How to Add Bullet Points in an Excel Cell

Excel has no Bullets button for cells, but you can still add bullet points in Excel in a few seconds. Type the bullet character with a shortcut, add it to many cells with a custom number format, or build it with a formula. This guide shows each method, how to stack several bullets in one cell, and which method to choose for lists you will sort, filter or print.

Which bullet point method should you use?#

Choose by how many cells you need and whether the bullet should be part of the text:

How to type a bullet point with a shortcut#

The quickest way is a keyboard shortcut while you edit the cell:

1. Double-click the cell, or select it and press F2 (Mac: Control+U), to edit it.
2. Type the bullet:
   • Windows: hold Alt and type 7 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. Or hold Alt and type 0149.
   • Mac: press Option+8.
3. Type a space and your text, then press Enter.

The Alt codes need the numeric keypad. The number keys above the letters don't work for this. On a laptop without a keypad, use Insert > Symbol or one of the methods below.

How to insert a bullet with Insert > Symbol#

The Symbol dialog works on any keyboard:

1. Edit the cell and put the cursor where the bullet should go.
2. Go to Insert > Symbol (on the right of the Insert tab).
3. Make sure Font shows a normal font, such as "(normal text)".
4. In Character code, type 2022 with from: Unicode (hex) selected. The bullet • is selected.
5. Click Insert, then Close.

Once one cell has a bullet, you can copy it and paste it anywhere else, including into other cells while editing.

How to add bullets to a whole column with a custom number format#

A custom number format shows a bullet in front of the text without changing what is stored in the cell. That keeps sorting, filtering and lookups working on the plain text. To set it up:

1. Select the cells, for example A2:A20.
2. Press Ctrl+1 (Mac: ⌘1) to open Format Cells.
3. Choose Number > Custom.
4. In Type, enter "• "@ and click OK.

The @ stands for the text in the cell, so "Order samples" displays as "• Order samples". For a column of numbers, use "• "General instead. You can paste the bullet into the Type box, or type it with the shortcut. The guide to custom number formats explains the @ and other codes, and the more formatting lesson practises formats such as dates, comma style and General.

How to add bullet points with a formula#

A formula adds a bullet to text that is already in your sheet. In C2, type:

=CHAR(149)&" "&A2

CHAR(149) returns the bullet character in Excel for Windows, and the & joins it to a space and the text in A2. If A2 holds "Order samples", the result is • Order samples. Fill the formula down to bullet the whole list.

On a Mac, CHAR uses a different character set, so use UNICHAR, which works the same way on both systems in Excel 2013 and later:

=UNICHAR(8226)&" "&A2

8226 is the bullet's Unicode number. When the list is done, you can paste the results as values and delete the original column. More ways to join text are in how to add text to cells.

How to put several bullet points in one cell#

To stack bullets inside one cell, start each one on a new line:

1. Edit the cell and type the first bullet and its text.
2. Press Alt+Enter on Windows or Option+Return on a Mac to start a new line.
3. Type the next bullet and its text, and repeat.
4. Press Enter when done.

Excel turns on Wrap Text for that cell, so every line shows. To build the same thing with a formula, join the items with CHAR(10), which is the line break character:

=CHAR(149)&" "&TEXTJOIN(CHAR(10)&CHAR(149)&" ",TRUE,A2:A4)

With "Order samples", "Book the venue" and "Send invitations" in A2:A4, the cell shows three bulleted lines. Turn on Home > Wrap Text for the formula cell, or the lines run together. TEXTJOIN needs Excel 2019 or Microsoft 365. The guides on line breaks in a formula and wrap text cover both steps, and the joining text lesson lets you practise & and TEXTJOIN.

Bullet points in a text box#

If the list is a note on a dashboard rather than data, use a text box. Go to Insert > Text Box, draw the box and type the lines. Select the text, right-click and choose Bullets to pick a style. Text boxes support real bullet formatting and indents, but their text can't be used in formulas, sorted or filtered, so keep data in cells.

Common problems with bullet points in Excel#

1. Alt+7 types nothing. You used the top number row or Num Lock is off. Use the numeric keypad with Num Lock on.
2. A strange character instead of •. CHAR(149) on a Mac or an unusual font can show a different symbol. Use UNICHAR(8226) and a standard font.
3. Lookups fail after adding bullets. "• Lena" no longer matches "Lena". Use the custom number format instead, which keeps the text unchanged.
4. All lines show on one row. Wrap Text is off. Turn it on and widen the row if needed.

For other text effects, see the strikethrough shortcut for crossing items off a list.

Practise it#

Bullets are formatting plus joining text. Practise cell formatting, from date formats to General, then practise joining text with &, CONCAT and TEXTJOIN: you type each step and it checks it instantly. The exercise on this page adds a bullet with a formula.