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Every bullet journal runs on a handful of symbols. A dot means a task, a circle means an event, a dash means a note. The key is the small page or card that lists them, so you (and anyone who borrows your notebook) can read the shorthand.
*A bullet journal key is a list of the symbols you use and what each one means. The standard key has six bullets (task •, done ×, migrated >, scheduled <, event ○, note –) and two signifiers (priority , inspiration !). Keep it short, add only symbols you’ll use every week, and put it at the front of your notebook or on a card you can move.
Build your key
Start from a set, switch symbols on or off, add your own.
The card prints at index-card size to tape or copy into your notebook. Nothing you type is stored or sent.
Quick takeaways
- The method starts with six bullets and a few signifiers. That’s enough for a first month.
- Add a symbol only when you notice you keep needing it. Each one should be quick to draw in a single stroke.
- Put the key near the front, after the index, or on a loose card or bookmark that moves with you.
- Avoid symbols that look alike when scribbled fast, like o and 0, or / and l.
- Review your key when you start a new notebook. Drop what you stopped using.
What is a bullet journal key?
A bullet journal key is a legend for your rapid log. It lists each symbol, called a bullet or signifier, next to what it means. It’s usually a single page near the front of the notebook, though many people keep it on a bookmark or card instead.
Bullet journaling uses short lines instead of sentences, a style its creator Ryder Carroll calls rapid logging. Each line starts with a symbol that says what kind of entry it is. The how to bullet journal guide walks through the whole method; this page is just about the symbols and how to organize them.
You need a key most in the first few weeks, while the symbols are new. After that it’s mainly a reference for the extras you only use now and then.
What are the standard bullet journal symbols?
The official method uses six bullets: a dot for a task, an X for a completed task, a right arrow for a migrated task, a left arrow for a scheduled task, a circle for an event and a dash for a note. Signifiers go in front of a bullet: an asterisk for priority, an exclamation mark for inspiration.
These come from Bullet Journal’s own rapid logging page:
| Symbol | Meaning | How you use it |
|---|---|---|
| • | Task | Anything you need to do |
| × | Task done | Draw the X over the dot |
| > | Task migrated | Moved forward to next month or a collection |
| < | Task scheduled | Moved back to the future log for a later month |
| ○ | Event | Something with a date: a dentist visit, a birthday |
| – | Note | Facts, ideas and things to remember |
| * | Priority | In front of a task that comes first |
| ! | Inspiration | A good idea or line you want to find again |
The same page adds an eye symbol for things to explore or research later, and encourages you to adapt the system: choose symbols that are, in its words, “easy for you to recognize.”
What symbols can you add to your key?
Add a symbol when you catch yourself writing the same words over and over, like “waiting for” or “call”. Good additions are quick to draw, clearly different from your other symbols and used at least weekly. Common ones mark a task in progress, a cancelled task, waiting on someone, birthdays and money.
| Symbol | Common meaning | Why people add it |
|---|---|---|
| / | Task started | Half an X. Cross the other way when it’s done |
| Struck through | Cancelled | Shows you decided, rather than forgot |
| ? | Waiting on someone | Stops the task nagging you while it’s out of your hands |
| ♡ | Birthday or anniversary | Easy to spot in a monthly log |
| $ | Money | Bills to pay, money to claim back |
| @ | Appointment | A time-specific event, if circles aren’t enough |
| ✓ | Habit done | For people who log habits in the daily log |
Three rules keep a key useful:
- One stroke if possible. You’ll draw each symbol hundreds of times.
- No lookalikes. A symbol that looks like another one when rushed will confuse you in three months.
- Earn its place. If you haven’t used a symbol in a month, remove it from the key.
Where does the key go in a bullet journal?
Put the key on the page after your index, before the future log, so it’s the first thing you see when you open the notebook. If you switch notebooks often, keep the key on a card or bookmark instead, so you don’t redraw it every time.
Setup pages usually run in this order: index, key, future log, then the first monthly log. The bullet journal page ideas guide has a planner that lays out that order and the rest of a new notebook.
Other places that work:
- Inside the front cover. Always visible, and it doesn’t use a numbered page.
- A bookmark card. Tuck it into today’s page. The builder above prints at index-card size for this.
- A fold-out flap. Tape a strip of paper to the back cover so it folds out beside any page.
- The bottom of your future log. A single line of symbols, if you only use the basic six.
Should your key use colors?
Color is optional. If you use it, keep it to one meaning per color, like green for work or red for deadlines, and make sure the symbol still works in plain black. Your key should never depend on having the right pen with you.
A simple test: write your key in pencil for the first two weeks. If you find yourself wanting a color to tell two things apart, that’s when to add one.
How do you change your key later?
Update the key whenever you add or drop a symbol, and start fresh with each new notebook. Cross out retired symbols rather than erasing them, so older pages still make sense when you look back.
The key should shrink as often as it grows. For other ways to plan beyond the bullet journal, the planning and habits hub compares printed planners, habit trackers and digital journals.
Bullet journal key questions
Do you need a key in a bullet journal?
Not strictly. If you only use the basic dot, circle and dash, you’ll remember them within a week. A key helps most when you add your own symbols or share the notebook with someone.
What does a circle mean in a bullet journal?
An event: something tied to a date, like an appointment or a birthday. You can fill the circle in once the event has happened, so past events stand out.
What does an arrow mean in a bullet journal?
A right arrow (>) means the task was migrated, moved forward to next month’s log or into a collection. A left arrow (<) means it was scheduled, moved back to the future log for a specific later month.
How many symbols should a bullet journal key have?
Five to ten is a workable range. The six standard bullets cover the basics. Beyond ten symbols, the key becomes something you have to look up, which defeats the point of a shorthand.
Can I use my own symbols?
Yes. Bullet Journal’s own guidance encourages you to change the symbols to suit you. Just keep them consistent within a notebook.
Otis Fenn
Otis covers planning methods, notebooks, pens and apps, so you don't buy three of each. Otis is a pen name Mike writes under. About our writers