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Learn how to add bullet points in Etsy description.
Etsy doesn’t give us many options when it comes to formatting our shop descriptions. No bolding, no lists, no headers. But here is the good news—you can still make your Etsy listing descriptions clean, skimmable, and easy to read.
In this post, I am showing you exactly how to add bullet points in Etsy description—even if Etsy doesn’t give you a formatting toolbar. Plus, I will share some extra Etsy hacks to make your descriptions stand out, a shortcut with a copy-and-paste Etsy listing description template, and a tool that basically writes the description for you (hello, Etsy description generator!).
Why Formatting Matters on Etsy
First things first: Why should you even bother learning how to format your Etsy description?
Because most people don’t read—they skim.
A well-structured Etsy shop description helps potential customers get the info they need quickly. If you are just writing in big chunks of text, your buyers are more likely to click away without understanding the full value of your product.
Even though Etsy doesn’t allow rich formatting (like real bullet points, bold text, or headings), you can work around it. And you should. A clean layout can make the difference between getting a sale or not.
3 Ways to Add Bullet Points on Etsy
1: Use Keyboard Symbols
This is the simplest way to add product bullet points to your Etsy description: just use characters from your keyboard.
Some of the most common symbols include:
- Hyphen (-)
- Plus (+)
- Asterisk (*)
- Greater than (>) or arrows (->)
These are universally readable and safe across all devices.
2: Use Emojis
Emojis are a fun and visual way to create bullet points, especially if your brand has a more playful or colourful vibe.
Here are a few bullet-style emojis that work well:
- ✅
- ➡️
- ✔️
You can find more options on Emojipedia.
3: Use Bullet Point Symbols from Online Generators
If you want something a bit more aesthetic, you can find cute symbols online to copy and paste into your description.
Some of my favourites:
- ✦
- ❤︎
- ★
Websites like EmojiDB have tons of options. Just copy your favourite symbol and use it consistently throughout your listing.
Standard symbols like • or → also do the trick.
Formatting your Etsy Description Like a Pro
Now that you know how to add bullet points, let’s talk about how to format your Etsy description overall. Bullet points are just one part of the puzzle. You need structure, spacing, and strategy to make your listing easy to read.
Step 1: Organise Your Description Using Headers
You can’t add real headers on Etsy, but you can fake it using capital letters or font generators.
Here’s a structure I always recommend:
- A short overview of the product
- Features and materials used
- Colour options
- Size chart
- How to order instructions
- What’s included with the purchase
- Shop policies
You can bold or stylise these headers using a free tool like LingoJam. Just paste your text, choose a style you like, and copy the result into your description.
This is one of my favourite Etsy hacks to make listings stand out.
Step 2: Use Bullet Points Under Each Header
Under each section header, use your bullet points to highlight the key details.
Some quick DON’Ts:
- Don’t write full paragraphs after every bullet point. Keep it short and scannable.
- Don’t mix and match bullet styles—it will look spammy.
- Don’t overdo it. 3–5 bullets per section is recommended.
Keep the style consistent throughout and use spacing to break things up. This helps with readability, especially for mobile users (and we know most Etsy shoppers are browsing on their phones!).
How to Add Paragraphs on Etsy Description
Adding space between sections is just as important as bullet points. To add a paragraph break, just hit Enter twice to create a clear line space.
This is super helpful for:
- Separating intro text from features
- Breaking down long explanations (like custom order instructions)
- Creating a clean visual layout
Again, your goal is to help the customer skim and absorb the most important info.
Tools to Help You Format & Write Better Etsy Descriptions
If you want to skip the trial and error and just get a shortcut, here are two tools I 100% recommend:
1: Etsy Setup Toolbox
This is for you if you are launching your Etsy shop or doing a revamp.
Inside, you will get:
- A complete Etsy setup guide
- Plug-and-play templates
- Done-for-you shop and product listing description template with bullet formatting
Just copy, paste, and personalise. No guesswork, no wasting time. It is all in one place and designed to help you launch faster and better. It is the shortcut I wish I had when I started.
2: Listadum
I have recently started using Listadum and it has been a game-changer.
Why?
- It uses AI to generate an Etsy listing description from your product info.
- It is great for SEO and helps your product get found more easily.
- You can get started for free and test all the features before upgrading.
I mainly use it to manage multiple shops, tweak for SEO, and draft faster. It is like having a copywriting assistant that never sleeps. If writing descriptions and SEO is your achilles heel, I highly recommend trying it out.
To wrap it up: Yes, Etsy might not offer rich formatting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have beautifully structured listings.
Now you know how to add bullet points in Etsy description, plus:
- How to fake headers and paragraph breaks
- The best bullet styles to use
- Tools to help you format, write, and optimise your Etsy shop description
This small tweak—just formatting your listings properly—can make a big difference in how buyers interact with your products.
So take the time to clean up your descriptions, try out a few styles, and if you want the easy route, grab the template and tools I use every day.
This post is all about how to add bullet points in Etsy description.
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