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How to Add Bullet Points in Google Sheets

Last Updated: 15 March 2026

By: Prokhor Sikder

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How to Add Bullet Points in Google Sheets

In 4 simple methods, this guide will show you how to add bullet points in Google Sheets.

Enhancing the clarity and organization of your data is easy with these techniques.

So let’s dive in and add bullet points in Google Sheets!

Methods:

1. Using the Keyboard Shortcut

2. Add Multiple Bullet Points in a Single Google Sheet Cell

3. Using Custom Number Formatting

4. Using the CHAR Function 5. Method 5 — Copy bullets from Google Docs into one cell

Method 1: Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Double-click on the cell where you want to add a bullet point. Alternatively, you can select the cell and press Enter.

cell A1 is selected

For Windows users, press Alt + 7 (using the numeric keypad).

For Mac users, press Option + 8.

Your bullet point will appear in the selected cell.

bullet point in cell A1

Method 2: Add Multiple Bullet Points in a Single Google Sheet Cell

Follow the steps in Method 1 to add the first bullet point.

Press Alt + Enter to create a new line within the same cell. 

For mac user, Press ⌘+Return (Command+Return) or Option+Return to insert a line break inside the cell, then type the next bullet.

(Tip: if your function keys control volume/brightness, use fn with them.)

bullet point in the first line and a blank line in cell A1

And then do the steps again shown in method 1:

For Windows users, press Alt + 7 (using the numeric keypad).

For Mac users, press Option + 8.

Continue to press Alt + Enter to create a new line.

multiple bullet points in cell A1

If your multi-line bullets look like one long line, turn on wrapping: Format → Wrapping → Wrap.

Quick fix: If text still doesn’t wrap, widen the column a little or check that the cell’s alignment isn’t forcing “Clip.”

Method 3: Using Custom Number Formatting

Highlight the range of cells where you want to add bullet points.

Cells A1 to A5 are selected

Go to Format in the top menu. Select Number and click on Custom number format.

two red rectangles highlight ‘Format’ and ‘Number’ respectively and a red arrow pointing to “Custom number format”

Alternatively:

Click on the More formats icon on the toolbar. Select Custom number format.

red rectangle highlights more formats icon and a red arrow pointing to “Custom number format”

In the Custom Number Format dialog box, type • @ in the text field.

red rectangle highlights bullet point with at sign in Custom Number Format dialog box

Click Apply. 

red arrow pointing to ‘Apply’

The selected cells will now display bullet points before their values.

bullet points in selected cells before their values

Method 4: Using the CHAR Function

Click on the cell where you want to insert a bullet point.

red arrow pointing to a cell to add bullet point

Type =CHAR(8226)&" "&A1 into the cell, replace A1 with the reference to the cell where you want to add a bullet point to.

red arrow pointing to CHAR function in a cell

Press Enter to apply the formula. A bullet point will appear before the text in the referenced cell.

red arrow pointing to a cell where bullet point added before the value

Click the small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell.

Drag it down to copy the formula to other cells in the column.

bullet point added before the values from cell B1 to cell B5

By using keyboard shortcuts, custom number formatting, or the CHAR function, you can easily add bullet points in Google Sheets.

These methods help make your data more organized and visually appealing.

Try each method to see which one works best for your needs!

Method 5 — Copy bullets from Google Docs into one cell

  1. In Google Docs, create your bulleted list (• Item 1, • Item 2, …) and copy it.

  2. In Google Sheets, double-click the target cell (or press F2/Return) to enter edit mode.

  3. Paste (Windows: Ctrl+V, Mac: ⌘+V). The bullets will appear as separate lines inside the same cell.

  4. Turn on Format → Wrapping → Wrap if you don’t see each bullet on its own line. Why use this: fastest way to bring a nicely formatted set of bullets (including sub-bullets) into a single cell without formulas.