How to Convert a List to Markdown Bullet Points

Q: Can I use a different bullet character, like * or +?

Yes. All three standard Markdown bullet characters - - , * , and + - are supported. They render identically in every Markdown parser, so pick whichever matches the style already used in the rest of your document.

You have a plain list of steps, features, or links and need it as Markdown for a README, a wiki page, or a Notion doc. Adding a dash or number in front of every line by hand is tedious for anything longer than a handful of items. Paste the list here and it converts instantly.

Convert your list now. Free, no account needed.

Open List Format Converter →

How to do it

Paste your list into the converter. One item per line.
Select Markdown Bullets or Markdown Numbered from the format dropdown.
Pick a bullet character, if using bullets. -, *, or + - all render the same.
Copy the output and paste it in.

A list like this:

Install dependencies
Run the dev server
Open localhost:5173

becomes, as Markdown bullets:

- Install dependencies
- Run the dev server
- Open localhost:5173

or, as a Markdown numbered list:

1. Install dependencies
2. Run the dev server
3. Open localhost:5173

Which bullet character to use

-, *, and + are all part of the CommonMark spec and render as an identical bullet in GitHub, GitLab, Notion, Obsidian, and essentially every other Markdown renderer. There's no functional difference - the only reason to pick one over another is to match the style already used elsewhere in the same document.

One thing to know: mixing bullet characters within the same list (some lines with -, others with *) can cause some renderers to treat it as two separate lists with a gap between them. Stick to one character per list.

Numbered lists renumber automatically

With Markdown Numbered selected, every line is numbered in order starting from 1. If you add, remove, or reorder items in the input, the output renumbers itself instantly - you never have to manually fix a numbering gap from deleting item 4 out of 10.

Going the other way: Markdown back to a plain list

Paste a bulleted or numbered Markdown list into the input and the tool detects it automatically, stripping the -, *, +, or 1. prefix from each line. Useful when you've been handed a Markdown list and need the raw values back - for a spreadsheet import, a SQL query, or another format entirely.

Need other formats from the same list?

JSON array, SQL IN clause, HTML list, CSV row: 21 formats, same tool.

Open List Format Converter →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert a list to Markdown bullet points?

Paste your list (one item per line) into the List to Format Converter, select Markdown Bullets, and copy. Each line gets a - prefix, ready to paste into any Markdown editor.

Can I use a different bullet character, like * or +?

Yes. All three standard Markdown bullet characters - -, *, and + - are supported. They render identically in every Markdown parser, so pick whichever matches the style already used in the rest of your document.

How do I get a numbered list instead of bullets?

Switch to Markdown Numbered instead of Markdown Bullets. Each line gets 1., 2., 3., and so on automatically - you don't need to renumber anything if you add or remove items later, since the tool recalculates on every change.

Will this work in GitHub READMEs, Notion, and Obsidian?

Yes. Dash, asterisk, and plus are all part of the CommonMark spec that GitHub, GitLab, Notion, Obsidian, and nearly every other Markdown renderer implement. Numbered lists using 1. are equally standard.

What happens to items that already start with a dash or number?

They're left as-is and a new bullet or number is added in front, so you might end up with something like - -item if a line already starts with a dash. Strip any existing prefixes from your list first if that's not what you want.

Can I create nested or indented bullets?

Not automatically - this tool produces a single flat list, one bullet per line. For nested lists, add the indentation manually after converting, or structure your input with leading tabs/spaces before pasting (the tool preserves them if present).

Can I convert Markdown bullets back into a plain list?

Yes. Paste a bulleted or numbered Markdown list into the input and the tool detects it automatically, stripping the bullet or number prefix and giving you back one plain value per line.

Can I get an HTML list instead?

Yes. Switch the format dropdown to HTML Unordered List or HTML Ordered List to get <ul><li>...</li></ul> markup from the same input, no re-pasting needed.