How to Add Bullet Points in Google Sheets: A Step-by-Step Guide

Google Sheets is a powerful tool for managing data, but sometimes, formatting options like bullet points aren't as straightforward as in other Google Workspace apps, such as Google Docs.

Bullet points are a useful feature when you want to organize information clearly in lists, helping to improve readability and presentation. While Google Sheets doesn’t offer a direct button for bullet points, there is a simple and effective method to manually add them.

In this blog post, we will show you a single, easy method to add bullet points using a keyboard shortcut. This method is user-friendly and works for both Mac and Windows users.

Why Use Bullet Points in Google Sheets?

Adding bullet points to your spreadsheet can improve the layout of your data in several ways:

Organized Lists: Bullets help structure data lists, making them easier to read.

Better Presentation: If you're preparing a report or sharing a spreadsheet with others, bullet points make it look more polished and professional.

Highlighting Key Information: Bullet points help emphasize important information within a cell.

Now, let’s dive into the step-by-step guide on how to manually add bullet points in Google Sheets.

Method: Adding Bullet Points Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Step 1: Open Your Google Sheets Document

Start by opening your Google Sheets document where you want to add bullet points. Make sure that you have the cells selected where you plan to add the bullet points.

Step 2: Select the Cell

Click on the cell where you want to insert a bullet point. You can either start with an empty cell or use one that already contains text.

Step 3: Enter Edit Mode

To enter edit mode in the cell, simply double-click on the cell or press F2 on your keyboard. This will allow you to type or modify the contents of the cell.

Step 4: Insert the Bullet Point Symbol

Here’s where the keyboard shortcut comes in. You can manually insert a bullet point symbol using a special character shortcut, depending on your operating system:

For Windows Users:

While in edit mode in the cell, hold down the Alt key.

Press 7 on the numeric keypad (make sure Num Lock is on).

This will insert a bullet point () into the cell.

For Mac Users:

While in edit mode, press Option + 8 on your keyboard.

This will also insert a bullet point ().

Step 5: Add Text After the Bullet Point (Optional)

Once the bullet point is inserted, you can add any text you need. After typing your list item, press Enter to move out of edit mode.

Step 6: Repeat for Multiple Bullets (If Needed)

If you need multiple bullet points in different cells, repeat the process for each cell. You can also copy and paste the bullet point symbol (•) into other cells.

Tips for Using Bullet Points in Google Sheets

Bullet Point in Multiple Lines within One Cell: If you want to add multiple bullet points within the same cell, press Alt + Enter (on Windows) or Control + Option + Return (on Mac) after each item to create a line break within the cell. Then, repeat the shortcut to add another bullet point on the new line.

Custom Bullet Points: If you want to use different bullet point styles, you can copy and paste various bullet-like symbols from online sources, such as dashes (), asterisks (), or special characters.

Copy and Paste Bullet Points: If you want to use the same bullet points across many cells, you can copy a cell with a bullet point and paste it into other cells, preserving the format.

Why This Method is Effective

No Need for Add-ons: This method doesn’t require any third-party add-ons or extensions. It uses simple keyboard shortcuts, which makes it quick and easy.

Cross-Platform: It works on both Windows and Mac operating systems, making it a versatile solution for users across different devices.

Customizable: You can combine this method with Google Sheets’ formatting options, like text alignment or coloring, to further customize how your bullet points appear.

Conclusion

Though Google Sheets doesn’t have a built-in option for adding bullet points, this easy keyboard shortcut method allows you to insert bullet points quickly and effectively. Whether you’re organizing lists, highlighting key points, or just trying to improve the readability of your spreadsheet, adding bullet points can make your data presentation much clearer and more professional.

By following this guide, you can seamlessly add bullet points to your Google Sheets document with just a few keystrokes. This method is perfect for users who want a simple, built-in solution without the need for complex tools or external software.