YAML Formatter

Paste YAML into the editor, format it instantly, and copy or download the cleaned output. This page is useful for config files, CI pipelines, deployment manifests, and structured text cleanup.

YAML input

Show line numbers

Formatted YAML

Show line numbers

name: veratools
features:
  - yaml formatter
  - json formatter
metadata:
  public: true
  version: 1

Paste content and format it instantly.

This formatter runs in your browser, so you can clean up code and copy the result without sending your text to a remote formatter service.

Format YAML Online

Format YAML online with consistent indentation so config files, deployment manifests, CI pipelines, and Kubernetes resources are easier to read, review, and commit. Paste messy or hand-edited YAML and the formatter normalises indentation, aligns keys, and returns clean output.

How to use YAML Formatter

Paste or type content into the yaml input panel.

Run the formatter to clean up spacing, indentation, and structure.

Copy or download the formatted result when it looks right.

Why this helps in real workflows

A Kubernetes manifest or Helm values file has inconsistent indentation after hand-editing and needs to be cleaned up before applying.

A GitHub Actions or GitLab CI pipeline definition is hard to read and needs consistent formatting before committing.

Copied YAML from documentation, a Stack Overflow answer, or a tool output has mixed spaces and needs normalising.

A YAML config file was edited by multiple people with different editors and the indentation is inconsistent across sections.

Common problems and fixes

The formatter returns an error on YAML that looks fine.

YAML is indentation-sensitive — mixing tabs and spaces is invalid. Check that the file uses only spaces (not tabs) for indentation. Also look for colons in unquoted string values, which YAML interprets as key separators.

Quoted string values are losing their quotes after formatting.

The YAML formatter normalises quoting to the minimal required form. If quotes are being removed from values that don't need them for syntax, that is correct behaviour. If a value requires quotes to preserve its type (e.g. a number-like string), the formatter will keep them.

Multiline strings are being reformatted in an unexpected way.

YAML has two multiline string styles: literal block (|) and folded (>). The formatter preserves these when they are correctly written. If the multiline string is not using a block scalar indicator, the formatter may collapse it. Add | or > to the key to make the intent explicit.

Related tools

Frequently asked questions

How do I format YAML?

Paste your YAML into the input box, run the formatter, and copy or download the formatted YAML output.

Does the YAML formatter validate syntax?

Yes. Invalid YAML is rejected and the page shows an error instead of malformed output.

Is this YAML formatter free?

Yes. It is free to use in your browser.

Does YAML allow tabs for indentation?

No. YAML requires spaces for indentation — tabs are not allowed and will cause a parse error. If your editor inserts tabs, convert them to spaces before formatting.

Will the formatter change the structure of my YAML?

No. Formatting only normalises whitespace and indentation. Keys, values, and the document structure are preserved.

Can I use this to format Kubernetes YAML files?

Yes. Kubernetes manifests are standard YAML. Paste the manifest, format it, and copy the cleaned output back into your file.

YAML Formatter 🔒 Runs in your browser. No input data is sent to our server.