APA cover sheet format sets a title page with a centered bold title, author lines, and a top-right page number, with student and professional differences.
In APA style, the “cover sheet” is the paper’s title page. It’s the first page your reader sees, so small slips stand out. The good news: once you know the required parts and the order, you can build the page in a minute and reuse it for most classes.
This guide shows the exact title page parts and order.
What Counts As An APA Cover Sheet
Many teachers say “cover sheet” when they mean “title page.” In APA, that page carries identification details and basic page header items. The body of your paper starts on the next page.
APA 7 uses two common layouts:
- Student title page: used for class assignments.
- Professional title page: used for journal manuscripts and other formal submissions.
If your teacher gives a template that differs, follow the class directions first. When directions are silent, default to the APA student layout.
| Title Page Element | Student Paper | Professional Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Page number | Top right on the title page | Top right on the title page |
| Running head | Not used on the title page in most student papers | Used (short title in caps) with the page number |
| Paper title | Centered, bold, 3–4 lines down from the top | Centered, bold, 3–4 lines down from the top |
| Author name | Centered on its own line under the title | Centered on its own line under the title |
| Affiliation | School or department and school, per class norms | Department and institution (or institution) |
| Course details | Course number and course name | Not used on the title page |
| Instructor | Instructor name on its own line | Not used on the title page |
| Due date | Assignment due date on its own line | Not used on the title page |
| Author note | Not used on most student title pages | Used on the lower half of the title page |
APA Cover Sheet Format Checklist
Use this section as your quick build map. The order below matches the way APA shows title page elements and how most instructors grade formatting.
Student Title Page Layout
A student title page is clean and short. Put each item on its own double-spaced line, centered on the page. Keep the font, spacing, and margins consistent with the rest of your paper.
- Insert the page number at the top right.
- Drop down three to four lines, then type the paper title in bold, centered.
- On the next lines, add your name and your affiliation.
- Add course number and course name on separate lines.
- Add the instructor name on its own line.
- Add the due date on its own line.
APA’s own title page setup notes that the title sits three to four lines down and stays centered and bold. You can confirm the placement on the APA Style title page setup page.
Professional Title Page Layout
A professional title page keeps the title, author, and affiliation centered near the top, then adds an author note in the lower part of the page. The page header also changes, since professional papers use a running head.
- Set the header with a running head (short title in all caps) and a page number at the top right.
- Place the full paper title in bold, centered, three to four lines down.
- Add the author name and affiliation on separate centered lines.
- Add the author note section in the lower half of the page when required.
If you’ve never written an author note, don’t guess. Use the official APA student title page guide as a model for student formatting and check your assignment brief for professional requirements.
Spacing, Fonts, And Page Setup
Most cover sheet issues come from spacing that drifts. Set your page up first, then type the title page. That order keeps the title page aligned with page two and beyond.
Margins And Line Spacing
Use one-inch margins unless your course packet says otherwise. Keep the title page double-spaced from top to bottom, including the lines for title, name, and course details. Don’t add extra blank lines beyond the three-to-four-line drop above the title.
Font Choices
Pick a readable font and size and stick with it through the entire document. Many schools accept several options for APA 7, so your safest move is to match your department’s template or your teacher’s example file.
Alignment And Bold
Center the title page text. Use bold on the paper title. Keep the rest of the title page text in regular weight unless your class has a different style sheet.
Title Text And Author Lines
Your title page is not the place for cute styling. Keep it plain, centered, and easy to scan. APA shows the title in bold and in title case, sitting a few lines below the top margin, then the author block on the next lines.
Title Case Without Overthinking It
Capitalize major words in the paper title. Keep short articles and short prepositions in lowercase unless they start the title. If your title needs a subtitle, place it on the next double-spaced line, still centered and bold.
Names, Multiple Authors, And Group Work
Write each author name in the order your teacher expects. For group work, put each person on a separate line only when your class asks for it. In most cases, list the names on one line, then put the affiliation line under the names.
When you’re writing about formatting in your paper, use the same wording each time. You can write “APA Cover Sheet Format” or “apa title page,” then stick with that choice.
