How to Double Space Between Bullets in Word

To double-space between bullets in Word, select the bullet-list paragraphs, then choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. This applies double line spacing to the selected bullet paragraphs. If you want extra space between bullets without doubling the spacing inside wrapped bullet text, adjust paragraph spacing instead. You can make either change to one list without altering the rest of the document.

Before you begin, decide whether you want every line in each bullet to be double-spaced or only a larger gap between separate bullet points. The settings are related but not identical, and choosing the right one keeps lists readable and avoids unexpected changes elsewhere.

What You’ll Need

A document open in Microsoft Word, ideally Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows.
A bulleted list that you can select. If you have not made one yet, type the list, select its items, and choose Home > Bullets.
A rough idea of the spacing you want. Use 2.0 line spacing for double-spaced bullet paragraphs, or use paragraph spacing after each item for a controlled gap between bullets.

You do not need to install an add-in or change a document-wide preference. If the file is shared or uses a template, it is still a good idea to check that the formatting applies only to the intended list.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and find the list. Scroll to the bullets you want to change. If the list is split across pages, that is fine; the formatting can still apply to the selected paragraphs. If you only want to change part of a longer list, identify the first and last bullet before selecting anything.
Select the bullet paragraphs. Click just before the text in the first bullet, then drag through the text of the last bullet. Include all the items you want to format. Word applies paragraph-level spacing to any bullet paragraph touched by the selection, even if you highlighted only part of its text. Avoid selecting unrelated paragraphs above or below the list. If the selection is difficult to see, release the mouse and check that the intended bullets are highlighted before continuing.
Open the line-spacing menu. On the Windows ribbon, select the Home tab. In the Paragraph group, choose Line and Paragraph Spacing. The button typically shows horizontal lines with vertical arrows. If Word’s window is narrow, the Paragraph controls may be compressed; widen the window or look for the spacing button within that group.
Choose 2.0. Select 2.0 from the menu. Word applies double line spacing to the selected paragraphs. The change usually appears immediately, so look at the list before clicking elsewhere. Wrapped lines in a long bullet will also be double-spaced, not just the gap before the next bullet. This is the straightforward choice when the whole list should have a double-spaced appearance.
Check the first, middle, and last bullets. Confirm the spacing is consistent throughout the selection and that the next paragraph or list remains unchanged. Look especially at bullets that wrap onto a second line: their continuation lines should have the same doubled line spacing. If the first item looks different, check whether it was included in your selection or has separate paragraph formatting.
Use the Paragraph dialog if you need more control. With the list still selected, open the Home tab and click the small diagonal arrow in the lower-right corner of the Paragraph group. In the Indents and Spacing tab, find Line spacing, choose Double, and select OK. This dialog is useful when you also need to inspect spacing before or after paragraphs. The menu and dialog set the same basic line-spacing property.
Save the document. Press Ctrl+S on Windows. On a Mac, press Command+S. If you are working in a shared file, check that the saved version retains the spacing. For Word for the web, use the Home tab’s line-and-paragraph-spacing control; the available controls and their placement can differ slightly from the desktop app.

To add only a gap between bullet items: select the list and open the Paragraph dialog as described above. Under Spacing, enter a value in After, such as 6 pt or 12 pt, then select OK. This adds space after each selected paragraph while leaving the line spacing within a wrapped bullet alone. A 12 pt after-space is a useful starting point for a list in 12 pt type, but it is not the same setting as double line spacing. Adjust the value to suit the font and page layout.

Common Mistakes

Changing the whole document by accident. Pressing Ctrl+A before choosing 2.0 selects the entire document, not just the list. Select the bullet paragraphs first, and verify the highlighted area before changing the spacing. If the whole document changes, use Undo immediately, then make a narrower selection.
Confusing line spacing with space after a paragraph. Double line spacing affects the distance between lines within every bullet paragraph, including wrapped lines. The After value adds a separate gap after each paragraph. If you want only larger gaps between bullets, use After spacing rather than 2.0.
Adding blank bullet items to create room. Pressing Enter twice can create an empty bullet or split the list in an awkward way. Empty list items may show an unwanted bullet, affect numbering, or behave differently when you edit the text. Use paragraph spacing to create a clean, adjustable gap.
Assuming the font size controls the spacing setting. A 12 pt font does not automatically make a paragraph double-spaced. Choose 2.0 explicitly. Conversely, 12 pt of space after a paragraph is a fixed additional gap, not a guarantee that the paragraph is double-spaced.
Formatting only the words and overlooking an item. A partial text selection generally changes the paragraph formatting of the bullet it touches, but a missed first or last item stays as it was. Check the selection and review the list from end to end.

