the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative explains why semantic list markup matters for screen readers.
As we cover at Canada Create, small styling touches like custom bullet colors can make a surprising difference in how polished a page feels to visitors, especially on service and pricing pages. If your site combines lists with other structured content, our guide on adding zoom-to-enlarge images in WordPress pairs well with list-heavy product pages. Canada Create readers who manage larger content libraries often ask about broader formatting consistency too, which is why we also maintain a guide on securing a WordPress website once your content structure is in place.
If you are working with a Toronto-based design team to build out your content templates, our web design services in Downtown Toronto include custom list and typography styling as part of every build, so your bullet points and numbered lists match your brand from day one.
Troubleshooting
- My list keeps merging with the paragraph above it. Make sure you pressed Enter to create a new, empty line before typing the shortcut characters. Typing
*mid-paragraph will not trigger the conversion. - The numbers restart at 1 in every section. Each List block starts its own count by default. To continue numbering across sections, use the block’s “Start value” setting in the sidebar under Ordered list settings.
- Bullets look different in the editor than on the live page. This usually means your active theme applies custom CSS to lists. Check the theme’s stylesheet or contact your developer if the difference is significant.
- Quick Edit or bulk editing breaks list formatting. Quick Edit strips some HTML formatting in older WordPress versions. If you rely on Quick Edit often, see our guide on fixing WordPress Quick Edit issues for related fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add bullet points without using a plugin?
Yes. Both the Block Editor and Classic Editor include native bulleted and numbered list tools, so no plugin is required for standard lists. Plugins are only useful if you want custom icons or advanced styling.
Why won’t my bullet points show up on the published page?
This typically happens when a theme’s CSS hides list markers, or when content was pasted from Word or Google Docs with conflicting formatting. Try using the “Paste as plain text” option before reformatting with WordPress’s native list tools.
How do I change the bullet point style, like squares instead of circles?
You can add custom CSS targeting ul li::marker or list-style-type in the Additional CSS section under Appearance > Customize, or use a page builder’s built-in list styling options if you use one.
Does WordPress support checkmark or icon bullet lists?
Not natively. Achieving icon-based lists usually requires a page builder with icon list elements or a lightweight plugin built specifically for styled lists.
Can I use bullet points inside a WordPress table?
Yes. Click inside a table cell in the Block Editor and use the same asterisk-plus-space shortcut, or insert a nested List block within the cell.
