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Short answer: in APA Style 7th edition (2020), use 1-inch margins on all four sides of the page (2.54 cm). That is the margin rule; everything else on this page (indents, spacing, alignment, headings) is the formatting that sits inside those margins. This page gives you a copy-ready page-setup template, a filled example with fictional content, and a checklist, based on the APA Style student paper setup guide.
What are the margins in APA format?
The APA student paper setup guide says: “Use 1-in. margins on all sides of the page (top, bottom, left, and right).” The 7th edition is the current edition as of 2026-10, and the guide (file dated 2025-10-21) is the APA’s own handout, read 2026-11-07. The same guide notes that most default word-processor settings already comply, so in Word or Google Docs you often only need to confirm that the defaults were not changed.
APA margins in cm
One inch is 2.54 cm, so the rule converts to 2.54 cm on every side. The conversion is arithmetic, not a separate APA statement; APA states the rule in inches.
Margins versus indents versus alignment
Three different measurements are often confused. Only the first is a page margin.
| Element | Measurement | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Page margins | 1 in. (2.54 cm) top, bottom, left, right | The text area of every page |
| Paragraph first-line indent | 0.5 in. (1.27 cm), set with the tab key or paragraph formatting | Only the first line of each body paragraph |
| Block quotation | 0.5 in. from the left margin, for quotations of 40 words or more | The whole quotation, double-spaced, without quotation marks |
| Right edge of text | Left-aligned, ragged right; no full justification | Whether line endings are even |
Sources: APA student paper setup guide (above) and the APA In-Text Citation Checklist, https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/in-text-citation-checklist.pdf, for the 40-word block-quotation threshold. The 1.27 cm figure is arithmetic from 0.5 in.
How do I indent paragraphs in APA Style?
Indent the first line of every body paragraph 0.5 in. Use the tab key or the paragraph-formatting function, not the space bar. Align the paragraph itself to the left margin and leave the right margin ragged. The indent applies to ordinary paragraphs; the setup guide also says not to add extra spacing before or after paragraphs.
Page-setup template
Set these once, before typing, so every page inherits them.
- Page: Margins set to 1 in. top, bottom, left and right.
- Font: one legible font throughout. The guide names 12-pt Aptos, 11-pt Calibri, 11-pt Arial, 12-pt Times New Roman and 11-pt Georgia as acceptable examples. See what size font APA format uses.
- Spacing: double-spaced for the entire paper, including block quotations and the reference list; no blank lines before or after headings; no extra spacing before or after paragraphs. See whether APA format is double-spaced.
- Alignment: left-aligned, ragged right, no full justification.
- Paragraphs: first line indented 0.5 in. with the tab key or paragraph formatting.
- Page numbers: top right of every page; the title page counts as page 1. Student papers need no running head.
Filled example (fictional content)
The layout below shows how a one-page student paper body looks once the template is applied. The title and text are invented for illustration only.
[Top margin 1 in.] 2 (page number, top right)
Garden Soil Experiments for Beginners (Level 1 heading, centered, bold)
[0.5 in. tab] This paper describes a fictional classroom
[left margin project in which students compare three kinds of
1 in.] potting soil. The first line of this paragraph is
indented 0.5 in.; the lines that follow return to
the left margin and the right edge stays ragged.
Method (Level 2 heading, flush left, bold)
[0.5 in. tab] Each group planted the same seed in each soil
type and recorded height weekly.
[Bottom margin 1 in.]
All lines in a real paper are double-spaced; the example above is compressed to fit on the page. Check the finished file by viewing the ruler: text should begin at the 1 in. mark and the first line of each paragraph at 1.5 in.
What are the different levels of headers in APA 7th edition?
The setup guide lists five heading levels, all in title case.
| Level | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Centered, bold |
| 2 | Flush left, bold |
| 3 | Flush left, bold italic |
| 4 | Indented, bold, ends with a period; the text begins on the same line |
| 5 | Indented, bold italic, ends with a period; the text begins on the same line |
Start each main section at Level 1, and avoid a lone subsection under a heading. Do not add blank lines before or after headings.
How do I format an essay in APA 7th edition?
Apply the template above, then follow the page order from the setup guide: title page (page 1), the text starting on page 2, and the reference list on a new page. Repeat the title at the top of the first page of text and do not label the opening “Introduction” unless asked. For the title-page lines, see the APA cover page guide; for body-paragraph conventions, APA format body paragraphs; for the end-to-end process, how to write a research paper in APA style.
How do I make an APA reference page?
Start the reference list on a new page, with the same 1-inch margins and double spacing as the rest of the paper. The setup guide includes the reference list in its double-spacing rule. This page covers page setup only, not the entry-by-entry layout of references.
Checklist
- Margins are 1 in. (2.54 cm) on all four sides.
- Whole paper, including block quotations and references, is double-spaced.
- Body paragraphs have a 0.5 in. first-line indent made with tab or paragraph formatting.
- Text is left-aligned with a ragged right edge.
- Page number is top right on every page, with the title page counted as page 1.
- Headings follow the five levels above, with no blank lines around them.
- Block quotations of 40 words or more are indented 0.5 in. from the left margin, without quotation marks.
- Reference list begins on a new page.
If your instructor or journal gives different instructions, follow those; the setup guide says instructors’ guidelines take priority.
FAQ
Do you indent paragraphs in APA 7th edition?
Yes. Indent the first line of each body paragraph 0.5 in. with the tab key or paragraph formatting.
Is the right margin justified?
No. Leave the right margin ragged and do not use full justification.
What are APA margins in cm?
2.54 cm on all sides, converted from the 1-inch rule.
Sources
- American Psychological Association, Student Paper Setup Guide, APA Style 7th edition, https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.pdf (read 2026-11-07).
- American Psychological Association, In-Text Citation Checklist, https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/in-text-citation-checklist.pdf (block-quotation rule).
