Add Line Numbers to Text (or Remove Them)

Add line numbers

Number every line for code reviews, legal documents, scripts, transcripts or poetry workshops. Choose a format (1., 1), [1], 1: or Line 1:), the starting number, and zero-padding so numbers line up (001, 002 … 120). Blank lines can be skipped so they don’t take a number.

Remove line numbers

Pasted a numbered list or code listing and need the content only? Switch to Remove numbers. Leading numbers in common formats (1., 1), (1), 1:, [1], 1 -), bullets (-, •, ▪) and lettered items (a., b)) are removed from the start of each line, leaving the text untouched.

Renumbering a list

Lists edited by hand drift out of order (“1, 2, 4, 5” after deleting an item). Remove the numbers first, then add them again with the format you want; the two steps take seconds and work for hundreds of lines. Numbers inside a line, such as years or quantities, are never touched by removal: only a number at the very start followed by a separator counts as a list marker.

Worked example

Here is what the Add or Remove Line Numbers returns for its built-in example. Settings used: Mode: Add numbers; Format: 1. ; Zero-pad (001): off. Click Try an example in the tool above to load it, then change it as you like.

Input

First line
Second line

Fourth line

Output

1. First line
2. Second line
3. 
4. Fourth line

Related tools: Add Prefix & Suffix to Lines, Sort Lines.

Questions

How do I add line numbers to text?

Paste the text and choose a format. Every line is numbered; turn on zero-padding to keep numbers aligned.

How do I remove numbers from a list?

Choose “Remove numbers”. Leading numbers and bullets are stripped from every line.

Last reviewed 1 November 2026 · How Textkiln tools work