To create a list in WordPress, click the bullet list or numbered list button on the editor toolbar and start typing. Press Enter after each item. Click the button again when you finish.
Why use a list?
A list breaks up long text and makes a page easier to scan. Readers pick out the points they need without reading every line.
Lists work on any page, from a product page to a price sheet.
Make a bullet or numbered list
WordPress gives you two kinds of lists. The steps are the same for both.
Open the editor
Go to Posts > All Posts or Pages > All Pages and open the one you want to change.
Click your cursor where the list starts
Place it on an empty line in your WordPress website content.
Click a list button
Use the bullet list button for an unordered list. Use the numbered list button for an ordered list.
Type your items
Press Enter at the end of each line to start the next item.
End the list
Click the list button again, or press Enter twice. You are back in regular text editing.
Preview and publish
Click Preview to check the result. Then click Publish or Update to make it live.
Bullet list or numbered list?
Use a numbered list, also called an ordered list, when the order matters. The steps of a how-to are a good example.
Use a bullet list, also called an unordered list, when the order does not matter. A list of features is a good example.
Keep each item to a line or two. Start each item the same way so readers can scan it quickly.
The HTML behind a list
WordPress writes simple HTML for you. If you open the Text tab of the editor, you will see tags like these.
<!-- Unordered (bullet) list -->
<ul>
<li>Example 1</li>
<li>Example 2</li>
<li>Example 3</li>
</ul>
<!-- Ordered (numbered) list -->
<ol>
<li>Example 1</li>
<li>Example 2</li>
<li>Example 3</li>
</ol>The ul tag makes bullets and the ol tag makes numbers. Each item sits inside an li tag. You can learn more in our HTML glossary entry.
Where lists help your visitors most
Lists suit steps, features, prices, hours and checklists. A plain paragraph hides these facts, but a list shows them at a glance.
Try this on your own pages. Find a paragraph with three or more items separated by commas. Turn it into a bullet list and read the page again.
You will see the difference right away. The page looks cleaner and your reader finds each item faster.
Search engines like lists too. A short, clear list is easy for them to read and may help your page answer a question in the results.
Nested lists and spacing
You can put a list inside a list. Place your cursor on an item and press the Tab key. The item moves in and becomes a sub-point.
Press Shift and Tab to move it back out. Use this sparingly. Two levels are plenty for most pages.
If your list looks wrong
If your bullets run together, you may have pressed Shift and Enter instead of Enter. Press Enter alone to start a new item.
If the list will not end, press Enter twice on an empty item. You can also click the list button again.
Some themes style lists in their own way. If yours looks odd, we can adjust it. If you want help with your WordPress site, call Websnoogie in Omaha at 402-813-4034 any day from 7 am to 10 pm.
Common questions
What is an unordered list?
An unordered list is a bullet list. Use it when the order of the items does not matter.
What is an ordered list?
An ordered list is a numbered list. Use it when the order matters, such as the steps of a how-to.
AboutRod and Tami Atwood
Rod and Tami Atwood and other Websnoogie contributors write the Websnoogie blog. Rod has built websites since 2004 and founded Websnoogie, LLC in Omaha in 2012. Tami is co-owner, content editor and billing expert. Call us at 402-813-4034 or write to staff@websnoogie.com.
