Adhering to formatting standards is a cornerstone of academic integrity and professional communication. In the transition from the 6th to the 7th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual, one of the most significant and welcome changes was the expansion of permitted fonts. While the 6th edition strictly enforced 12-point Times New Roman, the current 7th edition prioritizes readability and accessibility, offering researchers a suite of options tailored for both digital and print mediums.

Choosing the correct font and size is not merely an aesthetic choice; it ensures that your work is accessible to readers with visual impairments and remains legible across various devices. The following guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the approved fonts, their required sizes, and how to implement them effectively in your academic work.

Quick Reference Table for APA 7th Edition Fonts

For those seeking an immediate answer, the table below outlines the specific pairings required by APA style. Note that font names and sizes are not interchangeable—for instance, if you choose Arial, you must use 11-point, not 12-point.

Font Type Font Name Required Point Size Best Used For
Sans Serif Calibri 11-point Digital submissions, default MS Word documents.
Sans Serif Arial 11-point High legibility on screens and in presentations.
Sans Serif Lucida Sans Unicode 10-point Documents with complex Unicode characters.
Sans Serif Aptos 12-point The new Microsoft Office default (modern professional look).
Serif Times New Roman 12-point Traditional print journals and university requirements.
Serif Georgia 11-point Enhanced readability on screens for long-form reading.
Serif Computer Modern 10-point Standard default for LaTeX typesetting in STEM fields.

The Philosophy of Flexibility: Why APA Changed Font Rules

The shift toward allowing multiple fonts represents the APA's recognition of the digital-first nature of modern scholarship. Historically, serif fonts (like Times New Roman) were preferred for printed works because the small decorative "feet" (serifs) at the ends of character strokes were believed to guide the eye along lines of text. Conversely, sans serif fonts (like Arial or Calibri) were preferred for computer screens due to their cleaner lines at lower resolutions.

With modern high-resolution displays, the distinction between serif and sans serif for legibility has blurred. The APA now allows both categories, provided the chosen font includes:

  1. Uniformity: The same font must be used throughout the entire paper.
  2. Special Character Support: The font must include math symbols and Greek letters commonly used in scientific reporting.
  3. Accessibility: The font must be clear and distinct enough for individuals using assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to navigate efficiently.

Deep Dive into Sans Serif Options

Sans serif fonts are characterized by the absence of decorative strokes at the ends of letters. In APA style, these are often preferred for student papers submitted digitally.

Calibri (11-point)

Calibri has been the default font for Microsoft Word since 2007. It is highly legible and space-efficient. Because it is so ubiquitous, it is a safe choice for student assignments where no specific institutional preference is stated. Its 11-point size provides a visual weight similar to 12-point Times New Roman.

Arial (11-point)

Arial is perhaps the most widely recognized sans serif font in the world. Its clean, geometric shapes make it exceptionally easy to read on screens of all sizes. It is often the preferred choice for accessibility, as the letters are distinct and lack ambiguity.

Lucida Sans Unicode (10-point)

This font was specifically included for its broad support of special characters. If your research involves linguistics, non-Latin scripts, or advanced mathematical notation that might break in standard fonts, Lucida Sans Unicode at 10 points is the APA-approved solution.

Aptos (12-point)

Aptos is the newest addition to the APA-approved list, reflecting the 2024 update to the Microsoft Office suite. As Aptos replaces Calibri as the default "Body" font in Word, the APA has confirmed that 12-point Aptos is acceptable. It offers a slightly more contemporary and professional aesthetic than its predecessors.

Deep Dive into Serif Options

Serif fonts remain the gold standard for traditional academic publishing and long-form reading in print.

Times New Roman (12-point)

Despite the expansion of the rules, Times New Roman 12-point remains the most commonly expected font in North American universities. It is the "classic" academic look. If a professor’s instructions simply say "APA Format" without specifying a font, Times New Roman is the most conservative and safest choice.

Georgia (11-point)

Georgia was designed specifically for screen readability. It is slightly larger and "heavier" than Times New Roman at the same point size, which is why the APA mandates 11-point for Georgia to maintain consistent page density. It is an excellent choice for online-only journals or digital theses.

Computer Modern (10-point)

For researchers in mathematics, physics, or engineering who use LaTeX for typesetting, Computer Modern is the default. APA recognizes this industry standard and permits it at 10 points. Using Computer Modern in a standard Word document is rare and generally not recommended unless you are mimicking a LaTeX output.

Important Exceptions to the Uniform Font Rule

While the general rule is to use one font and one size for everything—including the title page, headings, body, and references—there are three critical exceptions where you should deviate from your primary choice.

What font size should be used in APA figures?

Within images or figures, the priority is clarity within a confined space. APA style suggests using a sans serif font (even if your body text is serif) with a size between 8 and 14 points.

  • Pro Tip: If your body text is 12-point Times New Roman, using 10-point Arial for your figure labels creates a professional contrast that makes the data easier to digest.

Formatting Computer Code in APA

To distinguish programming code or snippets from regular prose, you should use a monospace font. Monospace fonts give every character the same width, making the structure of the code clear.

  • Recommended: 10-point Courier New or 10-point Lucida Console.
  • Application: When discussing a Python script or an R command in your methodology, wrap the code in these specific fonts to signal to the reader that this is technical syntax, not narrative text.

Footnotes and Word Processor Defaults

If you use the automatic "Insert Footnote" function in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, the program will often default to a smaller font size (usually 10-point) and different line spacing. APA 7th Edition allows you to keep these default settings. You do not need to manually change every footnote to match your 12-point body text, though you may do so if your instructor prefers absolute uniformity.

How to Set APA Fonts in Microsoft Word and Google Docs

Maintaining consistent formatting is easier when you configure your software correctly before you begin writing.

Configuring Microsoft Word for APA

  1. Select All: Press Ctrl + A (Windows) or Cmd + A (Mac).
  2. Font Selection: Navigate to the Home tab, choose your font (e.g., Calibri), and set the size to 11.
  3. Set as Default: To avoid doing this for every new paper, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Font group. In the dialog box, select your font and size, then click Set As Default. Choose "All documents based on the Normal template" and click OK.
  4. Paragraph Settings: APA requires double-spacing. In the Paragraph group, set line spacing to "Double" and ensure that "Before" and "After" spacing are both set to 0 pt.

Configuring Google Docs for APA

  1. Highlight Text: Select the text you want to change.
  2. Font Menu: Use the toolbar to select your font and size.
  3. Update Default Styles: Highlight a paragraph that is correctly formatted (font, size, double-spaced). Go to Format > Paragraph styles > Normal Text > Update 'Normal text' to match.
  4. Save as Default: Go to Format > Paragraph styles > Options > Save as my default styles. Now, every new document you open will start with these APA-compliant settings.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even with a list of approved fonts, students often make errors that lead to a "messy" appearance or points being deducted.

Mixing Fonts in the Same Document

Unless you are dealing with the exceptions mentioned (figures or code), you must use one font throughout. Do not use Arial for headings and Times New Roman for the body. APA style uses Bold and Italics to distinguish heading levels, not font changes.

The "Copy-Paste" Format Trap

When you copy a quote from a PDF or a website and paste it into your document, you often bring along "hidden" formatting. This can result in different shades of black, slightly different line heights, or even a font that isn't on the approved list.

  • Solution: Always use "Paste and Match Formatting" (Ctrl + Shift + V on Windows) or highlight your entire paper periodically and re-apply your chosen APA font to ensure total consistency.

Over-Reliance on Page Count

Different fonts take up different amounts of space. A 10-page paper in 11-point Calibri will have significantly more words than a 10-page paper in 12-point Times New Roman. If your instructor gives a length requirement, ask if they mean page count or word count. If it is word count, choose the font that you find easiest to read; if it is page count, be aware that your choice of font will impact how much you need to write to hit the target.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the official APA font for 2025 and 2026?

There is no single "official" font. APA 7th edition remains the current standard through 2026, and it permits the seven fonts listed earlier: Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Aptos 12, Times New Roman 12, Georgia 11, and Computer Modern 10.

Can I use 12-point Arial in APA?

No. The APA manual explicitly pairs Arial with the 11-point size. Using 12-point Arial would make the text appear unusually large compared to other APA-standard documents and could be flagged as a formatting error.

Is Comic Sans or Helvetica allowed?

Neither Comic Sans nor Helvetica is on the approved list for APA 7th Edition. While Helvetica is very similar to Arial, it is not officially listed, so it is best to stick to Arial to ensure compliance. Comic Sans is considered too informal for academic writing.

Does the font size change for headings?

In APA style, the font size for headings remains exactly the same as the body text. Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 headings are distinguished by being Bold, and sometimes Italicized or centered, but they never increase in point size.

Summary of APA Font and Size Guidelines

To ensure your paper meets the professional standards of the APA 7th edition, follow these core principles:

  • Choose one font from the approved list (Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Aptos 12, Times New Roman 12, Georgia 11, or Computer Modern 10).
  • Maintain consistency across the title page, body text, and reference list.
  • Apply exceptions only where necessary, such as using sans serif fonts (8-14pt) for figures and monospace fonts (10pt) for computer code.
  • Prioritize accessibility by ensuring your document is clean, double-spaced, and free from decorative or handwritten fonts.

By following these specific font and size requirements, you not only comply with academic rules but also ensure that your research is presented in the most readable and professional manner possible.