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An APA format table follows a fixed anatomy: a bold table number, an italic title, column headings (including one for the leftmost column), a body of data cells, and optional notes underneath. This guide gives you a reusable template, a filled example built from clearly fictional data, and a checklist of required elements. It covers tables in APA format as set out in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (2020), chapter 7, and in APA’s student paper setup guide. Edition checked: APA 7th (2020), as of October 2026.
What APA says a table is made of
APA’s student paper setup guide states that tables and figures share the same elements and are formatted similarly. University library guides to the 7th edition list the elements the same way: the UTA Libraries APA 7th guide, section “Tables”, and the Augusta University Libraries APA 7th guide, “Tables and Figures”. Full links are in the Sources section below.
- Table number. Placed above the table, in bold.
- Title. One double-spaced line below the table number, in italics, in title case. It should be concise, clear and explanatory.
- Headings. Every column needs a heading, including the leftmost column (the stub heading). Headings identify the items below them.
- Body. The rows and cells that hold the data. The Augusta guide notes the body may be single-spaced, 1.5-spaced or double-spaced.
- Notes. Placed below the table, double-spaced and flush left. Not every table needs notes.
Table in APA format template
Use this skeleton for an APA table format template. Replace every bracketed item with your own content.
Table [number]
[Concise, Explanatory Title in Title Case]
| [Stub heading] | [Column heading 1] | [Column heading 2] | [Column heading 3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Row label A] | [value] | [value] | [value] |
| [Row label B] | [value] | [value] | [value] |
| [Row label C] | [value] | [value] | [value] |
[Note. Qualifies or explains the table as a whole, and defines abbreviations and symbols.]
[Specific note: refers to one column, row or cell, marked with a superscript lowercase letter.]
[Probability note: explains asterisks or other symbols used for p values.]
Filled example with fictional data
The table below is invented for illustration. It describes a made-up survey of fictional study groups and does not report real results.
Table 1
Mean Weekly Study Hours by Group in a Fictional Survey
| Group | n | M | SD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | 40 | 12.5 | 3.1 |
| Group B | 38 | 14.2* | 2.8 |
| Group Ca | 35 | 10.9 | 3.6 |
Note. All values are fictional. n = number of participants; M = mean; SD = standard deviation.
aGroup C is a fictional comparison group.
*p < .05.
The example uses all three kinds of note the library guides describe: a general note that explains the whole table and its abbreviations, a specific note tied to one row by a superscript lowercase letter, and a probability note that explains the asterisk. For borders, number alignment, and the typography of note labels and statistical symbols, follow chapter 7 of the Publication Manual together with your instructor’s or journal’s requirements.
APA format for tables: placement in the paper
APA’s student paper setup guide gives these placement rules for tables and figures:
- Embed the table in the text.
- Mention the table in the text before you embed it, then place it after that callout.
- Put it at the bottom of a page, at the top of the next page, or by itself on the next page. Avoid placing tables and figures in the middle of the page.
- A long table may go on its own page.
- If your instructor requires tables at the end of the paper, follow the Publication Manual or the professional sample paper for that layout.
The same guide asks for a double-spaced paper with 1-inch margins, so the text around your table follows that setup.
Checklist: required elements of an APA table
- The table number appears above the table in bold.
- The title sits one double-spaced line below the number, in italic title case, and explains what the table shows.
- Every column, including the leftmost, has a heading.
- The body holds the primary data in rows of cells, and items being compared are placed close together.
- Abbreviations and symbols are explained in a note or key, so the table can be understood without referring back to the text.
- Specific notes use superscript lowercase letters (a, b, c) that match marks in the table.
- Probability notes explain asterisks or other symbols for p values.
- Notes, if any, sit below the table, double-spaced and flush left.
- The table is mentioned in the text before it appears.
- Placement avoids the middle of a page.
Frequently asked questions
How do you format a table in APA?
Give it a bold number above, an italic title-case title below the number, headings for every column including the stub column, a body of data, and notes underneath if the table needs them. The template and checklist above put these in order.
Where does a table go in an APA paper?
Embed it in the text after you first mention it, at the bottom of a page, the top of the next page, or alone on the next page. If your instructor wants tables at the end, use the layout in the Publication Manual or professional sample paper.
Does every APA table need a note?
No. The Augusta University guide states that not all tables include table notes. Add one when an abbreviation, symbol, p value or single cell needs explaining.
How should the title of an APA table look?
It sits one double-spaced line below the bolded table number, in italic title case, and describes the table concisely and clearly.
Can I use single spacing inside the table?
The Augusta guide says the body of a table may be single, 1.5 or double spaced. Notes below the table are double-spaced.
How do I copy a table from statistics software into APA format?
Software output is rarely in APA layout, so rebuild the table by hand with the elements above. For the SPSS case, see reading SPSS output, which explains why SPSS does not produce APA-formatted tables and how to get results into a manuscript.
Related guides
- Manuscript format for journal submission for how journals set their own layout rules.
- Research abbreviations style guide rules for defining abbreviations in table notes.
- AMA citation style and Vancouver referencing style if your journal does not use APA.
Sources
- APA, student paper setup guide: https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.pdf (last updated 8 October 2025; checked 28 October 2026).
- UTA Libraries, APA 7th guide, “Tables”: https://libguides.uta.edu/apa/tables (page updated 13 October 2026; checked 28 October 2026).
- Augusta University Libraries, APA 7th guide, “Tables and Figures”: https://guides.augusta.edu/APA/tablesandfigures (updated 27 October 2026; checked 28 October 2026).
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (2020), chapter 7.
