APA font and size: permitted fonts in the 7th edition
Quick answer
APA 7 permits several fonts: 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 11-point Georgia and 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode. Pick one and use it for the whole paper. Headings use the same size as the text and differ only by bold, italics and alignment.
Which fonts does APA 7 permit?
| Font | Size | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Times New Roman | 12 pt | Serif |
| Georgia | 11 pt | Serif |
| Calibri | 11 pt | Sans serif |
| Arial | 11 pt | Sans serif |
| Lucida Sans Unicode | 10 pt | Sans serif |
Which one should I pick?
Times New Roman 12 is the safest, since nearly every school accepts it. Calibri 11 is Word's default and fits more text per page. With no instructions, use one of those two.
How do I keep one font through the whole paper?
- Select all text.
- Choose the font and size on the Home tab.
- Check the title page, tables and references, which sometimes keep another font.
- Set the Normal style to that font so new text inherits it.
What size do headings use?
The same as the body. Only bold, italics and alignment change. See headings.
Checklist
- One font throughout
- The right size for that font
- Title page, tables and references use the same font
- You checked whether your school requires one font
Frequently asked questions
What font does APA 7 use?
Any permitted one: Times New Roman 12 pt, Calibri 11 pt, Arial 11 pt, Georgia 11 pt or Lucida Sans Unicode 10 pt. If your instructor requires one font, such as Times New Roman, follow that instruction.
Is Arial 11 or 12 in APA?
Arial is 11 point in APA 7. The 12-point size belongs to Times New Roman. If your school's own guide asks for Arial 12, follow your school, because institutional requirements take priority over the general APA manual.
Are direct quotations in italics?
No. Short quotations use quotation marks, and quotes of 40 words or more go in a block without quotation marks. Italics are for titles of books and journals and for terms you highlight.