If you need to write a paper following IEEE format, you’re in the right place. This page gives you a ready-to-use IEEE template for Word that you can download, open, and start replacing the placeholder content with your own work — no formatting required.
Download IEEE Format Template for Word
The template below follows all current IEEE formatting requirements: correct margins, Times New Roman font at 10pt, two-column layout, title block, abstract, keywords, section headings, table example, figure placeholder, and a complete references section.
Free download · Microsoft Word compatible (2013 and later) · No registration needed
What’s Included in the IEEE Template
This IEEE Word template is fully pre-formatted so you only need to replace the content. Here’s what it includes:
- Paper title — Centered, 24pt Times New Roman, properly sized for IEEE publications
- Author block — Name, department, university, city and country fields
- Abstract and Keywords — Correctly formatted in single-column width before the two-column body
- Two-column body layout — IEEE-standard column width with 0.25 inch gutter
- Section headings — Level I (centered, bold, small caps) and Level II (italic, flush left)
- Sample table — TABLE I with header row and four data rows, correctly captioned above
- Figure placeholder — With caption below in IEEE style (Fig. 1.)
- References section — Six formatted reference examples: journal article, conference paper, book, website, thesis, and patent
- Author biographies — Template paragraph with membership notation
IEEE Format Requirements: The Complete Guide
Before filling in the template, it’s worth understanding the core IEEE formatting rules so you apply them correctly throughout your paper.
Page Setup and Margins
IEEE papers use US Letter paper (8.5 × 11 inches). Margins are 1 inch on top and bottom, and 0.75 inches on left and right. The body of the paper is formatted in two equal columns with a 0.25-inch gutter between them. This two-column layout is one of the most distinctive visual features of IEEE publications and is what allows more content per page while maintaining readability.
Typography: Font and Size Rules
IEEE requires Times New Roman throughout the paper. The paper title uses 24pt font. All body text, including section content, table text, and captions, uses 10pt. Author names and affiliations in the header block use the same 10pt size. Reference entries use 9pt. Never use Arial, Calibri, or any sans-serif font — IEEE is strict about this.
Title and Author Block
The title spans the full page width (single column) at the top. It’s centered, in mixed case (not all caps), and should be concise — IEEE recommends avoiding articles like «A» or «The» at the start. Below the title comes the author block: name in bold, then affiliation (department, university, city/country) in regular weight. If there are multiple authors, they’re arranged side by side in a multi-column format centered on the page.
Abstract and Keywords
The abstract runs the full page width (before the two-column split begins) and must be between 150 and 250 words. It begins with the word «Abstract» in bold italic, followed by an em dash, then the abstract text — all in one paragraph with no line break. Keywords follow on the next line, starting with «Keywords» in italic, also spanning the full width. The abstract section is separated from the body by a horizontal rule.
Section Headings
IEEE uses Roman numerals for primary section headings: I. INTRODUCTION, II. METHODOLOGY, etc. These headings are centered, bold, and in small capitals. A-level subsection headings (A. System Design) are centered with italic text. B-level headings run into the paragraph text, separated from it with a period, and are also italic. No heading should be left alone at the bottom of a column — if it falls there, shift it to the top of the next column.
Tables: IEEE Formatting Rules
Table captions go above the table in IEEE format — this is the opposite of figure captions. The caption starts with «TABLE» followed by a Roman numeral (TABLE I, TABLE II) in small capitals, on one line. The descriptive title follows on the next line. Tables should fit within a single column when possible, though they can span both columns if necessary. Use the template’s sample table as a guide for borders, shading, and text alignment.
Figures: Placement and Captions
Figure captions go below the figure, starting with «Fig.» followed by an Arabic number and a period (Fig. 1., Fig. 2.). The figure should be centered within the column. If the figure spans both columns, it should appear at the top or bottom of the page, not in the middle. All figures must be referenced in the text before they appear: «as shown in Fig. 1» or «results are illustrated in Fig. 2.»
How to Use the IEEE Template: Step-by-Step
Once you download the template, follow these steps to write your paper correctly without breaking the formatting:
- Replace the title — Click on the title text and type your own. Keep the existing paragraph style applied.
- Fill in the author block — Replace «First Author», the department, university, and location fields one at a time.
- Write your abstract — Delete the placeholder text after the em dash and write your abstract (150–250 words). Do not add a new paragraph — stay within the existing paragraph.
- Replace keywords — Delete the placeholder keywords and enter your own, separated by commas.
- Write your body sections — The template includes Introduction through Conclusion. Add or remove sections as needed. Always use the existing heading styles by clicking on the heading text and replacing it.
