MLA format uses a readable font set to 12-point size for the entire paper, unless an instructor gives a different rule.
If you have ever stopped mid-draft to ask yourself what is the font size for mla, you are not alone. Font settings look small on the screen, yet they change how long your paper runs, how easy it is to read, and how “correct” it feels to your grader. Getting MLA font size right is quick work, and once you set it up properly, you rarely need to touch it again.
The Modern Language Association keeps the focus on simple, consistent formatting. According to the official MLA formatting guidelines, writers should choose an easily readable typeface such as Times New Roman and set it to a standard size like 12 points for the whole paper. That single choice covers your heading, title, main paragraphs, quotations, and the Works Cited page.
This article walks through what “standard size” means in practice, where students are allowed a little flexibility, and how to set MLA font size correctly in Word and Google Docs without wasting time every time you start a new assignment.
What Is The Font Size For MLA?
MLA format expects a legible font in a standard size, and the usual answer to what is the font size for mla is simple: use 12-point type throughout the paper. The MLA Style Center explains that writers should select an easily readable typeface and set it to a standard size such as 12 points for the text of the research paper, including notes and the list of works cited.
Many college libraries and writing centers repeat the same guidance. For instance, Taft College’s MLA guide notes that MLA recommends 12-point Times New Roman or another readable typeface and double spacing for the entire paper, not just the main paragraphs. MLA paper formatting guide You can follow that advice with confidence unless your own instructor posts a different requirement in the syllabus.
Some campus guides mention an allowed range from 11 to 13 points, especially when papers are printed from different devices. Even when a range appears, instructors almost always point students back to 12-point text as the safe default. Pick 12-point, keep it consistent, and you will meet MLA expectations in nearly every class.
Mla Font Size Guidelines For Every Section
MLA font size rules do not change from one part of the paper to another. The heading at the top of the first page, the centered title, the body paragraphs, long quotations, notes, and the Works Cited page should all use the same 12-point font. This uniform look helps readers move through your work without distraction and makes the paper simple to scan on screen or in print.
To see how this works in practice, use this quick reference table while you set up your document template.
| Paper Part | Font Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student heading (name, instructor, course, date) | 12-point | Left aligned, double-spaced, same font as body text |
| Paper title on first page | 12-point | Centered, title case, no bold, underline, or larger size |
| Main body paragraphs | 12-point | Double-spaced, first line indented half an inch |
| Block quotations | 12-point | Indented as a block, still double-spaced and same size |
| Footnotes or endnotes | 12-point | MLA allows smaller notes in some cases, but many instructors prefer 12-point for everything |
| Page header (last name and page number) | 12-point | Right aligned in the header area, matching the body font |
| Works Cited entries | 12-point | Same style and size as the rest of the paper, with hanging indent |
| Table text and figure captions | 12-point | Double-spaced and aligned with MLA rules for tables and figures |
This layout means you do not need a special font size for headings or the Works Cited page. Keeping every section at 12-point type avoids uneven pages where titles appear huge, notes look tiny, or the final page seems packed with smaller text.
If an instructor wants footnotes in a smaller size, you can adjust them after the rest of the paper is complete. Until you see a clear instruction like that, keeping every line at 12-point type is the safest approach.
Fonts That Match Mla Font Size Rules
Once you know the standard MLA font size, the next decision is which typeface to pair with that 12-point setting. MLA does not lock writers into a single font, but it does stress that the regular style and the italic version must be easy to tell apart. That detail matters for book titles, film titles, and other italicized elements.
Many writing centers recommend 12-point Times New Roman as the default. It is a classic serif font that prints cleanly and appears correctly on almost every device. Other guides mention Georgia, Garamond, or similar serif fonts, along with common sans serif options like Arial or Calibri, as long as the font remains legible at 12 points and keeps a clear distinction between regular and italic text. Purdue OWL MLA general format
The key test is simple: open a blank document, type a short paragraph, and include a line with an italicized book title. If you can easily tell the difference between the two styles at 12-point size on your screen and on a printed page, the font likely works for MLA.
Some teachers give a specific rule such as “Times New Roman, 12-point only.” In that case, follow the course requirement exactly, even if another MLA-friendly font might look nicer to you. Graders usually scan for those posted requirements first when they look at formatting.
How Mla Font Size Fits With Other Formatting Rules
MLA font size never stands on its own. It works together with margins, line spacing, indentation, and page headers to create a predictable look. Once you know that the font stays at 12-point size, the rest of the layout choices fall into place quickly.
Standard MLA settings use one-inch margins on every side of the page, double spacing throughout, and a half-inch first-line indent on each paragraph. The header at the top right shows your last name and page number in the same 12-point font. The title appears centered, in the same size, with no bold or underlining, and the first paragraph begins on the next double-spaced line.
