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How to Add Bullet Points in Google Sheets (The Easy Way!)

May 8, 2024

In this article we will show you exactly how to add bullet points in google sheets in three ways. Follow the simple steps below to insert bullets in just a few clicks. 

We have created a sample sheet for your convenience. Click here to access the sheet and follow along at home.

Add Bullet Points in Google Sheets Using the Keyboard Shortcut

1. Double-click the cell where you want to add bullet points

An alternative is to select the cell, then press Enter to enter edit mode.

Select cell to insert bullet points in google sheets

2. Press the Shortcut for Bullet Points (Alt+Numeric Keyboard 7 in Win and Option+Shift+9 on Mac)

Voila! You can now add the value.

Bullet points google sheets

Screencap

How to insert bullet points using keyboard shortcut google sheets screencap

How to Add Multiple Bullet Points in a Single Cell

The solution is simple: press Alt+Enter once you are done adding the item and you want to add another one. Once you have completed the list, just press Enter.

Screencap:

How to Add multiple list in single cell google sheets

Insert Bullet Points in Google Sheets using Custom Formatting

1. Select Range

For this example, we select column A where we want to convert to a column with bullet points.

Select range for including bullet points google sheets

2. Open Custom number format

You can open Custom number format in two ways:

Method 1: Format > Number > Custom number format

Format, number, custom number format to add bullet points google sheets

Method 2: Select Custom number format from More formats icon along the main toolbar:

More formats icon to include bullet points google sheets

The option Custom number format is at the end of the drop-down box:

Google Sheets Custom number format at the end of the list

3. Define Format • @

In the textbox near the top of the box, add the following format:

• @

The character is added before the value. The @ serves as the placeholder for the value, telling Google Sheets that the format allows letters, numbers, and other characters such as punctuation marks.

Custom format added in google sheets

4. Click Apply

You have to put a value in the cell and press Enter for the format to appear:

custom format appears when value is added

Add Bullet Points in Google Sheets using the CHAR Function

For this specific example, we want to insert it to an existing list in a column:

Original list without bullet points

We will insert the bullet points character to it in the next column. Here are the steps:

1. Select First Cell of Column Where to Add Bullet Points

We want to insert it in column B so we select B1. B1 is also the same row as the first entry in column A.

Select cell where to insert bullet points google sheets

2. Use Formula =CHAR(8226)&” “&A1

Add the formula 

=CHAR(8226)&” “&A1

To cell B1.

Formula to include bullet points in google sheets

3. Press Enter

The output for B1 looks like this:

Bullet points formula with value in google sheets

4. Copy the Formula Down the Column

When you click B1, a small square appears on its lower-right corner. Drag it down so the formula is also added to other rows along the column.

Copy formula for bullet points down the column in google sheets

5. (Optional) Remove the Original Column

To do so, copy the column containing the bullet points (you can use Ctrl+C keyboard shortcut), then on the same range Paste special as Values only:

Convert formula to value to keep format in google sheets

You can now delete the original column A. Right-click the column header with A on top, then select Delete column.

Remove original column without format in google sheets

FAQs

Can I Use Other Symbols as Bullet Points in Google Sheets?

Yes! Here are some alternatives you can use. Set their corresponding values as input to CHAR function in the third method above:

• 8226

● 9679

■ 9632

□ 9633

○ 9675

► 9658

▻ 9659

✓ 10003

✔ 10004

✗ 10007

✘ 10008

Here is a snapshot in Google Sheets, but you can copy and paste them by clicking on our sample sheet:

Other styles you can use with their formulas and character codes in google sheets

Can I…just copy the character itself and paste it in the cell?

Yes, of course! The disadvantage is that it gets lost when you need to copy data from one source to your sheet, which is why we have the three methods in Google Sheets listed here. These methods will help simplify your formatting process. 

Other Google Sheets Formatting Articles

-How to Strikethrough in Google Sheets

 

-How to Remove Gridlines in Google Sheets

 

-How to Underline in Google Sheets

 

-How to Hyperlink in Google Sheets

  

-How to Indent in Google Sheets

 

-Google Sheets Dark Mode

 

-Add Line Break in Google Sheets

 

-Word Count in Google Sheets

 

-Color Every Other Row in Google Sheets

We hope this article has helped you and given you a better understanding of how to add bullet points in Google Sheets. You might also like our articles on how to save a Google Sheet as PDF and how to extract a Google Sheets substring.

To optimize your workflow, we recommend reading our guide on how to send an email from Google Sheets when a sheet is updated.

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