You've finished your paper — or at least, you think you have. Then you remember: the title page. It seems like it should be the easy part, but APA format has specific rules that catch a lot of students off guard. Font size, running heads, author notes, word counts — one missed detail and your professor marks you down before even reading a single argument.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about title page APA format, including what to include, how to lay it out, and real examples you can use as a reference. Whether you're writing a class assignment or submitting a paper for publication, you'll know exactly what to do by the end.
What Is a Title Page in APA Format?
A title page is the very first page of your APA-formatted paper. It introduces your work and provides key identifying information before the reader reaches your actual content. The American Psychological Association (APA) — now in its 7th edition — has clear specifications for what this page should look like.
Importantly, APA 7th edition distinguishes between two types of title pages:
- Student title pages — used for course papers, essays, and assignments
- Professional title pages — used for manuscripts being submitted for publication or peer review
The two formats are similar but have a few key differences, which we'll cover below. If your instructor hasn't specified which version to use, ask — or default to the student format.
What to Include on an APA Title Page
Student Title Page Elements
For a student paper, your title page should include the following elements, in this order, centered on the page:
- Paper title — bold, title case, positioned in the upper half of the page
- Author name(s) — your first name, middle initial (if applicable), and last name; no titles like "Dr." or degrees like "PhD"
- Department and institution — e.g., "Department of Psychology, University of Michigan"
- Course number and name — e.g., "PSY 201: Introduction to Psychology"
- Instructor name — use the name and title your instructor prefers
- Assignment due date — written out in full, e.g., "October 15, 2025"
- Page number — "1" in the top-right header
Note: Student papers do not include a running head (a feature of professional papers only).
Professional Title Page Elements
If you're preparing a manuscript for journal submission or academic publication, your title page needs a few extra components:
- Paper title — bold, title case, centered
- Author name(s)
- Author affiliation(s) — department and institution for each author
- Author note — includes ORCID iDs, acknowledgments, disclosures, and contact information
- Running head — a shortened version of your title (50 characters max) that appears in the header of every page, flush left, in all caps
- Page number — flush right in the header
APA Title Page Formatting Rules
Getting the content right is only half the battle — the formatting matters just as much. Here's what APA 7th edition requires:
- Font: 12-point Times New Roman (or another readable serif font like Georgia, or sans-serif like Calibri 11pt — APA 7 allows some flexibility)
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Line spacing: Double-spaced throughout
- Alignment: All title page content is centered horizontally (except the running head, which is flush left)
- Title length: Aim for a concise title — ideally under 12 words. Avoid filler phrases like "A Study of…" or "An Investigation Into…"
- Title formatting: Bold, title case (capitalize major words). Do not italicize or use quotation marks.
Example of an APA Title Page (Student Format)
Sometimes the clearest way to understand a format is to see it. Here's an example of a title page in APA format for a student paper:
The Effects of Social Media Use on Adolescent Sleep Patterns
Jordan M. Ellis
Department of Psychology, Lakewood State University
PSY 302: Adolescent Development
Professor Sandra Kim
November 3, 2025
The page number "1" would appear in the top-right corner of the header. There's no running head for student papers. Everything above is centered, double-spaced, and written in a standard 12-point font. The title is bold; everything else is regular weight.
Example of an APA Title Page (Professional Format)
Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADOLESCENT SLEEP 1
The Effects of Social Media Use on Adolescent Sleep Patterns
Jordan M. Ellis
Department of Psychology, Lakewood State University
Author Note: Jordan M. Ellis, ORCID 0000-0001-2345-6789. Correspondence: j.ellis@lakewoodstate.edu
Notice the running head appears flush left in the header, in all caps, preceded by "Running head:" only on the title page. On subsequent pages, the label "Running head:" is dropped — only the abbreviated title remains.
How to Do a Title Page in APA Format: Step-by-Step
Follow these steps to build your APA title page from scratch, whether you're using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or another word processor:
- Set your margins to 1 inch on all sides.
- Set line spacing to double throughout the document.
- Add a page number in the header, flush right. For student papers, that's all you need in the header.
- For professional papers, also add your running head to the header, flush left, in all caps.
- Center your content vertically in the upper half of the page (not dead-center on the page).
- Type your title in bold, title case. Hit Enter twice to create space.
- Add each remaining element (author name, affiliation, course info, etc.) on separate lines, double-spaced.
- Do not add a horizontal line or border — the APA title page is clean and unadorned.
Once your title page is done, your abstract (if required) begins on page 2, and your paper body starts on page 3.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even careful writers slip up on these details. Watch out for:
- Including "by" before your name — APA does not use "by" before the author name
- Adding a running head to a student paper — only professional papers need one
- Using sentence case for the title — always use title case (capitalize major words)
- Forgetting to bold the title — it's a small thing that's easy to miss
- Listing degrees or titles with your name — no "Ph.D.", "Dr.", or "Ms." next to your name
- Centering the running head — it must be flush left, always
- Single-spacing the title page — everything, including the title page, is double-spaced
Use an APA Title Page Template
If you're setting this up for the first time, using an APA title page template can save you a lot of trial and error. Both Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer APA-style templates you can download and adapt. Simply search "APA 7th edition template" in either platform's template gallery.
Alternatively, you can build your own reusable template once and save it for future papers — just swap out the course details and title each time.
And if you need to generate citations for the rest of your paper, our free Citation Generator handles APA, MLA, Chicago, and more — no manual formatting required.
Polishing Your Paper Beyond the Title Page
A perfectly formatted title page sets a strong first impression, but your paper still needs to deliver. Before you submit, it's worth giving your full document one final polish.
Run your paper through the WriteGenius Grammar Checker to catch any lingering typos, punctuation errors, or sentence-structure issues that could undermine your credibility. It's free and works directly in your browser — no sign-up needed.
If your paper is long and you want to double-check your word count by section, the Word Counter tool lets you paste in any block of text and get an instant count — useful for making sure your abstract hits the APA-recommended limit of 150–250 words.
Quick APA Title Page Checklist
Before you submit, run through this checklist:
- ✅ Title is bold, title case, and under 12 words
- ✅ Author name includes no titles or degrees
- ✅ Department and institution are listed (student papers)
- ✅ Course name, number, instructor, and due date are included (student papers)
- ✅ Running head is present and correctly formatted (professional papers only)
- ✅ Page number "1" appears in the top-right header
- ✅ Everything is double-spaced and in a 12-point font
- ✅ Margins are 1 inch on all sides
- ✅ No borders, decorations, or extra spacing
Final Thoughts
The APA title page might seem like a minor formality, but getting it right signals to your reader — and your professor — that you take your work seriously. The good news is that once you've done it correctly once, it becomes second nature. Save a clean template, bookmark this guide, and you'll never have to second-guess your title page again.
And if you're managing a longer research paper or report, remember that tools like WriteGenius are here to handle the mechanical parts — so you can focus on the thinking and writing that actually matters.