How to Indent in Markdown

Indent a Paragraph

Spaces at the start of a paragraph do not indent it. CommonMark strips up to 3 of them, and 4 or more start a code block. For a visual indent, type an HTML entity at the start of the line. The parser turns it into a real non-breaking or em-width space, which is not stripped and not collapsed.

    This first line is indented with four non-breaking spaces.

 This one starts with a single em space.

   Three leading spaces are dropped.

    Four leading spaces make a code block.

Four leading spaces make a code block.

A normal paragraph.

> A whole block set in from the margin.
> Markdown treats it as a quotation.

Indent a Bullet List

A nested item belongs to the item above it when its marker sits at or past the start of the parent's text. Under - that is 2 spaces. Up to 3 more still nest, so 4 spaces works too, which is what Python-Markdown (MkDocs) requires.

- Fruits
  - Apple
  - Banana
- Vegetables
  - Carrot

Indent a Numbered List

A number marker is wider, so the child moves over with it: 3 spaces under 1. , 4 under 10. . The full nesting rules are in the nested lists guide.

1. Phase one
   1. Task A
   2. Task B
2. Phase two
   - Task C

Indent Content Inside a List Item

A second paragraph, a code block, or an image belongs to a list item when it is indented to the item's text. Leave a blank line before it.

- First paragraph of this item.

  Second paragraph, indented 2 spaces
  so it stays inside the same item.

- Second item

1. Item one.

   Continuation paragraph under item one.
   Three spaces, the width of "1. ", keep it inside.

2. Item two.

- Run this command:

      npm install

- Then start the server.

When Indentation Becomes a Code Block

Four or more spaces at the start of a new block make an indented code block. It cannot interrupt a paragraph, so a 4-space line directly under paragraph text just continues the paragraph; after a blank line, it is code. Fenced blocks with three backticks are clearer and allow a language hint.

A normal paragraph.

    function hello() {
      return "indented code block"
    }

Another normal paragraph.

function hello() {
  return "indented code block"
}

Tabs vs Spaces

CommonMark does not swap tabs for a fixed number of spaces. Where indentation matters, a tab moves to the next tab stop, and tab stops are every 4 columns. In practice:

• A tab at the start of a line counts as 4 spaces, so a line that starts with a tab after a blank line is a code block.
• A tab before a nested - reaches column 4, which nests under both - and 1. parents.
• Editors disagree about what the Tab key inserts. Obsidian's Tab indents the selected list items; other editors insert a tab or a configured number of spaces. Spaces render the same everywhere.

Indent with Blockquotes

Each > sets text in one more level. The space between the > characters is optional. More on line breaks, attribution, and callouts in the blockquote guide.

> Outer quote
> > Inner quote
> > > Deepest quote

Common Mistakes

Indentation goes wrong in three ways: too little, too much, or in the wrong place for a paragraph.

- Parent
 - Child

- Parent
  - Child

1. Parent
  - Child

1. Parent
   - Child

- Parent
      - Child

- Parent
  - Child

Some text.

    I wanted an indent, not code.

Some text.

 I wanted an indent, not code.

- Item one.

Continuation of item one.

- Item one.

  Continuation of item one.

Quick Reference

Platform Support

Document renderers follow CommonMark. Python-Markdown and the chat apps are where the numbers change.

Frequently Asked Questions