APA Title Page: Format, Rules, and Examples (7th Edition)
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0 sourcesAPA Citation Title Page is the first page of an APA 7th-edition paper. It centers the bold title three to four lines down, then lists the author, affiliation, and—for students—the course, instructor, and due date, all double-spaced.
What is an APA title page?
An APA title page is the standalone cover page that opens a paper formatted in APA 7th-edition style. It identifies the paper’s title, author, and affiliation on the upper half of page one. APA defines two versions: a student title page and a professional title page.
Students use the student version unless an instructor requests otherwise. Professionals submitting to journals or conferences use the professional version, which adds a running head and an author note. Both share the same core: a bold, centered title placed near the top.
What must an APA title page include?
A student APA title page includes six stacked elements: the paper title, author name, author affiliation, course number and name, instructor name, and the assignment due date. A page number sits in the top-right header. Everything is centered and double-spaced.
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Working Memory
Maria J. Delgado
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
PSY 210: Cognitive Psychology · Dr. Alan Whitfield · October 18, 2026
- Title — bold, centered, Title Case, 3–4 lines from the top
- Author — full name, one blank double-spaced line below the title
- Affiliation — department and institution, comma-separated
- Course, instructor & date — each on its own line (student version only)
- Page number — flush right in the header, starting at 1
How do you format a student APA title page?
Position the bold title three to four lines down from the top margin, centered in the upper half of the page. Add one blank double-spaced line, then stack the author name, affiliation, course, instructor, and due date—each on its own centered line, all double-spaced.
Do not bold, italicize, or underline anything except the title itself. Write the title in Title Case (capitalize major words), keep it to a focused phrase, and avoid abbreviations. Spell out the due date in month–day–year form.
TitleThe Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Working Memory
AuthorMaria J. Delgado
AffiliationDepartment of Psychology, University of Toronto
CoursePSY 210: Cognitive Psychology
InstructorDr. Alan Whitfield
Due dateOctober 18, 2026
How is a professional APA title page different?
A professional title page keeps the bold centered title, author name, and affiliation, but replaces the course block with an author note in the lower half. It also adds a running head—a shortened title in all capitals, flush left in the header—alongside the page number.
The running head must be 50 characters or fewer, including spaces and punctuation. In APA 7, the label “Running head:” was removed; the header now shows only the shortened title. Multiple authors are listed with their affiliations, and superscript numerals link authors to institutions when they differ.
| Element | Student paper | Professional paper |
|---|---|---|
| Running head | No | Yes (all caps, ≤50 characters) |
| Page number | Yes (top right) | Yes (top right) |
| Course & instructor | Yes | No |
| Due date | Yes | No |
| Author note | No | Yes (bottom half) |
What fonts, margins, and spacing does APA require?
APA 7 accepts several fonts and requires one-inch margins on all sides with double spacing throughout. There is no extra blank space between elements beyond the standard double line. The page number appears in the header on every page, beginning with 1 on the title page.
| Setting | APA 7th-edition rule |
|---|---|
| Margins | 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all four sides |
| Spacing | Double-spaced, no extra space between lines |
| Alignment | Title and all title-page text centered |
| Title placement | 3–4 lines down, upper half of the page |
| Approved fonts | Times New Roman 12, Calibri 11, Arial 11, Georgia 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10 |
| Title style | Bold, Title Case, no period |
Choose one font and use it consistently across the whole paper, not just the title page. The title should never end with a period, and it should not be placed inside quotation marks unless it quotes another work.
How accurate is this guide, and what are its limits?
These rules reflect the APA 7th edition, published in 2020 and current through 2026. The guidance covers standard student and professional cover pages. It cannot anticipate every instructor’s local override, and departments sometimes require additions such as a student ID or word count.
Always follow your instructor or journal’s specific instructions when they conflict with the default APA layout. APA also permits minor variation in author-note content and multi-author affiliations. When in doubt, match the official manual’s sample papers, and verify the exact due-date wording your course expects.
Frequently asked questions
Does an APA title page need a running head?
No, student papers do not use a running head in APA 7. Only professional papers include one—a shortened title in all capitals, 50 characters or fewer, placed flush left in the header opposite the page number.
Where does the title go on an APA title page?
Place the title three to four lines down from the top margin, centered and bold in the upper half of the page. Leave one blank double-spaced line beneath it before the author’s name.
Is the APA title page double-spaced?
Yes, the entire title page is double-spaced, like the rest of the paper. Do not add extra blank lines between the author, affiliation, course, and date beyond the standard double spacing.
Does the title page count as page 1?
Yes, the APA title page is page 1. The page number appears flush right in the header on the title page and continues sequentially through the whole document.
What font should an APA title page use?
APA 7 accepts Times New Roman 12-point, Calibri 11-point, Arial 11-point, Georgia 11-point, or Lucida Sans Unicode 10-point. Pick one and use it consistently throughout the paper, including the title page.
Should the APA title be bold?
Yes, in APA 7 the paper title is bold and written in Title Case. No other element on the title page is bolded, italicized, or underlined.