Basic Page Setup

The first step in creating an APA-compliant paper is getting the blank document set up correctly.

Just so you know – if you’re using PERRLA, we handle all of the formatting for you. That means your paper is set up correctly from the start, saving you time and unnecessary work. For this lesson, we’ll use a PERRLA-created paper to show you exactly how your APA document should be set up.

Here are the seven things you’ll need to check or change before you begin:

1. Page Size

This one’s easy – APA requires standard 8.5" x 11" paper. Luckily, that’s the default in nearly every word processor, so unless you’ve changed it, you’re good to go.

2. Margins

APA requires 1-inch margins on all four sides of the page. You can set this in your document or page layout settings.

If you see an option for a gutter, leave it set to 0". That setting is for book printing, where pages are bound together – not something you need for standard research papers.

3 – 6. Text Styling: Font, Spacing, Indents, & Alignment

APA has very specific requirements for how your text should look:

• Font: The APA 7 manual allows you to use a number of widely available fonts. The most common is still Times New Roman, 12 pt
• Line Spacing: Double-spaced throughout the entire paper (title page, body, headings, block quotes, and References Page).
• Paragraph Indents: First line indented ½ inch
• Alignment: Left-aligned (not justified)

Times New Roman is standard for APA because it’s clear, readable, and available on just about every device. 12-point is a nice middle ground – not too big, not too small.

Double-spacing helps with readability and leaves room for comments (back when everything was graded by hand).

Paragraph indents should be ½ inch on the first line. You can do this manually with the Tab key, but it's better to set it up in your paragraph settings so it's consistent.

Finally, make sure your text is left-aligned. That means the text hugs the left margin and the right edge is ragged. Don’t use justified alignment – that’s when both sides are straight – because APA doesn’t allow it.

7. Header

Last up is the header – that’s the text that appears at the top of every page of your paper.

For Student Research Papers in the APA 7 format, this is simple: the only thing that goes in the header is the page number, aligned to the right.

There’s no longer a Running Head like there was in earlier versions of APA – and the title page uses the exact same header format as the rest of the paper.

You can usually insert the page number through your word processor’s header settings. Just make sure it's the same font as the rest of your paper, and positioned in the top right corner.

Wrapping Up

That’s it! With those seven steps, your page is APA-ready.

And here’s a quick tip – you can use PERRLA to skip all of this setup. When PERRLA creates your paper, we automatically format every part of the paper perfectly from the start every time.

Now, let’s take a look at how to format the very first page of your paper – the Title Page.

Quick checklist

▢ 8.5″ × 11″ page size

▢ 1″ margins on all sides

▢ Approved font applied consistently (e.g., Times New Roman, 12-pt)

▢ Double spacing everywhere

▢ First-line indent 0.5″

▢ Left-aligned text (not justified)

▢ Page number top-right in the header

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Let PERRLA Handle your Formatting

PERRLA creates an APA 7 student research paper that is pre-formatted from the start – margins, fonts, spacing, and the page number appear in the correct places. This removes guesswork and prevents hidden formatting issues later.