Complete APA Format Guide — 7th Edition 2026
By APA Citation Generator Editorial Team | Updated May 2026
APA format is the citation and style system published by the American Psychological Association. APA 7th edition (2020) is the current standard, requiring author-date in-text citations, a hanging-indent reference list, and specific paper structure rules. This guide covers all core APA 7th edition rules for students and researchers in 2026.
In This Guide:
What Is APA Format?
APA format (American Psychological Association format) is a set of guidelines for academic writing that governs three areas: paper structure (title page, abstract, body, references), in-text citation style (author-date format), and reference list formatting (how each source is listed at the end of your paper).
APA 7th edition is the current version, published in 2020. It is used in psychology, education, social sciences, business, nursing, communications, and many other fields. If your instructor or journal specifies "APA format," they mean APA 7th edition unless they explicitly say otherwise.
APA 7th Edition vs 6th Edition: Key Differences
| Rule | APA 6th Edition | APA 7th Edition (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Running head | Required for all papers | Only for manuscripts submitted for publication |
| Authors listed before et al. | Up to 6, then et al. | Up to 20, then et al. |
| DOI format | DOI: 10.1000/xyz | https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz |
| Publisher location | Required for books | No longer required |
| Website URL label | Retrieved from URL | Just the URL (no label) |
| Singular "they" | Not addressed | Officially endorsed |
APA Paper Structure
A standard APA 7th edition student paper includes these sections in order:
- Title Page — paper title (bold, centered), author name, affiliation, course, instructor, due date
- Abstract (if required) — 150–250 words, one paragraph, no indentation, with keywords line
- Body — introduction (no heading needed), method, results, discussion
- References — new page, alphabetical, hanging indent
- Appendices (if needed) — after references
Formatting requirements: 1-inch margins all sides · Double-spaced throughout · 12pt Times New Roman (or approved equivalent) · First-line indent 0.5 inches for body paragraphs · Page number in top-right corner
APA In-Text Citation Format
APA in-text citations use the author-date format. The citation appears in parentheses within the sentence, immediately after the cited material.
| Situation | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One author, paraphrase | (Author, Year) | (Smith, 2023) |
| One author, direct quote | (Author, Year, p. X) | (Smith, 2023, p. 45) |
| Two authors | (Author & Author, Year) | (Smith & Jones, 2023) |
| Three or more authors | (First Author et al., Year) | (Smith et al., 2023) |
| No author | ("Title", Year) or (Organization, Year) | ("APA Guidelines," 2023) |
| No date | (Author, n.d.) | (WHO, n.d.) |
APA Reference List Format
The reference list appears on a new page at the end of your paper. Title it "References" (centered, bold). Key formatting rules:
- Alphabetize entries by the first author's last name
- Use a hanging indent: first line flush left, all subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches
- Double-space all entries (same as the rest of the paper)
- Italicize book titles, journal names, and volume numbers
- Do not italicize article titles or webpage titles
Core APA Reference Formats by Source Type
| Source Type | Core Format |
|---|---|
| Book | Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher. |
| Journal Article | Author, A. A. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, Vol(Issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxx |
| Website | Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Page title. Site Name. URL |
| YouTube Video | Author [Channel]. (Year, Month Day). Title [Video]. YouTube. URL |
| PDF / Report | Author, A. A. (Year). Title [PDF]. Organization. URL |
Use our free APA citation generator to format any of these source types automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is APA format?
APA format is the citation and writing style developed by the American Psychological Association. It governs how academic papers are structured, how sources are cited in text, and how references are formatted in the reference list. APA 7th edition (2020) is the current standard used in psychology, education, social sciences, business, nursing, and many other academic disciplines worldwide.
What is the difference between APA 6th and 7th edition?
APA 7th edition (2020) changed several rules from the 6th edition: running heads are no longer required for student papers; up to 20 authors are now listed before using et al. (previously 7); DOIs are formatted as full hyperlinks (https://doi.org/...); publisher location is no longer required for books; and the singular pronoun "they" is now officially endorsed.
How do I format an APA reference list?
An APA reference list appears on a new page at the end of your paper, titled "References" (centered, bold). Entries are listed alphabetically by the first author's last name. Each entry uses a hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches). Use double-spacing throughout the reference list.
What font does APA 7th edition require?
APA 7th edition accepts several readable fonts: Times New Roman 12pt (most common), Calibri 11pt, Arial 11pt, Lucida Sans Unicode 10pt, or Georgia 11pt. Your institution may specify a particular font — always follow their requirements over the general APA guidance.
Does APA require a title page?
APA 7th edition requires a title page for both student and professional papers, but the format differs. Student title papers include the paper title, author name, institutional affiliation, course name and number, instructor name, and assignment due date. Professional title pages additionally include author note and running head.
How do I do an APA in-text citation?
APA in-text citations use the author-date format. For a paraphrase: (Smith, 2023). For a direct quote: (Smith, 2023, p. 45). For two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2023). For three or more authors, use the first author's last name followed by et al.: (Smith et al., 2023). Include the in-text citation immediately after the quoted or paraphrased material.
What is a DOI in APA citations?
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a permanent alphanumeric code assigned to academic articles, books, and other publications. In APA 7th edition, DOIs are formatted as full URLs: https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz. Always include a DOI in your journal article citations when one is available, as DOIs provide a more reliable link than regular URLs.
How long should an APA paper be?
APA format does not specify a fixed length for papers — that is determined by your assignment or publication requirements. However, APA does specify formatting rules that affect length: double-spacing, 1-inch margins, 12pt font, and a separate reference list page. A typical undergraduate APA paper ranges from 5–15 pages plus references.
This APA format guide covers the 7th edition rules for 2026. For automatic APA referencing, use our free APA citation generator. For specific citation types, see our how to cite guides.