LaTeX Bullet Points
Use itemize for bullets, enumerate for numbers, and the enumitem package for everything else.
The two-second answer
% Bullet list
\begin{itemize}
\item First point
\item Second point
\item Third point
\end{itemize}
% Numbered list
\begin{enumerate}
\item First step
\item Second step
\item Third step
\end{enumerate}Nested lists (auto-styled)
\begin{itemize}
\item Outer level (filled circle)
\begin{itemize}
\item Second level (dash)
\begin{itemize}
\item Third level (asterisk)
\begin{itemize}
\item Fourth level (dot)
\end{itemize}
\end{itemize}
\end{itemize}
\end{itemize}LaTeX automatically picks different bullet symbols per nesting level. enumerate goes: 1., (a), i., A.
Custom bullets and tighter spacing
\usepackage{enumitem}
% Custom bullet symbol
\begin{itemize}[label=$\star$]
\item Star bullet
\end{itemize}
% Tight spacing (no extra vertical space)
\begin{itemize}[noitemsep,topsep=0pt]
\item Compact
\item No extra space
\end{itemize}
% Letters instead of numbers
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item First (a)
\item Second (b)
\end{enumerate}
% Start enumeration from 5
\begin{enumerate}[start=5]
\item Item 5
\item Item 6
\end{enumerate}Common bullet symbols
| Symbol | Math command | Use |
|---|---|---|
| • | $\bullet$ | Default first-level |
| ◦ | $\circ$ | Hollow circle |
| ◆ | $\diamond$ | Diamond |
| ★ | $\star$ | Star |
| ☐ | $\square$ | Empty square |
| → | $\rightarrow$ | Arrow |
Common mistakes
- Forgetting
\item. Each bullet needs its own\itemcommand. - Excessive vertical space. Default itemize/enumerate has noticeable gaps; use enumitem with
noitemsep,topsep=0ptto tighten. - Mixing list types. Don't put
\itemoutside an environment — use itemize/enumerate/description. - Math-mode bullets in text-mode. Bullet symbols like
$\bullet$need math-mode dollar signs.
// Bullets
- First point
- Second point
- Nested
- Another
// Numbered
+ First
+ Second
+ NestedMarkdown-like dashes and pluses. No environment dance, no enumitem package. Compiles 10x faster than LaTeX. Try TypeTeX free.
Try TypeTeX freeFrequently Asked Questions
Use the itemize environment: \begin{itemize} \item First \item Second \end{itemize}. Each \item starts a new bullet. Default symbol is a filled circle (•).
Use the enumerate environment: \begin{enumerate} \item First \item Second \end{enumerate}. Numbers (1., 2., ...) are added automatically.
Use the optional argument on \item: \item[\textbullet] or pass a label option to itemize. The cleanest way is the enumitem package: \usepackage{enumitem} then \begin{itemize}[label=$\bullet$]. You can use $\bullet$, $\circ$, $\diamond$, $\star$, $\square$, or any character.
Just put one itemize/enumerate inside another. LaTeX automatically uses different bullets per level: filled circle, dash, asterisk, dot. enumerate uses 1., (a), i., A. by default. Override per level with enumitem: \begin{itemize}[label=$\bullet$] for the outer level.
Use the enumitem package: \usepackage{enumitem}, then \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,topsep=0pt]. 'noitemsep' removes spacing between items; 'topsep' removes space before the list. For just slightly tighter, use 'itemsep=2pt'.
With enumitem: \begin{enumerate}[start=5]. Or set the counter manually: \setcounter{enumi}{4} (the next \item will be 5). Useful for resuming numbering across paragraphs or sections.
With enumitem: \begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)] for (a), (b), (c). Other formats: \Alph* for A, B, C; \roman* for i, ii, iii; \Roman* for I, II, III; \arabic* for default 1, 2, 3.
Yes — just wrap the text. LaTeX will indent continuation lines under the bullet automatically. For a paragraph break inside an item, leave a blank line — the new paragraph stays inside the same item, indented under it.
LaTeX bullets are block-level by default. For inline, use the inparaenum environment from the paralist package: \begin{inparaenum}[(a)] \item one \item two \end{inparaenum} renders as '(a) one (b) two' on the same line.