To make bullet points smaller in Google Docs without shrinking the text, click once on any bullet in the list so that all the bullets are highlighted, but not the text. Then change the font size in the toolbar, for example from 11 to 8. Only the bullet symbols get smaller. The same trick changes bullet color: with the bullets selected, use the Text color button.
Below are step-by-step instructions, how to change bullets for just one item, how to change the gap between bullets and text, and what to do when clicking the bullet selects the text too.
Make all bullets in a list smaller
- Click directly on one bullet symbol in the list. All bullets at that level become highlighted, while the text stays unselected.
- Click the font size box in the toolbar.
- Type a smaller number, such as 8, and press Enter, or click the minus button next to the size.
- Click anywhere in the document to deselect the bullets.
The bullets shrink, and your text stays the same size. Use the same method to make bullets bigger.
Change the size of one bullet only
- Click the bullet you want to change. All bullets highlight.
- Click the same bullet again. Now only that bullet stays selected.
- Change the font size.
Change bullet size for nested levels
Each indent level in a list is selected separately. Click a bullet on the second level to select all second-level bullets, then change their size. This lets you use smaller bullets for sub-points.
Change the bullet style and color
- Style: Click the arrow next to the Bulleted list button and choose a preset, or go to Format > Bullets & numbering > Bulleted list. For a custom symbol, click a bullet, then right-click and choose More bullets.
- Color: Select the bullets as above and click the Text color (A) button.
- Bold or italic bullets: Select the bullets and press Ctrl + B or Ctrl + I.
Change the space between bullets and text
- Select the list.
- Click Format > Align & indent > Indentation options.
- Adjust Left indent and the Hanging special indent. A smaller hanging indent brings text closer to the bullet.
- Click Apply.
You can also drag the indent markers on the ruler. Turn on the ruler with View > Show ruler if you don’t see it.
If clicking the bullet selects the text too
- Click exactly on the bullet symbol, not to its left or right.
- Zoom in with Ctrl + plus to make the bullet easier to click.
- Make sure the list is a real Google Docs list. Bullets typed as characters (like •) or pasted from other apps act like text and need to be selected and resized like text.
- If the list was pasted, select it and click the Bulleted list button twice to convert it to a proper list.
Bullet formatting at a glance
| Change | How |
|---|---|
| Size of all bullets | Click one bullet, change font size |
| Size of one bullet | Click the bullet twice, change font size |
| Bullet color | Select bullets, Text color |
| Bullet symbol | Bulleted list arrow or More bullets |
| Gap to text | Indentation options or ruler |
Related: change the bullet point style in Google Docs.
Related: put bullet points side by side in Google Docs.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work on the Google Docs mobile app?
Selecting only the bullets is difficult in the app. Make these changes on a computer for the best results.
Why did my bullets reset to the original size?
Adding new items usually keeps the bullet formatting, but pasting text or changing the list style can reset it. Select the bullets and change the size again.
Can I save a custom bullet style?
Not as a preset, but copying a formatted list into a new document keeps the bullet formatting.
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.