APA 7th edition accepts six specific fonts — not just Times New Roman. The manual expanded the approved list to give researchers and students more flexibility, while keeping the core requirement: your font must be consistent throughout the paper and legible at the chosen size.
APA Approved Fonts and Sizes (2026)
| Font | Required size | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Times New Roman | 12 pt | Serif |
| Georgia | 11 pt | Serif |
| Computer Modern | 10 pt | Serif (LaTeX default) |
| Calibri | 11 pt | Sans serif |
| Arial | 11 pt | Sans serif |
| Lucida Sans Unicode | 10 pt | Sans serif |
Source: APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition, Section 2.19.
Each font has its own required point size — they are not interchangeable. Arial at 12 pt is not correct; Arial at 11 pt is. This pairing matters because the fonts were selected at sizes that produce similar visual weight on the page.
Which Font Should You Choose?
All six are equally valid under APA rules. The choice comes down to your institution’s requirements and the context of your paper:
| Font | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Times New Roman 12 pt | Printed submissions, traditional academic journals | Most widely expected in North American universities |
| Calibri 11 pt | Digital submissions, modern institutional templates | Microsoft Word’s default since Office 2007 |
| Arial 11 pt | Accessibility, presentations, hybrid documents | High legibility on screen and in print |
| Georgia 11 pt | Online reading, digital-first papers | Designed specifically for screen rendering |
| Computer Modern 10 pt | STEM papers written in LaTeX | LaTeX default; only relevant if you’re using that typesetting system |
| Lucida Sans Unicode 10 pt | Papers requiring extended Unicode character sets | Useful for linguistics, non-Latin scripts |
When in doubt, use Times New Roman 12 pt. It is the font most professors and reviewers expect, even after APA 7 expanded the approved list.
Font Rules by Section
Use the same font and size throughout the paper with three exceptions:
| Element | Font rule |
|---|---|
| Body text | Your chosen APA font at the specified size |
| Headings (all levels) | Same font as body — size does not increase |
| Figure text | A sans serif font (Arial, Calibri) at 8–14 pt for readability |
| Computer code | Monospaced font (Courier New, Lucida Console) — size not specified |
| Footnotes | Same font as body; may be slightly smaller (10 pt minimum) |
How to Set Your Font in Word
- Select all text: Ctrl + A.
- In the Home tab, click the Font dropdown and type or select your font name.
- Set the size in the size field next to the font name.
- To save this as your default: go to Home → Font dialog launcher → Set As Default → All documents based on the Normal template.
Watch out: If your document was assembled from multiple sources (copy-pasted from PDFs, emails, or other documents), different sections may carry embedded font formatting. Use Ctrl + A → clear formatting → reapply your font to reset everything cleanly.
Bold, Italics, and Underline in APA
APA has specific rules for text emphasis — most students apply these incorrectly:
| Emphasis type | When to use in APA |
|---|---|
| Bold | Headings only; statistical terms in some contexts (e.g., M = 3.5 when introducing a new term) |
| Italics | Book/journal titles, technical terms on first use, non-English words, statistical symbols (p, n, t) |
| Underline | Not used in APA 7 — it was a typewriter-era substitute for italics |
| ALL CAPS | Not used for emphasis; only in abbreviations that are conventionally uppercase |
APA 6th vs 7th Edition: Font Changes
APA 6th edition required only Times New Roman 12 pt. APA 7th edition expanded the list to six fonts. This is one of the most significant formatting changes between editions for students updating older papers.
If your institution’s template still specifies Times New Roman, use Times New Roman — institutional requirements override the APA manual’s expanded list.
Fonts That Are NOT Accepted in APA
The APA manual does not provide an exhaustive list of prohibited fonts, but these are commonly misused and outside the approved list:
| Font | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Comic Sans | Not on the approved list; informal appearance |
| Courier New | Only approved for code samples, not body text |
| Garamond | Not in APA 7’s approved list despite being popular |
| Helvetica | Not listed; Arial is the equivalent that IS approved |
| Impact | Display font; not suitable for academic text |
| Cambria | Not listed in APA 7; formerly common in Word templates |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different fonts for headings and body text?
No. APA requires a single consistent font throughout the paper. Headings are differentiated from body text through bold, italics, and alignment — not by switching fonts.
What font does APA recommend for LaTeX users?
Computer Modern at 10 pt — the LaTeX default. APA explicitly included it in the approved list to accommodate researchers using LaTeX. You do not need to install or specify it separately if you are using a standard LaTeX setup.
My university’s template uses Cambria. Should I change it?
Follow your university’s template. If they provide an official document with Cambria, that template has been approved by your institution and takes precedence over APA’s list. Contact your writing center or thesis office if you’re unsure.
Does font choice affect my APA score or grade?
It depends on the grader. Most professors won’t penalize Calibri vs. Times New Roman as long as both are from the approved list. However, submitting in a non-listed font (Garamond, Helvetica, Cambria) could result in a formatting deduction if your professor grades APA compliance strictly.
For the complete APA 7th edition formatting checklist — margins, spacing, page numbers, and title page — see the APA Format Guide.