WhatsApp formatting, at a glance
These are the marks WhatsApp documents in its help page on formatting messages. Type them around a word, or use the buttons above.
| Style | Type this | Shows as |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | *text* | text |
| Italic | _text_ | text |
| Strikethrough | ~text~ | |
| Monospace | ```text``` | text |
| Inline code | `text` | text |
| Bulleted list | * text or - text at the start of a line | • text |
| Numbered list | 1. text at the start of a line | 1. text |
| Quote | > text at the start of a line | An indented quote |
Rules that trip people up
- The mark must touch the words: *bold* works, * bold * does not.
- Marks inside a word are left alone, so 2*3*4 stays as it is.
- Styles can be combined: *_bold italic_* is both.
- List and quote marks need a space after them, at the very start of the line.
- On a phone you can also select text and choose a style from the menu.
Formatting that helps customers read
- Bold the one thing they must not miss: the price, the date, the order number.
- Use a list for options or sizes, one per line.
- Cross out the old price next to the new one for a sale.
- Keep it short: a message that needs scrolling on a phone is a message that gets skimmed.
- Do not bold whole paragraphs; when everything stands out, nothing does.
Formatting in templates and broadcasts
Message templates use the same marks, and the template body can hold up to 1,024 characters. Write and preview it here, then paste it into your template; see Create a WhatsApp message template and WhatsApp broadcasts and templates.
Sources
- WhatsApp Help Center: How to format your messages (checked 2026-10-15)
Send formatted messages to every customer
In Karobar, WhatsApp chats from all your numbers sit in one inbox, and approved templates and broadcasts keep your formatting. See WhatsApp marketing.