WhatsApp formatting codes
| Style | Type this | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | *text* | The one thing the reader must not miss: a price, a date, an order number |
| Italic | _text_ | Product names, gentle emphasis |
| Strikethrough | ~text~ | Old prices next to the sale price |
| Monospace | ```text``` | Codes, IDs and anything that must be copied exactly |
| Inline code | `text` | A coupon code inside a sentence |
| Bulleted list | * item or - item at the start of a line | Options, features, what is included |
| Numbered list | 1. item at the start of a line | Steps, or replies like "Reply 1 for…" |
| Quote | > text at the start of a line | Terms, deadlines, a line from the customer's message |
You can combine styles: *_text_* is bold italic. Markers only work when they hug the text, with no space between the symbol and the first or last letter. Source: WhatsApp Help Center, "How to format your messages".
Want a cursive name or bubble letters for your status? The WhatsApp font generator makes stylish Unicode text you can paste anywhere. Keep those characters out of business templates; the markers above are the template-safe way to format.
How to use the formatter
- Type or paste your message in the editor. The sample shows every format in a real festive offer.
- Select a word or line and press a toolbar button, or use Ctrl+B for bold and Ctrl+I for italic. List and quote buttons apply to every selected line.
- Check the preview and the character count, then press Copy text and paste the message into WhatsApp, your broadcast tool or a template.
- Remove formatting strips the markers when you need plain text, for example for an SMS fallback.
Formatting that helps customers read faster
- Bold one thing per message. When everything is bold, nothing stands out. In an order update, bold the delivery date; in an offer, bold the price.
- Use lists for choices. "Reply 1 for the catalogue, 2 for store timings" reads better as a numbered list, and customers reply with the number.
- Put codes in monospace. Coupon codes and order IDs in
```DIWALI10```are easier to read and copy without mistakes. - Keep paragraphs short. Two or three lines per block on a phone screen; use blank lines between blocks.
- Strikethrough only for real price changes. Showing a crossed-out price that was never charged misleads customers.
Using formatting in templates and broadcasts
The same markers work in the body of a message template, so you can format approved order updates and campaigns the same way. Paste your text into the template preview tool to add variables like {{1}}, buttons and a footer, and to check Meta's length limits before you submit. For ready examples by industry, browse the template library or read the message templates guide.