How To Make A Cover Page For A Research Paper?

Q: What font should a cover page use?

Most style guides recommend 12-pt Times New Roman , though Arial or Calibri may be acceptable depending on institutional guidelines.

General Guidelines: How To Make A Cover Page For A Research Paper

While each citation style has its own formatting rules, some universal principles apply across APA, MLA, and Chicago:

Use the correct style guide: APA requires a title page; MLA and Chicago require one only if your instructor specifies it.
Standard formatting: Use 12-point Times New Roman, double-spacing, and 1-inch margins, unless your institution requires otherwise.
Center the main text: Most cover page information appears centered and double-spaced.
Follow the instructor’s or the university’s requirements: Institutions may modify guidelines, especially for theses or dissertations.

Research Paper Cover Page Essentials

APA (7th Ed.)

• Title in bold
• Student info
• Course, instructor, due date
• Page number

MLA (9th Ed.)

• Title centered
• Optional institution name
• Author, course, instructor, date

Chicago

• Title one-third down
• Author info centered
• Optional course/instructor details

How to Make an APA Cover Page (7th Edition)

APA format is important in acdemics. According to the APA Publication Manual (7th Edition), student and professional papers have different requirements.

APA Paper Title Page

Page number
Insert page number 1 in the top-right corner (APA, 2020).
Title
1. Centered, bold, and in title case
1. Positioned 3–4 lines from the top
Author name
Write your full name—no titles (e.g., “Dr.” or “Prof.”).
Institutional affiliation
Format: Department, University
Course number and name
Instructor name
Due date of assignment

Example Format (APA Student Title Page)

Centered on the page:

Title of Your Paper (Bold)
Your Name
Department, University
Course Code and Course Name
Instructor Name
Due Date

How to Make an MLA Cover Page (9th Edition)

MLA format does not require a title page, but instructors may request one.

Steps to Create an MLA Cover Page

Institution name (optional)
Title of the paper
Centered
One-third down the page
Use title case
Author information (bottom third of the page)
Your full name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Due date

MLA emphasizes simplicity and minimal formatting (MLA Handbook, 2021).

How to Make a Chicago Cover Page (Author–Date Format)

Chicago style allows flexibility depending on instructor or departmental preference (University of Chicago Press, 2017).

Chicago Cover Page Formatting

Title
Centered
One-third down the page
Author information
Your name, course, and instructor
Centered and placed several lines below the title

Chicago style does not mandate a title page unless required.

Comparison Table: APA vs. MLA vs. Chicago Cover Pages

Feature	APA 7th Edition	MLA 9th Edition	Chicago (Author-Date)
Title Page Required?	Yes	No (Optional)	Optional
Title Formatting	Bold, centered	Centered	Centered
Page Number Required?	Yes	Not on cover	Optional
Placement of Author Info	Below title (centered)	Bottom third	Below title
Course & Instructor	Required	Required	Optional
Font	12-pt Times New Roman	12-pt Times New Roman	12-pt Times New Roman

Before You Submit: Final Checklist

✔ Check for spelling and formatting errors
✔ Confirm you followed APA, MLA, or Chicago guidelines correctly
✔ Review your instructor’s or institution’s specific instructions
✔ Ensure consistency between your cover page and the rest of your paper

Key Takeaways

APA always requires a cover page; MLA and Chicago sometimes do.
Use standard fonts, double spacing, and centered text.
Instructor requirements override style manual defaults.
A well-formatted cover page signals professionalism and academic rigor.

FAQs

What should be included on a research paper cover page?

It depends on the style guide. Typically, you include the title, author name, institutional affiliation, course, instructor, and date.

Does MLA require a cover page?

No. MLA only requires a page header on page one unless your instructor requests a title page.

What font should a cover page use?

Most style guides recommend 12-pt Times New Roman, though Arial or Calibri may be acceptable depending on institutional guidelines.

Should the cover page have a page number?

APA requires it; MLA and Chicago generally do not.

Conclusion

Creating a professional and accurately formatted cover page is a small but essential step in producing a high-quality research paper. Whether you follow APA, MLA, or Chicago style, understanding the specific requirements helps you communicate your academic work clearly and credibly.

A correctly structured cover page also signals attention to detail—an attribute valued in academic writing, publishing, and graduate-level research. By following the guidelines outlined in this article and verifying any additional instructions from your instructor or institution, you can ensure that your research paper begins with a strong, scholarly first impression.

If used consistently, these formatting practices enhance readability, improve presentation, and align your work with established academic standards.

References

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
Modern Language Association. (2021). MLA Handbook (9th ed.).
University of Chicago Press. (2017). The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.).

About The Author

Joe Gill

After a career in biochemistry and molecular biology, I now dedicate this ResearchDeep platform to simplifying Master’s and PhD research to assist postgraduate researchers worldwide. To know more, visit the ABOUT page.

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