Bullet points in Google Docs sometimes don’t line up: the bullets sit too far right, text wraps under the bullet instead of aligning with the first line, or nested levels look uneven. You can fix all of this with indent shortcuts, the ruler, or Indentation options. This guide covers each method, plus aligning lists center or right, and fixing lists pasted from other apps.
Quick Answer
Select the list and go to Format > Align & indent > Indentation options. Set Left indent to where you want the bullets, set Special indent to Hanging with the same small value (for example 0.25″), and click Apply.
Method 1: Increase or Decrease the Indent
- Click in a bullet and press Tab to move it one level in, or Shift + Tab to move it out.
- Use the Increase indent and Decrease indent buttons in the toolbar (under the three-dot menu on narrow windows).
- Keyboard: Ctrl + ] and Ctrl + [ (Command on Mac).
To move the whole list left to the margin, select it and press Shift + Tab or Decrease indent until it stops.
Method 2: Drag the Ruler Markers
- Turn on the ruler with View > Show ruler.
- Select the list items.
- On the ruler, the blue downward triangle is the left indent (where text starts and wraps). The blue bar above it is the first line indent (where the bullet sits).
- Drag the triangle to move the text, and the bar to move the bullets.
Dragging the triangle moves the bar with it; drag the bar afterward to fine-tune the bullet position.
Method 3: Indentation Options for Exact Values
- Select the list.
- Choose Format > Align & indent > Indentation options.
- Set Left indent (for example 0.25″) and Special indent > Hanging (for example 0.25″).
- Click Apply.
With these values, bullets sit at the margin and text lines up 0.25″ in, including wrapped lines.
Align a List Center or Right
Select the list and use the alignment buttons (Ctrl + Shift + E for center, Ctrl + Shift + R for right). The bullets move with each line. For neat columns, a table without borders often looks better.
Make All Levels Consistent
- Right-click a bullet and choose Select all matching text or click one bullet to select every bullet at that level, then adjust indentation once.
- Use Format > Bullets & numbering > List options to change bullet symbols or restart numbering.
Fix Lists Pasted From Word or the Web
- Paste with Ctrl + Shift + V to drop formatting, then reapply bullets.
- Or select the list and use Format > Clear formatting (Ctrl + \) before resetting indents.
See how to paste from Word to Google Docs with formatting.
On iPhone, iPad and Android
Tap the list, tap the Format (A) icon, open Paragraph, and use the indent buttons. Ruler and Indentation options are available on a computer.
For paragraphs, see how to indent in Google Docs.
Related: using Grammarly in Google Docs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the second line wrap under the bullet?
The list has no hanging indent. Set Special indent to Hanging.
How do I remove the space between the bullet and text?
Drag the ruler’s left indent triangle closer to the first line indent bar, or reduce the hanging value.
How do I put bullets side by side?
Use columns or a table. See how to put bullet points side by side.
Summary
- Use Tab and Shift + Tab to change levels.
- Drag the ruler triangle and bar to align text and bullets.
- Set a hanging indent in Indentation options for exact alignment.
- Clear pasted formatting before fixing lists.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.