Markdown Formatter
Clean up messy Markdown in one click — normalizes indentation, list spacing, and structure so your docs look consistent and professional.
Input Markdown
Formatted Markdown
Markdown Formatting Examples
Minified or messy Markdown is hard to read; formatting adds indentation and line breaks. Example:
API documentation
Minified input:
Formatted output:
Click Sample above to load more example data.
What Is a Markdown Formatter?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language for writing docs, READMEs, and web content — originally created by John Gruber. Inconsistent spacing, mixed line breaks, or messy lists make Markdown hard to read. A Markdown formatter normalizes indentation, list spacing, and structure so your document is clean and consistent. The CommonMark spec and CommonMark define the standard syntax. For prose-wrap options in CI/CD pipelines, see Prettier prose-wrap.
This tool parses your Markdown and reformats it. Headings, lists and tables are tidied by script on this page, so a draft README or internal doc never gets uploaded. For converting to HTML, use Markdown to HTML. For validation, use the Markdown Validator.
How to Use This Tool
Paste or Upload
Copy your Markdown and paste it into the left editor. You can also click Upload to load a .md or .markdown file. The Sample button loads example data.
Check the Output
Tidied Markdown appears on the right, with headings, lists, code blocks and links brought into one consistent style. Invalid or ambiguous syntax may be preserved as-is.
Copy or Download
Use Copy or Download. For live preview, use the Markdown Editor. For a table of contents, use the Markdown TOC Generator.
When Markdown Formatting Helps
When editing READMEs on GitHub, documentation on GitHub Docs, or content from multiple authors, formatting normalizes style. Inconsistent list indentation or mixed heading styles make documents harder to maintain. Running Markdown through here gives you a clean baseline. See Markdown basic syntax for reference.
Content from CMS exports, copied-from-web text, or AI-generated Markdown often has messy spacing. Formatting it here improves readability before committing or publishing. For syntax reference, use the Markdown Cheat Sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Markdown stay private?
Yes. The Markdown is reformatted inside this tab and is not transmitted to us or anyone else.
Does it support GitHub Flavored Markdown?
The formatter handles common Markdown. GFM extensions (tables, strikethrough, task lists) are typically preserved. For full GFM, check the output.
What about code blocks?
Fenced code blocks (triple backticks) and indented code blocks are preserved. Language identifiers are kept. Formatting focuses on structure, not code content.
Can I convert to HTML?
Yes. Use Markdown to HTML to convert the formatted output. The HTML will reflect the cleaned structure.
Does it change the meaning?
Formatting aims to preserve semantics. Whitespace and structure are normalized. Edge cases (e.g. ambiguous lists) may render differently—preview before publishing.
Related Tools
Learn more: CommonMark, CommonMark spec, GitHub Flavored Markdown, Markdown Guide, GitHub, W3C HTML, GitHub Docs.