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How to Add a Block Quote in Confluence (3 Methods Compared)

· 5 min read
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A block quote sets a passage apart from the surrounding text — usually indented with a left border — to indicate that the words are quoted from another source. Confluence does not have a dedicated "quote block" button, but there are three reliable ways to create one. This guide walks through each and helps you pick the right one.

What you'll learn
  1. The native method (toolbar Indent) — no app required
  2. The Markdown method (> syntax) — fastest for keyboard users
  3. The macro method (Content Formatting) — most styling control
  4. How to nest quotes and add attribution

Quick comparison​

MethodApp neededStylingBest for
Native IndentNoneIndent + left borderQuick, one-off quotes
Markdown >Enhanced MarkdownStyled blockquoteDevelopers, keyboard-first writing
Quote macroContent Formatting MacrosColors, borders, calloutsBranded docs, emphasis

Method 1: Native Confluence indent (no app)​

This is the default way to create a quote-like block with the built-in editor.

Steps​

  1. Open your Confluence page and click Edit.
  2. Type or paste the text you want to quote.
  3. Select the paragraph.
  4. Click the Indent button in the toolbar (it looks like →|), or press Tab.

The text shifts right and Confluence draws a light left border, giving it a quote appearance.

Pros and cons​

  • ✅ No installation required — works in every Confluence Cloud instance
  • ✅ Fast for a single short quote
  • ❌ Limited styling — no color, custom border, or background control
  • ❌ No built-in attribution field; you add the source manually
  • ❌ Pressing Tab once indents only one level

Method 2: Markdown blockquote syntax (Enhanced Markdown)​

If you write in Markdown — or paste content from GitHub, a README, or another wiki — the blockquote is a single character.

Steps​

  1. Install Enhanced Markdown for Confluence (free for up to 10 users).
  2. On your page, type /enhanced markdown and insert the macro.
  3. Type a greater-than sign and a space before the line:
> This is a block quote. It renders indented with a left border.

>> This is a nested block quote — two greater-than signs.

> This is a quote with attribution.
> — Jane Doe, *Engineering Handbook*
  1. Click Publish. The blockquotes render as styled quote blocks.

Why developers prefer this​

  • Keyboard-first — no mouse or toolbar needed
  • Portable — the same > syntax works in GitHub, Slack, and every Markdown renderer
  • Nesting is trivial — >> for level two, >>> for level three
  • Mixes with other Markdown — bold, italic, and links work inside the quote

See the full syntax reference in the Confluence Markdown editor FAQ.

Method 3: Quote macro (Content Formatting Macros)​

For styled quotes — colored backgrounds, custom borders, icons — the Content Formatting Macros app includes a dedicated quote/callout macro.

Steps​

  1. Install Content Formatting Macros — Page Builder for Confluence.
  2. On your page, type /quote (or /callout) and select the macro.
  3. Paste your quoted text into the macro body.
  4. Configure the macro: choose a background color, border style, and optional icon.
  5. Add attribution in the optional attribution field.
  6. Publish the page.

Best for​

  • Customer testimonials with branded styling
  • Important warnings or pull quotes in documentation
  • Pages where the quote needs to stand out visually

How to nest blockquotes​

Nesting shows that a quote itself contains a quoted passage.

> Outer quote begins here.
>
>> This is the nested inner quote.
>
> Outer quote continues.

How to add attribution​

A good block quote names its source. The common pattern:

> "Simplicity is the soul of efficiency."
> — Austin Freeman, *The Complete adventures of Dr. Thorndyke*

For customer testimonials, the Content Formatting macro includes a dedicated attribution field so the source renders in smaller text beneath the quote.

Which method should you use?​

  • You just need one quick quote and have no apps installed → Method 1 (native indent).
  • You write in Markdown or paste from GitHub/READMEs → Method 2 (Enhanced Markdown > syntax).
  • You need branded colors, borders, or a testimonial block → Method 3 (Content Formatting macro).

More formatting guides​

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