What Font Is Used In APA? Discover The Surprising Standard Every Scholar Swears By

What font should you actually use when you’re writing an APA‑style paper?
It feels like every time you open the Publication Manual you’re met with a maze of numbers, tables, and—yes—a whole lot of font talk That's the whole idea..

You’ve probably seen a meme that says “Times New Roman, 12‑pt, double‑spaced, because the APA gods demand it.” But is that still the rule in 2024? And what if you’re a designer who loves Helvetica, or a student who can’t read serif fonts without squinting?

Let’s cut through the jargon, see what the APA really says, and figure out a practical plan you can actually follow.

What Is APA Font Guidance

When we talk about “APA font,” we’re really talking about the typographic recommendations that the American Psychological Association includes in its 7th edition style guide. The manual doesn’t lock you into a single typeface; instead, it gives a short list of acceptable options and the exact point size you should use.

The official list

• Times New Roman – 12‑pt (the classic “academic” look)
• Arial – 11‑pt (a clean sans‑serif)
• Calibri – 11‑pt (the default in recent versions of Microsoft Word)
• Georgia – 11‑pt (a serif that’s a bit wider than Times)
• Computer Modern – 12‑pt (the LaTeX default)

That’s it. No other fonts are “allowed” unless your instructor or publisher explicitly says otherwise. The key is the point size—you can’t just shrink Times New Roman to 10‑pt and call it a day Practical, not theoretical..

Why the list looks odd

You might wonder why the APA gives you both serif and sans‑serif choices. The answer is readability. Serif fonts like Times New Roman and Georgia help guide the eye across long blocks of text, while sans‑serif fonts like Arial and Calibri work better on screens. The manual tries to accommodate both printed dissertations and digital submissions Which is the point..

Why It Matters / Why People Care

If you ignore the font rule, you’re not just committing a style faux pas; you could actually affect how your work is perceived.

• First impressions – A paper that looks “off‑brand” can feel sloppy, even if the research is solid.
• Readability – Wrong font size or a cramped typeface makes reviewers squint, which can subtly bias them against your arguments.
• Compliance – Some journals run automatic checks for formatting. Miss the font and your manuscript could be sent back for “minor revisions” before anyone even looks at the content.

In practice, the difference between a 12‑pt Times New Roman and an 11‑pt Calibri might seem tiny, but it changes line count, page count, and sometimes even the placement of figures. That’s why the APA is explicit about it And that's really what it comes down to..

How It Works (or How to Do It)

Getting the right font isn’t just a one‑click thing. Here’s a step‑by‑step guide for the most common writing platforms.

1. Microsoft Word

1. Open a new document – Start with a blank page.
2. Select the whole document – Press Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac).
3. Choose the font – Go to the Home tab, click the font dropdown, and pick one from the APA list.
4. Set the size – Times New Roman = 12 pt; everything else = 11 pt.
5. Double‑space – Still on the Home tab, click the line‑spacing icon and choose “2.0”.
6. Save as a template – If you write a lot of APA papers, save this file as “APA_Template.dotx” for future use.

2. Google Docs

1. File → Page setup – Make sure margins are set to 1 in on all sides.
2. Select all text – Ctrl+A.
3. Font dropdown – Google Docs only offers a limited set natively, but you can add Times New Roman or Arial via the “More fonts” menu.
4. Set size – Same rule: 12 pt for Times, 11 pt for the rest.
5. Line spacing – Format → Line spacing → Double.

3. LaTeX

If you’re writing in LaTeX, the default Computer Modern 12‑pt is already APA‑compliant. Just add the following to your preamble:

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{setspace}
\setstretch{2}

If you prefer Times New Roman, load the times package:

\usepackage{times}
\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\rmdefault}

Remember to keep the line spacing double; setspace handles that.

4. Checking compliance

• Word count tools – Most built‑in word counters ignore formatting, so run a quick visual scan.
• APA checklist – Many universities provide a PDF checklist; tick “font” and “size” before you submit.
• PDF preview – Export to PDF and zoom in to 100 % to see exactly how the text appears on screen.

Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong

Using 10‑pt Times New Roman

A lot of students think “smaller = more pages = better grades” and shrink the font to 10 pt. Also, the APA manual explicitly says 12 pt for Times. It’s a tiny detail, but it’s an easy way to lose points on formatting Turns out it matters..

Mixing fonts within one paper

You might love the look of Georgia for headings and Arial for body text, but unless you’re writing a journal article that permits that, stick to one font throughout. Switching mid‑paper looks like you’re indecisive about design, not about research Easy to understand, harder to ignore..

Forgetting the point size for non‑serif fonts

People often set Calibri to 12 pt because that’s the default in Word, but the APA calls for 11 pt. The extra point adds unnecessary space, which can push your reference list onto an extra page.

Ignoring the “no bold in headings” rule

APA says headings should be bold only for certain levels, but the font itself stays the same. Some writers think they need a “fancier” heading font; that’s a no‑go.

Over‑relying on automatic formatting

The “Format Painter” tool is great—until it copies a stray 10‑pt line from a table caption into the main text. Always double‑check after using any bulk formatting command.

Practical Tips / What Actually Works

• Create a master style sheet – In Word, define a custom style called “APA Body” that locks in Times New Roman, 12 pt, double‑spaced. Apply it to every paragraph; you’ll never have to worry about stray formatting again.
• Use the “Show/Hide” feature – Turn on ¶ symbols to see hidden line breaks or extra spaces that can mess up line spacing.
• Keep a cheat sheet – Print a one‑page PDF with the five approved fonts and their point sizes. Tape it to your monitor for quick reference.
• Test on different devices – Open your PDF on a phone, tablet, and laptop. If the text looks cramped on the phone, you probably chose a font that’s too dense (Times New Roman can be a bit tight on small screens).
• Ask your advisor early – Some departments have their own “preferred” font (often Arial). Get confirmation before you lock in the final version.

FAQ

Q: Can I use a different font if my university doesn’t care?
A: Technically yes, but if you plan to submit to a journal that follows APA, you’ll need to switch back. It’s safest to stick with the approved list from the start.

Q: What about footnotes? Do they need a different font?
A: No. Footnotes follow the same font and size rules as the main text. The only difference is that they’re single‑spaced within the footnote block Still holds up..

Q: I’m writing a PowerPoint presentation for an APA conference. Do the same font rules apply?
A: The APA manual doesn’t dictate slide fonts, but most conferences expect the same readability standards. Stick with Arial 24‑pt or Times New Roman 28‑pt for titles, and keep body text at least 18‑pt.

Q: Does the APA allow custom fonts for the title page?
A: Not unless your institution explicitly permits it. The title page is part of the manuscript, so it must follow the same font guidelines Worth knowing..

Q: I’m using a LaTeX template that defaults to 10‑pt. Is that a problem?
A: Yes. Change the document class option to [12pt] for Computer Modern, or load a supported font package with the correct size.

So, what font is used in APA? In short: pick one of the five approved typefaces, match the point size (12 pt for Times New Roman, 11 pt for the others), double‑space everything, and keep it consistent from title page to reference list It's one of those things that adds up..

This is where a lot of people lose the thread.

Follow the steps, avoid the common pitfalls, and you’ll spend less time fretting over formatting and more time polishing your research. Happy writing!