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Knowing how to cite ASTM standards accurately is essential for engineering, physical sciences, and materials science researchers preparing manuscripts, technical reports, and theses. Published by ASTM International, technical standards differ from books or journal articles: they carry specific alphanumeric designations, revision year suffixes, and corporate authorship. Whether documenting experimental protocols under the Materials Genome Initiative or publishing via open access publishing, this guide outlines the required formats across APA 7th, IEEE, Chicago 18th, and MLA 9th editions.
The Format
Because ASTM standards are formal technical specifications, citation styles treat ASTM International as a corporate author. Every complete citation requires four core elements: the corporate author, publication or revision year, standard title, and unique alphanumeric designation code.
The standard reference templates across major styles are:
- APA 7th Edition: ASTM International. (Year). Standard title (ASTM Standard No. Designation-Year). Publisher. DOI or URL
- IEEE Style: [#] Title of Standard, ASTM Standard Designation-Year, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, Year.
- Chicago 18th Edition: ASTM International. Title of Standard. ASTM Designation-Year. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, Year. DOI or URL.
- MLA 9th Edition: Title of Standard. ASTM Designation-Year, ASTM International, Year. Platform Name, URL.
How to Cite an ASTM Standard in ASTM Publications
For papers submitted directly to ASTM publications, follow the official Form and Style for ASTM Standards (the ASTM Blue Book). Referenced ASTM standards are omitted from the general bibliography and placed in Section 2 (“Referenced Documents”), listed by designation followed by the full title without quotes or the word “Standard” (e.g., D1708 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics by Use of Microtensile Specimens).
Examples
The following examples illustrate how to cite an ASTM standard across major citation styles using real technical designations:
1. APA 7th Edition
In APA 7th, titles are written in sentence case and italicized, with the designation enclosed in parentheses.
Print / Standard Reference:
ASTM International. (2021). Standard test method for rubber property—durometer hardness (ASTM Standard No. D2240-21). ASTM International.
Online / DOI Reference:
ASTM International. (2021). Standard test methods for tension testing of metallic materials (ASTM Standard No. E8/E8M-21). ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/E0008_E0008M-21
2. IEEE Engineering Style
IEEE numbers entries sequentially with brackets and places the designation prominently.
Reference List Entry:
[1] Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials, ASTM E8/E8M-21, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2021.
Online Database / Compass Entry:
[2] Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units, ASTM Standard C90-15, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1520/C0090-15.
3. Chicago 18th Edition
Under Chicago 18th Notes & Bibliography, list the corporate author, title in italics, designation, location, and year.
Bibliography:
ASTM International. Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip. ASTM A240/A240M-20a. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1520/A0240_A0240M-20A.
Footnote:
1. ASTM International, Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip, ASTM A240/A240M-20a (West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2020), https://doi.org/10.1520/A0240_A0240M-20A.
4. MLA 9th Edition
MLA 9th begins with the title as container, followed by the designation number and publisher.
Works Cited:
Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials. ASTM E8/E8M-21, ASTM International, 2021. ASTM Compass, https://doi.org/10.1520/E0008_E0008M-21.
In-Text Citation Version
In-text formats correspond to author-date, numerical, or footnote referencing systems:
| Style | First In-Text Mention | Subsequent Mentions | Section Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA 7th | (ASTM International, 2021) | (ASTM International, 2021) | (ASTM International, 2021, Section 7.2) |
| IEEE | [1] | [1] | [1, Section 6] |
| Chicago 18th (Author-Date) | (ASTM International 2020) | (ASTM International 2020) | (ASTM International 2020, 4) |
| MLA 9th | (Standard Test Methods) | (ASTM E8/E8M-21) | (Standard Test Methods, Section 5) |
Narrative Flow: In technical manuscripts, mention the standard directly in text: “Specimens were tested following ASTM E8/E8M-21 (ASTM International, 2021).” Subsequent mentions can use “ASTM E8” directly.
Common Errors
- Omitting Revision Suffixes: ASTM designations contain letters and numbers representing the class (e.g.,
E8), followed by a hyphen and adoption year (-21). Suffixes likee1indicate an editorial modification;adenotes a secondary revision in the same year. Omitting suffixes prevents exact procedural replication. - Confusing Reapproval Dates: Parenthetical years, such as
ASTM A3-01(2012), denote reapproval without technical change. Cite the full designation string from the official document header. - Citing Draft Work Items: Draft standards carry temporary Work Item identifiers (e.g.,
WK12345). These represent unpublished ballots and must never be cited as active standards. - Listing Individual Authors: ASTM standards are developed by consensus committees rather than individuals. Always cite ASTM International as the organizational author.
- Cross-Referencing Databases: When citing materials crystallography, such as the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD), cite the ASTM standard for the test method and the database record separately.
Style-Guide Editions
Always verify the current manual edition required by your department or publisher:
- APA 7th Edition (2020): Eliminates publisher city locations and formats DOIs as standard
https://doi.org/links. - Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition (2024): Supersedes the 17th edition, updating digital identifiers while maintaining publisher location for formal technical reports.
- MLA Handbook, 9th Edition (2021): Uses container-based citation formatting and omits publication city.
- IEEE Reference Guide (Current Edition): Standard for engineering manuscripts, using bracketed numbers and standard designations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official author name for an ASTM standard?
The organizational author is ASTM International (or American Society for Testing and Materials for standards published prior to 2001). Individual committee members are not cited as authors.
How do I cite an ASTM standard accessed through ASTM Compass?
Provide the permanent digital object identifier (DOI) located on the document summary page (e.g., https://doi.org/10.1520/...), or name ASTM Compass as the container, rather than using temporary campus proxy URLs.
How do I handle dual designations like ASTM E8/E8M-21?
Dual designations indicate that the standard covers both imperial and metric (SI) measurement systems. Always include the complete dual designation in the reference.
Is the publisher location required when citing ASTM standards?
Under Chicago 18th and traditional engineering guidelines, include “West Conshohocken, PA”. Under APA 7th and MLA 9th editions, publisher location is omitted.
Sources
- ASTM International. “Form and Style for ASTM Standards (The Blue Book).” Standards Development Guidelines, Section G22 & Section 2 “Referenced Documents.” Read November 7, 2026. https://www.astm.org
- Simon Fraser University Library. “Standards – Citation Style Guides (IEEE, APA, Chicago).” Reference and Learning Division. Read November 7, 2026. https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/cite-write/citation-style-guides/standards
- Concordia University Library. “Finding and Citing Technical Standards.” Library Research Guides. Read November 7, 2026. https://library.concordia.ca/find/standards/
