How to use tick / checkmark symbol (✓) instead of bullets in unordered list?

<ul>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
</ul>

you can use this simple css style

ul {
     list-style-type: '\2713';
   }

As an addition to the solution:

ul li:before {
 content: '✓'; 
}

You can use any SVG icon as the content, such as the Font Aswesome.

enter image description here

ul {
  list-style: none;
  padding-left: 0;
}
li {
  position: relative;
  padding-left: 1.5em;  /* space to preserve indentation on wrap */
}
li:before {
  content: '';  /* placeholder for the SVG */
  position: absolute;
  left: 0;  /* place the SVG at the start of the padding */
  width: 1em;
  height: 1em;
  background: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?><svg width='18' height='18' viewBox='0 0 1792 1792' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'><path d='M1671 566q0 40-28 68l-724 724-136 136q-28 28-68 28t-68-28l-136-136-362-362q-28-28-28-68t28-68l136-136q28-28 68-28t68 28l294 295 656-657q28-28 68-28t68 28l136 136q28 28 28 68z'/></svg>") no-repeat;
}
<ul>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>This is my text, it's pretty long so it needs to wrap. Note that wrapping preserves the indentation that bullets had!</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
</ul>

Note: To solve the wrapping problem that other answers had:

  • we reserve 1.5m ems of space at the left of each <li>
  • then position the SVG at the start of that space (position: absolute; left: 0)

Here are more Font Awesome black icons.

Check this CODEPEN to see how you can add colors and change their size.


Here are three different checkmark styles you can use:

ul:first-child  li:before { content:"\2713\0020"; }  /* OR */
ul:nth-child(2) li:before { content:"\2714\0020"; }  /* OR */
ul:last-child   li:before { content:"\2611\0020"; }
ul { list-style-type: none; }
<ul>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
</ul>

<ul>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
</ul>

<ul><!-- not working on Stack snippet; check fiddle demo -->
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
</ul>

jsFiddle

References:

  • What is the effect of content: "\0020"; property?
  • http://nealchester.com/special-characters/#checkmarks

You can use a pseudo-element to insert that character before each list item:

ul {
  list-style: none;
}

ul li:before {
  content: '✓';
}
<ul>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
  <li>this is my text</li>
</ul>