Tips

Choose spacing for the way the list reads. Double spacing can make a short checklist easier to annotate, but it can take up substantial room in a long list. If the bullets contain several lines each, test the setting on the full list and check how many pages it uses.
Use a small after-space for compact lists. If single-spaced text is easy to read but bullets seem crowded, try 3 pt or 6 pt in the Paragraph dialog’s After box. These values add visible separation without making every wrapped line double-spaced. You can revise the value if the list feels too loose.
Keep list items as separate paragraphs. Each bullet should normally be its own paragraph. Pressing Enter at the end of a bullet creates another list item. If you want a new line within the same bullet without starting another bullet, use Shift+Enter on Windows. This can matter because paragraph spacing is applied between paragraphs, not between manual line breaks in the same paragraph.
Use the dialog to check hidden spacing. If a list looks uneven, compare both Line spacing and Before/After values. Existing space before or after a paragraph can make a 2.0 list look even more open. Removing unintended extra spacing may be better than reducing the line spacing.
Apply formatting consistently. For a one-off list, direct formatting is usually fine. If you need the same spacing in many lists, consider modifying the list or paragraph style used by those bullets. Style changes can affect other paragraphs that share the style, so check what else is selected before changing one.

Troubleshooting

The bullets did not change. Re-select the list and confirm that the text is actually a bulleted list or a set of paragraphs. Click Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0 again. If you used the Paragraph dialog, confirm that Line spacing says Double, then select OK. Some documents contain individual paragraphs with different formatting, so make sure the selection includes every item.

Only some bullets have the new spacing. The selection probably missed one or more paragraphs, or the list may contain separate sections. Select the remaining bullets and apply the setting again. If a bullet wraps onto another line, remember that the continuation line belongs to the same paragraph; it is not a separate bullet that needs independent formatting.

The gaps look too large. Open the Paragraph dialog and inspect both line spacing and paragraph spacing. If line spacing is set to Double and the After box also contains a large value, the effects are combined. To keep double-spaced lines but reduce the gaps between bullets, lower the After value. To keep the text compact and add only a modest gap, change line spacing to Single and use a smaller After value instead.

There is still a gap after you set After to zero. Check the Before value and verify that the relevant list paragraphs are selected. In the Paragraph dialog, inspect any option labeled Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style, if it appears. That option can affect how paragraph spacing is displayed for paragraphs sharing a style. If a document uses a custom list style, its formatting may also be contributing; applying the intended setting directly to the selected paragraphs can help identify the source.

The spacing changes again when you add a bullet. New items can inherit formatting from the previous paragraph or from the list’s style. After pressing Enter to create a new bullet, check whether it inherited the desired spacing. If you need the same layout throughout a recurring document, update the relevant style or list formatting rather than repeatedly correcting each new item. For a quick fix, select the new item and apply the same spacing setting.

The ribbon looks different on a Mac. In Word for Mac, select the list and use the Home tab’s Line and Paragraph Spacing control to choose 2.0. You can also open Format > Paragraph to adjust line spacing and spacing before or after. The names and layout can vary with the Word version, but the settings have the same purpose. If a command is not visible, use the Paragraph dialog rather than changing the document’s overall defaults.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 2.0 spacing put a blank line between every bullet?
Not exactly. It doubles the line spacing in each bullet paragraph, including wrapped lines. The result often looks like more space between bullets, but it is not the same as inserting blank paragraphs. Use the After setting when you want to control the gap between items separately.

How do I double-space only one bullet list?
Select the paragraphs in that list, then choose Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0. Do not select the whole document. Formatting the selected paragraphs leaves other lists and regular text alone.

Can I make the space between bullets exactly 12 pt?
Yes. Select the list, open the Paragraph dialog, and set After to 12 pt. That adds 12 pt after each bullet paragraph. It does not set double line spacing, so wrapped lines within a bullet keep their existing line spacing.

Will this affect wrapped lines in a bullet?
Yes, if you choose 2.0. The setting applies to the whole paragraph, so every line in a wrapped bullet is double-spaced. If you only want more separation between bullets, keep the line spacing as it is and add space after each paragraph.

Can I undo the change?
Yes. Press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac soon after applying it. You can also select the same paragraphs and choose a different spacing value. Undo is most reliable before you make many unrelated edits.

Will the bullets keep their spacing if I copy them?
Usually, Word carries paragraph formatting when you copy and paste a list within a document. When pasting elsewhere, the destination’s styles or paste options may change the appearance. Review the pasted list and reapply 2.0 or the desired After value if needed.

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