YAML Formatter

Clean up and re-indent YAML with consistent formatting.


    

  

  

    
    
    
  

  


    

    

      
ToolsSoup's YAML Formatter is a free online tool that cleans up and re-indents YAML right in your browser. Paste messy or inconsistently indented YAML and get back a tidy, consistently formatted version with two-space indentation. Invalid YAML is caught instantly — no uploads, no sign-up, and nothing leaves your device.

      

        
What is a YAML formatter?

        
A YAML formatter — also called a YAML beautifier — re-indents and tidies YAML so it is consistent and easy to read. It parses your document and re-emits it with clean two-space indentation, normalized spacing around colons, and quotes added only where a value would otherwise be ambiguous. It is handy for cleaning up config files for Docker Compose, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, and Ansible.

        
      

      

        
How to format YAML online

        
Formatting YAML with ToolsSoup takes just a few seconds:

        
  1. Paste your YAML into the input box on the left.
  2. Click Format to re-indent and tidy it.
  3. Copy the formatted YAML, or fix any error shown below.

      

      

        
What does formatting change?

        
Formatting normalizes the look of your YAML without changing its meaning: indentation becomes a consistent two spaces, extra spaces around colons are removed, and values that could be misread — like a number stored as text or a word that looks like a boolean — are quoted. The underlying data stays exactly the same.

        
      

      

        
Why use this YAML formatter?

        
  • 100% free with no ads, sign-up, or usage limits.
  • Runs entirely in your browser — your data is never uploaded to a server.
  • Re-indents YAML with consistent two-space indentation.
  • Catches invalid YAML and indentation mistakes.
  • Quotes only the values that need it.

      

      

        
Frequently asked questions

        

          
Is this YAML formatter free?

          
Yes. Every tool on ToolsSoup is completely free to use, with no account, sign-up, or hidden limits.

        

        

          
Is my YAML data safe?

          
Absolutely. All formatting happens locally in your browser using JavaScript, so your YAML is never sent to or stored on any server.

        

        

          
Why am I getting an 'Invalid YAML' error?

          
The most common cause is using tabs for indentation — YAML requires spaces. Other causes are inconsistent indentation or a missing colon after a key. Fix the issue and try again.

        

        

          
Does formatting change my data?

          
No. Formatting only adjusts indentation, spacing, and quoting. Your keys, values, and structure stay exactly the same.

        

        

          
Which YAML features are supported?

          
The formatter handles the common block style — mappings, sequences, nested structures, and inline flow collections like [a, b] — which covers almost all configuration files.