How to Set APA Font, Margins, Indentation, and Spacing

A standard APA 7 student paper uses an approved, readable font, 1-inch margins, double spacing, and a 0.5-inch first-line paragraph indent. These settings apply throughout most of the paper, including the APA title page, main text, APA headings, quotations, and reference list. A few elements, such as the abstract, block quotations, tables, and hanging reference indents, require different treatment.

Set up the document before writing so that new paragraphs inherit the correct formatting. This prevents inconsistent spacing and reduces the need to repair individual paragraphs later. Always check the assignment because a university or journal may impose requirements beyond standard APA format.

APA font requirements at a glance

APA 7 permits several fonts rather than requiring Times New Roman for every paper. Choose one approved option and use it consistently throughout the document. The official APA font guidance recommends accessible fonts that distinguish letters, numbers, and symbols clearly.

APA 7th edition font size and style

The APA 7th edition font size and style rule is based on readability and consistency. Calibri 11 and Arial 11 are common choices for screen-based documents, while Times New Roman 12 and Georgia 11 are familiar serif alternatives. Do not reduce the font size to keep the paper within a page limit.

Use the same font for the paper title, body text, headings, page numbers, quotations, and reference entries. APA headings are differentiated through boldface, italics, alignment, and indentation rather than a larger font size. The paper title is bold but normally remains the same size as the main text.

APA font style exceptions

Some content may require a different typeface or size. Text inside figures can use a sans serif font between 8 and 14 points when needed for clarity, while computer code may use an appropriate monospaced font. Mathematical expressions can also require specialized symbols or fonts.

Footnotes placed at the bottom of a page may appear in a smaller font if the word processor applies that style automatically. However, readability must be preserved. Avoid changing fonts merely for decoration or to make a section appear more important.

APA margins

Set all four margins—top, bottom, left, and right—to 1 inch. The rule applies to the title page, body, references, tables, figures, and appendices. Page numbers remain within the header area rather than being manually positioned outside the page layout.

Standard APA papers use the same margins on every page. A thesis or dissertation may require a wider left margin for binding, but that is an institutional rule rather than the standard APA setup. Consult the university template before changing the margin size.

How to set APA margins in Microsoft Word

Open the Layout tab, select Margins, and choose Normal, which normally sets every margin to 1 inch. Open Custom Margins if you need to confirm the measurements individually. Apply the settings to the whole document rather than the current section.

How to set APA margins in Google Docs

Open File, select Page setup, and enter 1 for the top, bottom, left, and right margins. Apply the change to the whole document. If the file uses pageless mode, switch to pages before preparing a standard APA paper.

APA paragraph indentation

Indent the first line of each regular body paragraph by 0.5 inches. Use your word processor’s paragraph settings or the Tab key rather than pressing the spacebar repeatedly. Automatic indentation keeps every paragraph aligned and prevents spacing from shifting during editing.

Several parts of an APA paper use different indentation:

A hanging indent is the reverse of a normal paragraph indent. The first line begins at the left margin, while every subsequent line moves 0.5 inches to the right. Use hanging indents for reference entries, not for in-text citations or ordinary paragraphs.

Is APA double-spaced?

Yes, APA is double-spaced throughout most of the paper. Double-space the title page, abstract, body paragraphs, headings, block quotations, and reference list. Do not add extra blank space before or after paragraphs.

“Double-spaced” refers to the distance between lines, not to pressing Enter twice after each paragraph. Set the paragraph spacing before and after to zero, then select double line spacing. This creates an even vertical rhythm across the document.

APA line-spacing exceptions

The contents of a table may be single-spaced, one-and-a-half-spaced, or double-spaced when another setting improves readability. Table numbers, titles, and notes remain double-spaced. Words and labels inside figures should be spaced for clarity rather than forced into the main-text line spacing.

Footnotes at the bottom of a page may use the word processor’s default footnote spacing. Displayed equations can include additional space when needed to keep mathematical notation readable. These exceptions should serve legibility, not reduce the paper’s length artificially.

How to set APA spacing and indentation in Word

Select the document text and open the Paragraph settings from the Home tab. Set alignment to Left, the special indentation to First line, and the measurement to 0.5 inches. Set line spacing to Double and both the before and after paragraph spacing to 0 points.

Use separate settings for special sections. Remove the first-line indent from the abstract, apply a hanging indent to the reference list, and indent the full width of block quotations. Center title-page information and relevant headings without changing the document’s overall margins.

How to set APA spacing and indentation in Google Docs

Select the text and choose Format, followed by Line and paragraph spacing and Double. Use the same menu to remove any additional space before or after paragraphs. Google Docs may retain spacing from pasted text, so inspect imported passages separately.

For body paragraphs, open Format, Align and indent, and Indentation options. Choose First line under special indentation and enter 0.5 inches. On the reference page, change the special indentation setting to Hanging at 0.5 inches.

Applying these settings to an APA title page

The APA title page uses the same font, 1-inch margins, and double spacing as the rest of the paper. Place the page number in the upper-right corner, then center the bold title approximately three or four lines below the top of the page. Add one blank double-spaced line between the title and the author’s name.

Student title-page details include the author, institutional affiliation, course, instructor, and due date. Keep this information centered and double-spaced without first-line indentation. A student paper does not normally require a running head unless the instructor requests one.

Using the same APA font with headings

APA headings use the document’s primary font and size. Do not enlarge a heading or switch to a decorative font to make it stand out. Apply the required boldface, italics, alignment, and indentation for the selected heading level.

Levels 1–3 appear on separate lines, while Levels 4 and 5 are indented paragraph headings followed by text on the same line. Keep normal double spacing above and below headings without inserting extra blank lines. Use heading levels in hierarchical order rather than choosing them based on appearance.

Can an APA font generator format your paper?

An APA font generator or document template may apply a font, margin, and spacing preset, but it cannot determine every assignment-specific requirement. Pasted content can also bring hidden formatting that overrides a template. Review the finished document rather than assuming the preset handled every element.

The APA Citation Generator serves a different but related purpose: it helps arrange source information into APA in-text citations and reference entries. After generating citations, check the author, date, title, source, DOI, or URL against the original material. You must still apply the correct font, double spacing, and hanging indents in Word or Google Docs.

Common APA formatting mistakes

• Using a font that is too small to meet the page limit
• Mixing fonts after copying material from another document
• Applying 1-inch margins to only part of the paper
• Justifying text instead of aligning it left
• Adding extra paragraph spacing on top of double spacing
• Indenting the abstract’s first line
• Using a first-line indent instead of a hanging reference indent
• Creating indents with spaces
• Enlarging APA headings
• Assuming a generator formats the entire document

APA font and spacing checklist

Before submitting the paper, confirm that:

• The document uses one approved APA font and size.
• Every page has 1-inch margins unless another rule applies.
• Regular body paragraphs have 0.5-inch first-line indents.
• The abstract begins without a first-line indent.
• Reference entries use 0.5-inch hanging indents.
• Main text, headings, quotations, and references are double-spaced.
• Paragraph spacing before and after is set to zero.
• Text is aligned left with an uneven right margin.
• Title-page information and page numbers match APA requirements.
• Tables, figures, code, and footnotes use exceptions only when needed.

Correct APA font, margins, indentation, and spacing create a consistent paper that is easier to read and review. Set the document defaults first, then format the title page, abstract, body, and references according to their specific rules. A final check in the submitted file format will reveal spacing or font changes that may not be visible in the editor.