Tool to Stylize a Bulleted List (HTML & CSS)

If you’ve ever tried to customize bullet points in HTML or CSS, you’ve probably hit a wall. Changing colors, swapping shapes, or replacing bullets with emojis or icons sounds simple—but it often turns into a time-suck of trial and error.

That’s why I built a free tool to stylize a bulleted list using HTML and CSS. It’s quick, visual, and beginner-friendly. But before you dive in, let’s answer some of the most common questions people ask about customizing list bullets.

How to change bullet points to icons in CSS

You can use the ::before pseudo-element in CSS to replace default bullets with icons. For example:

ul.custom-icons li::before {
  content: "✓";
  margin-right: 8px;
  color: green;
}

This overrides the default bullet and replaces it with a custom symbol. You’ll also want to set list-style-type: none; to remove the built-in bullet.

How to change color of list bullets in CSS

Default bullets inherit the text color, so if you just change color, both the bullet and the text change. If you want to color only the bullet, use the ::marker pseudo-element (supported in modern browsers):

ul li::marker {
  color: red;
}

If ::marker isn’t supported, fall back to ::before as shown earlier.

How to change bullet shape in HTML

HTML itself doesn’t offer many options—just ul and ol with different list-style-type values:

<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
  <li>Item</li>
</ul>

Options include disc, circle, square, and none. For anything beyond that, you’ll need CSS or a custom icon approach.

How do I change the bullet point style?

Use the list-style-type property in CSS:

ul {
  list-style-type: square;
}

Or completely remove the default bullet and insert your own:

ul li::before {
  content: "👉";
  margin-right: 8px;
}

How do I change the color of just bullet points?

As mentioned above, use ::marker (if supported):

ul li::marker {
  color: blue;
}

Otherwise, use ::before to create a custom “bullet” and style it separately.

How do I change the color of list items in HTML?

That part’s simple—just apply color normally:

ul li {
  color: #333;
}

Or use inline styles:

<li style="color: #333;">List item</li>

How do I replace bullet points with an image in CSS?

You can use list-style-image, but it’s dated and inconsistent across browsers. Better to go custom:

ul.custom li::before {
  content: "";
  background: url('checkmark.png') no-repeat left center;
  width: 16px;
  height: 16px;
  display: inline-block;
  margin-right: 8px;
}

How do I change the bullet type?

You can switch between disc, circle, and square using list-style-type:

ul {
  list-style-type: circle;
}

For arrows, emojis, or icons, use ::before and set your own content.

How do you change the format of a bullet style in a list?

It depends what you mean by “format.” If you want:

• A new shape → use list-style-type or ::before
• A different color → use ::marker or custom CSS
• A different icon or emoji → insert it with ::before
• A custom layout → style li elements directly

Want to skip the code?

You don’t need to wrestle with CSS just to make a list look good. Use this free HTML list builder tool to:

• Choose from dozens of bullet styles (✓, ⭐, ➤, emojis, and more)
• Preview your list instantly
• Copy clean HTML with inline styling
• Avoid browser quirks and manual CSS hacks

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re building a professional landing page or just want your blog lists to stand out, customizing your bullet points helps. It’s a small detail that can have a big visual impact.

If you’ve struggled with CSS quirks or just want a simpler solution, check out the Stylized List Builder Tool. It handles the formatting so you can focus on content.

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