APA 7th edition requires 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins on all four sides — top, bottom, left, and right — for every page of your paper, including the title page, abstract, body, and reference list. There are no exceptions by section, and no asymmetric margins for binding.
This guide gives you the exact settings, shows you how to apply them in Word and Google Docs in under two minutes, and covers the edge cases that trip students up.
Standard APA Margin Requirements
| Side | Required margin | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Top | 1 inch (2.54 cm) | All pages |
| Bottom | 1 inch (2.54 cm) | All pages |
| Left | 1 inch (2.54 cm) | All pages |
| Right | 1 inch (2.54 cm) | All pages |
Source: APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition, Section 2.22.
If your university or professor specifies different margins (1.25 inches for binding, for example), follow the instructor’s requirement. The APA manual explicitly states that institutional requirements take precedence over its default formatting guidelines.
How to Set APA Margins in Microsoft Word
Word’s default margins are 1 inch on all sides — which means if you started a blank document without changing anything, you already have correct APA margins. Still, it’s worth confirming before you submit.
Method 1: Layout Tab (fastest)
- Open your document in Word.
- Click the Layout tab in the ribbon (called Page Layout in older versions).
- Click Margins in the Page Setup group.
- Select Normal from the dropdown — this sets 1 inch on all sides.
- Done. Your margins are now APA-compliant.
Method 2: Page Setup dialog (for exact control)
- Click Layout → Margins → Custom Margins at the bottom of the dropdown.
- In the Page Setup dialog, set each field: Top:
1", Bottom:1", Left:1", Right:1". - Make sure Apply to: Whole document is selected.
- Click OK.
Tip: Click Set As Default before clicking OK to apply these margins to all future documents automatically.
How to Set APA Margins in Google Docs
- Open your document in Google Docs.
- Go to File → Page setup.
- Under Margins, set all four fields to 1 (Google Docs uses inches by default in the US locale).
- Click OK.
- Optional: click Set as default to apply to future documents.
If your Google Docs shows centimeters instead of inches, type 2.54 in each field to get the correct measurement.
Does the Running Head Affect Margins?
No. The running head sits inside the top margin area as a header, not as extra space added above it. Your top margin remains 1 inch; the page number and running head (for manuscripts requiring one) appear within that 1-inch zone.
In APA 7th edition, running heads are only required for manuscripts being submitted for publication. Student papers do not require a running head — only a page number in the top-right corner of the header.
Do APA Margins Change for Different Sections?
No. The 1-inch margin applies uniformly across every section of an APA paper:
| Section | Margin | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title page | 1 inch all sides | Page number in header at 1 inch from top |
| Abstract | 1 inch all sides | No indentation on first line |
| Body paragraphs | 1 inch all sides | 0.5-inch first-line indent per paragraph |
| Block quotations | 1 inch + 0.5 inch indent | Left indent of 0.5 inch from the left margin |
| Reference list | 1 inch all sides | Hanging indent 0.5 inch for each entry |
| Appendices | 1 inch all sides | Each appendix starts on a new page |
The 0.5-inch paragraph indent and the 0.5-inch hanging indent in references are measured from the margin, not from the edge of the page. Your margins never change — only the text indentation within those margins varies by element.
APA 6th vs. 7th Edition: Any Margin Changes?
No. Margins did not change between editions. Both APA 6 and APA 7 require 1-inch margins on all sides. If you’re updating a paper from APA 6 to APA 7, your margins need no adjustment.
Common Margin Mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Using 1.25-inch left margin «for binding» | Non-compliant unless required by institution | Use 1 inch unless your syllabus says otherwise |
| Mirror margins turned on | Left/right margins alternate by page (for book layouts) | Disable in Layout → Margins → Normal |
| Different margins per section | Occurs when section breaks have their own page setup | Apply to Whole Document in Page Setup |
| Gutter margin set to 0.5 inch | Adds extra space to binding edge, making one margin 1.5 inches | Set Gutter to 0 in Custom Margins |
| Header/footer distance too large | Content gets pushed down, effectively reducing usable body area | Set Header from Top to 0.5 inch in Word |
Checking Your Margins Before Submission
Two quick ways to verify your margins are correct:
- Print preview: In Word, go to File → Print. The preview shows your actual page layout. If text appears close to any edge, your margins may be off.
- Ruler check: In Word, enable the ruler (View → Ruler). The gray shaded area on the ruler represents the margin. For a standard 8.5 × 11-inch page, the white area should start at 1 inch from each side.
APA Margins vs. Other Citation Styles
| Style | Default margin | Differences |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7th | 1 inch all sides | Uniform, no asymmetric margins |
| MLA 9th | 1 inch all sides | Same as APA |
| Chicago 17th | 1 inch all sides | Same for most papers; some book formats differ |
| IEEE | 0.75 inch top, 1 inch sides & bottom (two-column) | Different — uses two-column layout |
| Vancouver | No standard specified | Journal-dependent; typically 1 inch |
If you write papers in multiple styles, the 1-inch rule covers APA, MLA, and Chicago uniformly. IEEE is the main exception, with its two-column conference format using narrower top margins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 1.5-inch margins to make my paper longer?
No. Adjusting margins to inflate page count is academic dishonesty in most institutions. Professors check this. Use 1-inch margins as specified and meet length requirements through content.
My university requires 1.5-inch left margin for binding. Is that allowed in APA?
Yes. APA’s guidelines defer to institutional requirements. If your graduate school requires a wider left margin for thesis binding, follow your school’s specification. Document it in a note if you’re concerned about compliance.
Does the reference list have different margins?
No — the page margins stay at 1 inch. The hanging indent in references (0.5 inch) is a text indent, not a margin change. The first line of each reference starts at the left margin; subsequent lines indent 0.5 inch inward.
What about headers and footers — are they inside the 1-inch margin?
Yes. The page number and running head sit inside the top margin area. APA recommends placing the header 0.5 inch from the top edge of the page, which puts it inside the 1-inch top margin. The text body begins at the 1-inch mark.
Quick Reference: APA Format Checklist for Margins
- All four margins set to exactly 1 inch (2.54 cm)
- No mirror margins or gutter margins
- Applied to the whole document, not individual sections
- Page number in header, 0.5 inch from top edge
- Paragraph first-line indent: 0.5 inch (measured from left margin)
- Block quote indent: 0.5 inch from left margin
- Reference list hanging indent: 0.5 inch
For a complete breakdown of all APA 7th edition formatting requirements — font, line spacing, title page, and reference format — see the APA Format Guide.