Markdown Checklist / Task List Generator

Build a GitHub-flavored Markdown checklist — add, reorder, and check off items — and get correctly-formatted - [ ] / - [x] task list syntax instantly. Free, no signup.

Add an item above to start building your checklist.

Preview

Markdown Checklist / Task List Generator

Build a GitHub-flavored Markdown task list with checkboxes — add items, reorder them, mark some as done, and get correctly-formatted - [ ] / - [x] syntax back instantly. No signup, nothing uploaded, everything runs in your browser.

The GFM task list syntax

GitHub Flavored Markdown extends the plain bullet-list syntax with an optional checkbox at the start of each item: 

- [ ] Not done yet
- [x] Done
- [ ] Also not done

The rules are strict about whitespace: a single space between the brackets for unchecked ([ ]), a lowercase x for checked ([x]), and exactly one space after the closing bracket before the item text. Get any of that wrong and most renderers fall back to showing the literal brackets as plain text instead of a checkbox. This tool always generates it correctly.

Flat lists only — a deliberate scope decision

This tool intentionally builds a single flat list, with no nested sub-items. Real task-list nesting (indented sub-checkboxes under a parent item) is supported by GFM, but building a reorderable, indentable tree in a plain add/remove/reorder UI adds real interface complexity — drag targets, indent/outdent controls, nested keyboard navigation — that isn't core to what most people actually need from a checklist generator: a fast way to turn a list of tasks into correctly-formatted Markdown. If you need nested items, add the indentation by hand in the output textarea, or write them directly in the Markdown Editor.

Renderer support varies — be aware

GitHub and GitLab render task list checkboxes as real, clickable form controls for anyone with edit access to the file — checking one actually edits the underlying Markdown (toggles [ ] to [x]) and, on GitHub, updates any linked issue-tracking progress bar. Most other renderers (Jekyll/kramdown static sites, many blog and docs platforms, this very page's preview above) render the checkbox as a plain, non-interactive disabled control — visually a checkbox, but clicking it does nothing. Some strict CommonMark-only renderers don't support task lists at all and will show the literal [ ]/[x] text instead of a checkbox. If interactivity matters for your use case, confirm your target platform actually supports it before relying on it.

Common use cases

  • README files — a project roadmap or setup checklist readers can track progress against on GitHub
  • Project trackers — a lightweight to-do list in a plain Markdown file or wiki page
  • Issue and PR templates — a checklist reviewers or contributors need to complete before merging
  • Meeting notes / action items — capture follow-ups as a checklist directly in the notes
  • Release checklists — the steps to run through before shipping, in a repo file everyone can see and update

For more on task list syntax and where it does and doesn't work, see our companion guide: Markdown Task Lists and Checkboxes: The Complete Guide.

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