How To Set Up A Title Page In Microsoft Word
Word can fight you if the header or spacing is set after you type. Start with the page layout controls, then build the cover sheet lines.
Step 1: Set Layout Before Typing
- Open a blank document and set your margins to one inch.
- Set line spacing to double.
- Choose your font and size.
Step 2: Add The Header And Page Number
Insert a page number in the header and align it to the right. For a student paper, that’s often all you need in the header. For a professional paper, add the running head text to the left and keep it in caps.
Step 3: Type The Title Block
Click into the body of the page, press Enter until your cursor drops three to four lines, then type your full paper title. Center it, make it bold, and keep it in title case. On the next double-spaced lines, add your name and affiliation.
Step 4: Add Class Lines When Needed
For student work, add the course number and course name, instructor name, then due date. Keep each item on its own line. If your class uses a section number or group name, place it with the course line.
How To Set Up A Title Page In Google Docs
Google Docs is quick for APA papers, but it can sneak in odd spacing when you paste text. Build the page in order, then review it once at the end.
Page Setup And Line Spacing
- Set margins to one inch in Page setup.
- Set line spacing to double in Line & paragraph spacing.
- Turn off “Add space before paragraph” and “Add space after paragraph” if they appear.
Header And Page Number
Insert the page number and keep it right-aligned. If you need a running head, type it on the left in the same header line, then confirm it stays within the margin.
Title Page Text
Center your text, press Enter until you’re three to four lines down, and type the title in bold. Then add name, affiliation, and the student course lines if required.
Common Cover Sheet Slip-Ups And Fixes
Most grading notes come from small layout drifts, not missing content. Run a quick scan from top to bottom and correct anything that breaks the pattern.
Title Placement Drifts Up Or Down
If the title lands too high, add one blank line above it. If it lands too low, delete one. Aim for the three-to-four-line drop that APA shows for the title position.
Header Text Won’t Stay On One Line
Shorten the running head if it wraps. A running head is a short version of the title, not the full title. Keep it in caps for professional papers.
Extra Spacing Between Lines
Extra spacing usually comes from paragraph spacing, not line spacing. Set paragraph spacing before and after to zero, then keep line spacing at double.
Course Lines Look Misaligned
If your course number and name look uneven, keep them on one line only if your class says that’s ok. Otherwise, split them onto separate lines, still centered.
Build Order And Quick Checks
This table shows a practical build order you can follow each time you set up a title page. It also flags the slips that waste the most time during revisions.
| Step | What To Do | Common Slip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Set margins, font, and double spacing first | Typing first, then chasing spacing fixes |
| 2 | Add header page number (and running head if needed) | Page number on the left or on page two only |
| 3 | Drop three to four lines, then type the bold centered title | Title too close to the top margin |
| 4 | Add author and affiliation on their own centered lines | Affiliation mixed into the author line |
| 5 | Add course, instructor, and due date lines for student papers | Missing a line or stacking two items on one line |
| 6 | Check paragraph spacing before/after is set to zero | Hidden extra spacing that breaks double spacing |
| 7 | Print preview or export to PDF and recheck alignment | On-screen view looks fine, PDF shifts |
Submission-Ready Checklist
Before you submit, run this last pass. It’s fast, and it catches the common traps that cost points.
- Page number is top right on the title page.
- Title is bold, centered, and placed three to four lines down.
- Name and affiliation are centered on separate lines.
- Student papers include course line(s), instructor, and due date when assigned.
- Professional papers include a running head and any author note your outlet requests.
- The whole title page is double-spaced with no extra paragraph spacing.
- Page two starts the paper text without a blank gap at the top.
If you need to mention the topic in your paper text, keep the phrase consistent: “APA Cover Sheet Format” should match “apa title page” and your instructor’s wording. Once your first page is set, the rest of APA formatting feels much easier.
Many students reuse the same layout for multiple classes. Save a file as a template, then swap the title and course lines each time. It cuts setup time and keeps your formatting steady from one assignment to the next.