- Replace the sample table — Click on individual cells and edit the text. Add rows by pressing Tab in the last cell. Delete rows by selecting them and pressing Backspace.
- Insert your figure — Delete the placeholder box, insert your actual figure, and center it. Update the caption below.
- Update references — Replace the six reference examples with your actual sources. Follow the same format as each example (journal article, conference, book, etc.).
IEEE Citation Format: How to Cite Sources
IEEE uses a numbered citation system. In the text, citations appear as numbers in square brackets — [1], [2], [3] — placed immediately after the statement they support, before any punctuation. For multiple consecutive citations, use a range: [3]–[5]. For non-consecutive citations: [1], [4], [7].
At the end of the paper, references are listed numerically in the order they first appear in the text. Each reference starts with its number in brackets. Here’s how each common source type is formatted:
Journal Article
[1] A. Author and B. Author, "Title of article," IEEE Trans. Journal Name, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 100–115, Mar. 2024.
Conference Paper
[2] C. Author, "Title of paper," in Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Name, City, Country, 2024, pp. 200–205.
Book
[3] D. Author, Book Title, 2nd ed. City, State: Publisher, Year.
Website / Online Resource
[4] E. Author, "Title of page," [Online]. Available: https://www.example.com. [Accessed: Mar. 7, 2026].
Common IEEE Formatting Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Most formatting errors in IEEE papers come from a few recurring mistakes. Here are the ones to watch out for:
- Wrong font — Using Calibri or Arial instead of Times New Roman. IEEE is strict about this. Check every text element, including headers and captions.
- Table caption below the table — In IEEE, table captions go above, figure captions go below. This is the opposite of APA and many other formats.
- Incorrect column count for abstract — The abstract must span the full page width as a single column. If it appears in two columns, the section break is missing or misplaced.
- Section heading capitalization — Primary headings (I., II.) should use small capitals, not regular capitals or title case.
- Citing after punctuation — IEEE citations go before the period or comma: «as shown in previous work [1],» not «as shown in previous work, [1].»
- Wrong paper size — If you’re submitting from outside the US, make sure the document is set to US Letter, not A4. The column widths differ slightly, which can cause text to reflow.
- Not enough detail in references — Always include volume, issue, page numbers, and month for journal articles. For conference papers, include city and country.
IEEE Format vs. Other Academic Formats
If you’ve worked with APA or MLA before, IEEE will feel different in several key ways. The most obvious difference is the two-column layout — APA and MLA both use single-column. IEEE also uses numbered citations instead of author-date (APA) or author-page (MLA). The font is fixed at Times New Roman 10pt, whereas APA recommends 12pt and allows multiple font options.
Chicago style is closer to IEEE in some respects — both have a numbered reference system (Chicago’s footnote/endnote style) — but Chicago is used primarily in humanities while IEEE is engineering and technology. Harvard referencing uses parenthetical author-year citations, similar to APA, and has no fixed layout requirement for the document itself.
In terms of when to use each: IEEE is typically required for engineering and computer science courses, technical reports, and submissions to IEEE journals and conferences. If your professor or journal specifies a different format, check the submission guidelines carefully before formatting your paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IEEE template free to use?
Yes. The template on this page is completely free to download and use for any academic or professional purpose. No registration, no email required.
Does the IEEE template work in Google Docs?
The template is a .docx file, which Google Docs can open. However, some formatting elements — particularly the two-column layout and precise margin settings — may not render perfectly in Google Docs. For the most accurate result, use Microsoft Word 2013 or later, or LibreOffice Writer.
What’s the difference between IEEE format and IEEE style?
«IEEE format» typically refers to the document layout — margins, columns, fonts, and structure. «IEEE style» or «IEEE citation style» refers specifically to how references are formatted and cited in the text (the numbered bracket system). Both come from the same IEEE guidelines, but they address different aspects of the paper.
Can I use this template for my thesis or dissertation?
This template follows the IEEE paper format used for journal articles and conference submissions. Theses and dissertations typically follow the formatting guidelines of your specific institution, which may be different. Check with your university’s graduate school before using this template for a thesis.
How many words should an IEEE paper be?
IEEE doesn’t set a universal word count — length requirements depend on the specific journal or conference. A typical IEEE journal article runs 6–10 pages in the two-column format, which is roughly 4,000–8,000 words. Conference papers are usually shorter, often limited to 6 pages or about 4,000 words. Check the call for papers or author guidelines for the specific venue you’re submitting to.
Related Resources
If you’re working on an academic paper and need more formatting help, these pages cover the other major citation and format styles: