How to Make a Table of Contents in APA Format in Your Word Document

A table of contents in APA format can be easily inserted into your Word document. Just follow the APA style rules to create the TOC.

There are no official APA guidelines for a table of contents in APA format. So follow existing APA style rules as follows:

Use the same font type and size as used in the rest of the paper, for example, Times New Roman 12.
Double line space the entries.

To create a table of contents using Microsoft Word, you must:

Give your headings an outline level if they do not have one.
Prepare the table of contents in APA format.
Create the table of contents.

Microsoft Word will easily create the table of contents in APA format for you.

Also, the table of contents can be updated automatically whenever you make changes, such as page numbers changing because text and/or images have been added (or deleted) that affect the page numbers.

You can manually create a table of contents using Microsoft Word supplied template.

This should only be in special cases where the automatically generated table of contents does not satisfy your requirements.

Preparation for the Table of Contents

Set Outline Levels for Your Headings in Microsoft Word

APA Level 1 headings to Outline level 1
APA Level 2 headings to Outline level 2
APA Level 3 headings to Outline level 3

Heading levels in a Table of Contents in APA Format

Figure 1: Table of Contents in APA Format With Hierarchy Levels

The outline levels can be set up any time before the table of contents is generated, for example, you could do this as you write your paper.

For example, Figures 2 and 3 show an APA Level 2 heading being set to Outline level 2 in Microsoft Word.

Select APA level 2 heading to set outline level in Microsoft Word

Figure 2: Select Heading Text for APA Level 2

Select the heading.
Open the Paragraph dialog box.

Set APA Level 2 heading to Microsoft Word outline level 2

Figure 3: Example - APA Level 2 Heading Set to Outline Level 2

Set the Outline level as follows:
- APA Level 1 heading to Outline level 1
- APA Level 2 heading to Outline level 2 (example in Figure 3)
- APA Level 3 heading to Outline level 3

Set Up the Table of Contents in APA Format

Select Table of Contents submenu in Microsoft Word

Figure 4: Select Table of Contents Submenu in Microsoft Word

Select the References tab.
Select Table of Contents from the Table of Contents group.
Select Custom Table of Contents to open the Table of Contents dialog box (see Figure 5).

Select modify Table of Contents dialog box in Microsoft Word

Figure 5: Select Modify in Table of Contents Submenu

Select Modify.

Select Modify for Level 1 Heading style

Figure 6: Select Modify for Level 1 Heading

Select Modify.

Note: Figure 6 shows the APA Level 1 Heading being selected for modification.

If the APA Level 2 Heading is being selected for formatting, select TOC 2.

If the APA Level 3 Heading is being selected for formatting, select TOC 3.

Set Font type and size for APA level 1 heading

Figure 7: Set APA Font Type and Size for Level 1 Heading

Select the font type and size for your APA format.
The font type and size will already be in APA format if it is the default in your Word document.
Select Format.

Select paragraph to be formatted

Figure 8: Select paragraph to be formatted in APA style

Select Paragraph.
This will let you style the Paragraph (see Figure 9) in APA format.

Select Double Line Spacing for Level 1 headings in APA format

Figure 9: Double Line Spacing for APA Level 1 Headings

Select Double Line spacing.
Make sure all other settings are as shown, in particular, Before and After spacing is set to zero.
The paragraph style will now be in APA format.
Select OK.
Select OK in all other open dialog boxes.

Creating a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word in APA Format

Four different formats are shown:

page number in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3. ) on every page including the title page (see Figure 10)
page number in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3. ) starting at 1 on the table of contents page (see Figure 11)
page number in Arabic numerals starting at 1 after the table of contents (see Figure 12)
Roman numerals (i, ii, iii. ) for the table of contents, and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3. ) for the main body of work (see Figure 13)

Table of Contents with a Page Number on Every Page

The most obvious way to create a table of contents in APA format is to treat the table of contents as another page (or pages) of text.

Therefore, the table of contents in APA format (as shown in Figure 10) will:

have a page number in APA format on every page of the table of contents
be double line spaced
have the same font type and size as the rest of the paper

Example of a paper with <a href= a table of contents in APA format" width="941" height="625.228187919463" />

Figure 10: Table of Contents in APA format

Page Number Starting at 1 in the Table of Contents

Example of Table of Contents Beginning With Page Number 1

Figure 11: Table of Contents With Page Number 1

Page Number Starting at 1 in the Main Text

Page numbering starting after the Table of Contents in APA format

Figure 12. Page Numbering Starting After the Table of Contents

Roman Numerals in the Table of Contents and Arabic Numerals in the Main Text

Roman numerals for table of contents and Arabic numerals for main text

Figure 13: Roman and Arabic Numerals for Page Numbers

Summary

The APA style says nothing about creating a table of contents in APA format. The APA blog will explain why.

However, this does not mean you cannot have one. A table of contents is often required.

Follow the guidelines above and your instructor's guidelines to create a table of contents in APA format.

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Note: The version of Microsoft Word used is the latest Word for Microsoft 365. The functions should also work in the 2021, 2019, 2016 and 2013 versions .