How do I switch between bullets and numbers?

A toggle switches the output format between Unordered (each line prefixed with "- ") and Ordered (each line numbered sequentially starting at 1, like "1. ", "2. ", ...).

Does numbering restart if I regenerate the output?

No, ordered numbering always starts at 1 and increments by one for every item in the current list, in the order the items appear after splitting.

Are the item contents escaped for Markdown special characters?

No, item text is inserted as-is after the bullet or number prefix. If an item itself starts with a character Markdown treats specially (like another "-" or a number followed by a period), format it carefully, since this tool doesn't escape those.

Are blank items included as empty bullet lines?

No, empty items are filtered out before the list is built, so there won't be stray bare "-" or numbered lines with no text in the output.

List to Markdown List Converter - Add - or 1. Bullets to a List

Overview

Introduction

Adding "- " or sequential numbers to every line of a plain list by hand is easy to get wrong once numbering drifts or you reorder items.

This tool formats a plain list as proper Markdown in one step, with a toggle between bulleted and numbered output.

What Is List to Markdown List Converter?

A converter that formats a plain delimited list as a Markdown list: "- item" for unordered lists, or sequentially numbered "1. item" lines for ordered lists.

It follows the CommonMark conventions that GitHub, most static site generators, and note-taking apps like Obsidian and Notion all render consistently.

How List to Markdown List Converter Works

The input is split into items using the selected separator, and blank items are filtered out.

If the Unordered toggle is selected, each item is prefixed with "- "; if Ordered is selected, each item is prefixed with its 1-based position number followed by ". ".

When To Use List to Markdown List Converter

Use it when writing documentation, a README, or notes in Markdown and you need to insert a list you already have as plain text.

It's especially handy for converting a plain numbered outline into properly formatted, renumberable Markdown without manual numbering.

Often used alongside List to HTML List Converter, List to LaTeX List Converter and List to XML Converter.

Features

Advantages

Numbering is always sequential and correct, no risk of manually mistyped or out-of-order numbers.
One toggle switches instantly between bulleted and numbered output.
Output follows standard CommonMark list syntax, rendering correctly across GitHub, most editors, and static site generators.

Limitations

Doesn't escape Markdown-significant characters at the start of an item's own text (like a leading "-" or digit-period sequence), which could be misread as additional list markup by some renderers.
Only produces a single flat level of list items; nested sub-lists aren't supported.

Examples

An unordered list

Input

Milk
Eggs
Bread

Output

- Milk
- Eggs
- Bread

With the toggle set to Unordered, each of the three items is prefixed with "- ".

An ordered list

Input

Preheat oven
Mix batter
Bake 20 minutes

Output

1. Preheat oven
2. Mix batter
3. Bake 20 minutes

With the toggle set to Ordered, each item is prefixed with its sequential 1-based number and a period.

Best Practices & Notes

Best Practices

Use Ordered for sequences where position matters, like steps in a recipe or procedure, and Unordered for collections where order is incidental.
Review items that themselves start with a hyphen or digit-period pattern, since nesting them under Markdown list syntax can confuse some renderers.

Developer Notes

Builds each line with `ordered ? \`${index + 1}. ${item}\` : \`- ${item}\`` using the item's zero-based array index, so numbering is always contiguous starting at 1 regardless of any gaps in the original separator-delimited input.

List to Markdown List Converter Use Cases

Converting a plain list of features into a Markdown bullet list for a README
Turning an unnumbered set of steps into a properly numbered Markdown ordered list
Preparing a Markdown list for a static site generator or documentation platform from raw data

Common Mistakes

Expecting nested/multi-level output; this tool only produces a single flat list level.
Not noticing that item text starting with Markdown-special characters isn't escaped, which can render unexpectedly in strict Markdown parsers.

Tips

Use List to HTML List Converter instead if your target renderer doesn't support Markdown and needs raw HTML.
Combine with List Item Prefix Remover beforehand if your source list already has stray bullet characters you want stripped first.

List to Markdown List Converter