Bullets and numbering

Learn how to create, format, and preview bulleted and numbered lists.

In bulleted lists, each paragraph begins with a bullet character. In numbered lists, each paragraph begins with an expression that includes a number or letter and a separator such as a period or a parenthesis. Both lists help your users identify the key points in the text in ordered and unordered forms. 

Create bulleted or numbered lists

Follow the steps below to start applying numbered and ordered lists to the text. 

  1. Select the set of paragraphs that will become the list, or click to place the insertion point where you want the list to begin.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • Click the bulleted list button or the numbered list button in the Control panel (Windows > Control).
    • Click the more options    icon in the Paragraph section of the Properties panel and click the Bulleted List button or the Numbered List button.
    • Select the text and right-click. Choose Bulleted and Numbered Lists and apply numbers or bullets.
    • Use the type context menu to click and apply lists. 
    List properties in Paragraph panel
    List properties in Paragraph panel

    Illustrator uses auto-detection of lists when you press any sequence of list using keyboard like 1. or 1) or A. or A).

  3. To continue the list in the next paragraph, move the insertion point to the end of the list and press Enter or Return.

Customize bullets

You can create custom bullets by using keyboard as follows: 

  • * <space>
  • # <space>
  • > <space>
  • + <space>

Use presets and preview 

Apart from the default types of bullets and numbers, you can also use some of the presets available in the panel. As shown in the Bullets and Numbering dialog, click the preset button and preview the effect instantly in the text. 

Bulleted list presets
Presets available for bulleted lists

Presets for numbers
Presets available for numbered lists

Format the lists

Use Left Indent, and First Line Indent options to indent the text by changing the points. You can also use keyboard shortcuts such as tab or shift + tab to move to the next or previous levels. 

Create multi-level lists

A multi-level list is a list that describes hierarchical relationships between the list paragraphs. These lists are also called outline lists because they resemble outlines. The list’s numbering scheme and indentations show rank as well as how items are subordinate to one another. You can tell where each paragraph fits in the list regarding paragraphs before and after it.

You can use the Level option in Bullets and Numbering dialog to change up to nine levels. 

Convert bullets and numbering to text

  1. Select the paragraph containing the bulleted or numbered list.

  2. Select Type > Bullets and Numbering > Convert to text.

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