The Works Cited page at the end follows the same rules: one-inch margins, 12-point font, double spacing, and a running header. The only twist is the hanging indent on each entry. Because you never change the font size, those layout details stay tidy from the first page to the last.
Common Mla Font Size Mistakes To Avoid
Most MLA font size errors come from quick edits near a deadline, not from a lack of knowledge. A rushed change to fit under a page limit can lead to inconsistent settings that stand out right away. Watch for these frequent problems when you review your draft.
- Switching sizes mid-paper: Changing from 12-point to 11-point in the last few paragraphs to squeeze in extra text makes the page look uneven and breaks MLA rules.
- Enlarging the title: Bumping the title up to 14-point or 16-point type might feel stylish, yet MLA keeps the title at the same size as the rest of the text.
- Tiny footnotes: Shrinking notes down to 9-point or 10-point type can strain the reader’s eyes. Unless your instructor gives a clear note-size rule, leave notes at 12-point as well.
- Mixing fonts: Using Times New Roman for the body and a different font for headers or page numbers breaks the uniform look MLA expects.
- Using decorative fonts: Script fonts, novelty fonts, or fonts with heavy ornaments are hard to read and do not match MLA’s request for a plain, readable typeface.
- Ignoring the italic check: Some fonts make italic text look almost identical to regular text at 12 points, which can blur titles and emphasized words.
A slow pass through your document at the end, just scanning for font size and typeface, can spot these issues before you submit. If every line on the screen uses the same 12-point font, you are in good shape.
Steps To Set Mla Font Size In Word And Google Docs
Once you know the right font size, the fastest way to stay consistent is to set MLA font size as part of your default document style. Word and Google Docs both let you do that so you are not re-fixing the same settings for every assignment.
Setting Mla Font Size In Microsoft Word
Use these steps in the desktop version of Word. The exact labels can change slightly between versions, yet the sequence stays roughly the same.
- Open a new blank document in Word.
- Select all text with Ctrl + A (Windows) or Command + A (Mac).
- Click the font dropdown and choose a readable font such as Times New Roman.
- Click the font size box and type 12, then press Enter.
- Open the Paragraph dialog, set line spacing to Double, and set the first-line indent to 0.5″.
- Set margins to one inch on all sides through the Layout or Page Layout tab.
- Back in the Home tab, right-click the “Normal” style and choose “Update Normal to Match Selection.”
From that point on, every new paragraph that uses the Normal style will automatically follow MLA font size and layout without extra clicks.
Setting Mla Font Size In Google Docs
Google Docs works inside the browser, but the idea stays the same: pick a font, set it to 12-point, adjust spacing, then save those settings as the default style.
- Open a new document at docs.google.com.
- Select all text with Ctrl + A or Command + A.
- Use the font menu to choose a clear font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Georgia.
- Set the font size box to 12.
- Click Format > Line spacing > Double.
- Use the ruler or the Format > Align & indent menu to set a first-line indent of 0.5″.
- Click Format > Paragraph styles > Normal text > Update “Normal text” to match.
- Then click Format > Paragraph styles > Options > Save as my default styles.
Next time you open a fresh Google Doc, the font size will already be set to 12-point, and you can focus on your ideas instead of on the toolbar.
| Program | Where To Set 12-Point Font | Extra Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word (Windows) | Home tab > Font group > Size box | Update the Normal style so every new document uses MLA font size |
| Microsoft Word (Mac) | Home tab > Font group > Size box | Check the Paragraph dialog to confirm double spacing and indents |
| Google Docs | Toolbar font size box at the top | Save the settings as default paragraph styles for later papers |
| Apple Pages | Format sidebar > Style > Font size | Create a custom MLA style and reuse it instead of manual resets |
| LibreOffice Writer | Formatting toolbar > Size box | Edit the Default paragraph style so font size stays consistent |
| WPS Office Writer | Home tab > Font group > Size box | Combine the 12-point setting with a document template for MLA work |
If you run into trouble on a lab computer that resets styles each time you log in, you can still follow the same steps at the start of a session to bring the file back to MLA-standard size.
Mla Font Size Checkpoint For Students
When a teacher asks what is the font size for mla on an assignment sheet, they are usually checking whether students are paying attention to basic directions. A clean MLA layout tells the reader that you take those small requirements seriously, and that your attention to detail will likely carry over into your citations and argument.
Before you upload or print your next paper, scan through this quick checklist:
- Every part of the paper, from heading to Works Cited, uses the same 12-point font.
- The font is plain and readable, and italic text stands out clearly from regular text.
- Margins are set to one inch on all sides, and line spacing is set to double everywhere.
- The running header uses the same 12-point font as the body of the paper.
- No section has been shrunk or enlarged to squeeze text onto a page.
Once you build one strong MLA template with the right font size, you can reuse it across classes and semesters. That small bit of setup saves time on every new paper and lets you focus on your ideas, evidence, and analysis instead of chasing formatting errors at the last minute.