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How to Insert Bullet Points in Excel: Quick and Top Ways

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Bullet points can be used very frequently in Excel. MS Excel is all about numbers and to make our data more representable and user-friendly we can use bullet points. Unlike in PowerPoint and Word, there is no direct way to add bullet points in Excel.

In this article, we will discuss different methods to add a bullet point in Excel. 

How to Add Bullet Points in Excel Using Shortcut Keys

Using shortcut keys is the most catchy and easy way to add standard bullet points in Excel. You will use two keys to create a bullet point i.e. Alt and a number. The number pressed should be from the numeric keypad of your computer. If you do not have a numeric keypad then simply turn on the Num Lock button and you can use the normal number keys on your keyboard. 

Add A Solid Bullet Point in Excel

Following are the steps to insert solid bullet points: 

Step 1: Select the cell in which you want to add a bullet point. Then double-click on it

Select-the-cell

Step 2: Press Alt + 7. Now, as soon as you will leave the Alt key, a solid bullet point will appear

Press-Alt + 7-and-a-bullet-is-appear

Add A Hollow Bullet Point in Excel

Following are the steps for hollow bullet points:

Step 1: Select the cell in which you want to add a bullet point. Then double-click on it

Select-cell

Step 2: Press Alt + 9. Now, as soon as you will leave the Alt key, a hollow bullet point will appear

Press-Alt + 9-and-a-hollow-bullet-point-will-appear

Add Multiple Bullet Points in a Single Cell in Excel

Following are the steps to print multiple bullet points in a single cell:

Step 1: Select the cell in which you want to add a bullet point. Then double-click on it

Select-the-desired-cell

Step 2: Press Alt + 7 to create a solid bullet point. Now add the item you want

Press-Alt + 7-to-create-solid-bullet-point

Step 3: Press Alt + Enter. Now, being in the same cell you will end up at a new line. Now, you can add multiple bullet points in a single cell

Press-Alt + Enter-to-have-line-breakAdding bullet to new line.

Add Fancy Bullet Points in Excel

Despite adding the standard bullet points you can add fancy bullet points. Press Alt and any numeric number, and you will have different emojis appear.  Here is a small list of the fancy bullet points with their shortcut keys. 

How to Add Bullet Points Using Symbols in Excel

You can also use the symbols option in the insert tab to add bullet points to your worksheet. It is very difficult to find the bullet symbol in such a huge list of symbols. So, you can also type the unique code provided for each symbol. We have compiled, the codes of the most commonly used bullet symbols. 

Symbol

Character code

2022

25E6

25CF

25CC

25CB

25CA

25AB

25AA

25A1

The following are the steps: 

Step 1: Go to the insert Tab

 Goto-the-insert-Tab

Step 2: Under Symbols group. Click on the Symbols option

Step 3: Symbols dialogue box appears. In the lower right corner, there is an option name Character code. You can add code according to your wish. For example, type 2022 in the character code. Now, click on Insert

Click-on-insert

Step 4: A black bullet point is inserted

A-black-bullet-point-is-inserted

Add a Bullet Point By Copy- Paste

One of the very easy methods to insert a bullet in Excel is to copy it from Word/PowerPoint. Word/PowerPoint provides its users to insert a bullet in their slide with a single click. Excel has the power to copy the format of the selected text. The following are the steps: 

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word. Go to the Home tab, and click on the bullet list option. A bullet appears in the word sheet

Open-Microsoft-Word

Step 2: Write some text in front of the bullet. Copy the text

 Copy-the-text

Step 3: Go to Microsoft Excel and paste it. You will have the bullet with the written text

Goto-Microsoft-Excel-and-paste-it

Add Bullets Using Functions 

This is not a much popular way to make bullets in Excel. But can be proved efficient when you want to convert a non-bulleted list into a bullet list, in just some clicks and functions. 

Note: The function =char(number) provides the character associated with that number. There is no need of remembering it. For example, =char(149) is for •(solid black bullet), =char(171) is for star bullet.

Converting a non-bulleted list to a bullet list

Given a list. Add bullets in front of each of them. 

Sample-data

The following are the steps:

Step 1: Use the formula =CHAR(149)&” “&(Selected cell). This formula joins the bullet point with any cell 

Adding-bullet-point-with-the-text

Step 2: Press Enter

Press-Enter

Step 3: Copy the formula to the cells C4:C9

Copy-the-formula-to-the-cells-C4:C9

Custom Number Formatting for Automatic Bullet Generation

One of the most popular methods is to auto-generate bullets in the cells of the worksheet. This method is useful when you have to add bullet points in large. Otherwise, the methods read above are preferred. 

The following are the steps: 

Step 1: Select the cells in which you want to add custom number formatting. Press Ctrl + A to select the entire worksheet

Press-Ctrl + A-to-select-the-entire-worksheet

Step 2: Go to the Home tab, and in the number section, you can see a small down arrow. Click on it. You can also use the shortcut Ctrl + 1. Format Cells dialogue box appears

Click-on-format-Cells-dialogue-box

Step 3: In the Number tab, under the Custom section. Click on the editable Type

 Click-on-the-editable-Type

Step 4: Type • General; • General; • General; • General in your editable Type. Click Ok

Click-Ok

Step 5: Type geeks in the cell and press Enter. The bullet appears automatically

Type-geeks-in-the-cell-and-press-EnterBullet-will-appear

How to Insert Bullets Points in a Text Box

Inserting bullet points in a Text box can provide a more straightforward method to add bullets in Excel. Below is the step-by-step guide :

Step 1: Go to the Insert tab and click on the Text Box button in the Text Group

Text-Box

Step 2: Insert a text box by clicking and dragging on the worksheet to define its size

Step 3: Type your list items inside the text box

List of items.

Step 4: Select the line that you want to convert into bullet points

Step 5: Right-click on the selected lines and click on the small arrow next to the bullet points

Step 6: A drop-down menu will appear with various predefined bullet styles

Step 7: Choose your desired bullet style

Select the bullet style.

Note: You can also customize your own bullet type by clicking on bullet and numbering….> customize.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you insert bullets and numbering?

To insert Numbering and Bullets you simply gho to the home tab and select Select Numbering option. You can select the numbering and bullet style according to your choice.

Is there any direct way to insert bullets in Excel?

No, Excel doesn’t have the feature of adding bullets directly.

Can we copy bullet points from Word or PowerPoint into Excel?

Yes, you can copy the bullet points from Word or PowerPoint into Excel. First create the bullet points in Word or PowerPoint, copy the text with bullet points, and paste it into Excel.

How can we convert a non-bulleted list to a bullet list in Excel?

You can use custom number formatting in Excel to automatically generate bullets in cells. By modifying the cell formatting, you can set it to display bullet points when entering text.



Last Updated : 19 Sep, 2023
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