Free Online Tool

Free MLA Formatter

Format your paper in MLA 9 with a free, easy-to-use online MLA formatter. No signup required. Your documents stay private.

Format My Paper Citation Generator

Paper Details

Student Name

Instructor Name

Course / Class

Date

Paper Title

Last Name (Running Header)

Essay Content0 words

Check Formatting

Document Preview

How the MLA Formatter Works

Three simple steps to format your paper in MLA 9

Enter Your Details

Fill in your name, instructor, course, date, and paper title. Add or paste your essay content.

Format Instantly

Click "Format My Paper" to apply MLA 9 formatting — headings, spacing, margins, and page numbers.

Download or Print

Preview your formatted paper, then download as a .docx file, copy to clipboard, or print directly.

What This MLA Formatter Does

Everything you need to format your paper according to MLA 9 guidelines

First-Page Heading

Automatically formats your name, instructor, course, and date on the first page.

Running Header

Adds your last name and page number in the top-right corner of every page.

Double Spacing

Applies MLA-required double line spacing throughout your document.

1-Inch Margins

Sets proper 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.

12pt Times New Roman

Uses the standard MLA font — 12-point Times New Roman.

First-Line Indents

Automatically indents the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches.

Centered Title

Centers your paper title in plain text above the body paragraphs.

DOCX Import

Upload a .docx file and import your content directly into the formatter.

DOCX Export

Download your formatted paper as a Microsoft Word document.

MLA 9 Formatting Requirements

The key formatting rules this MLA formatter follows

Margins: 1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right)

Font: 12-point Times New Roman or other readable font

Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, no extra space between paragraphs

Indentation: First line of each paragraph indented 0.5 inches

Running Header: Last name and page number in top-right corner, 0.5 inches from top

First-Page Heading: Left-aligned: Your Name, Instructor, Course, Date (Day Month Year)

Title: Centered on the first page, below the heading, in plain text

Page Numbers: Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3...) in the running header

Why Use an Online MLA Formatter?

Privacy-First

Your documents are processed entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to any server.

Instant Formatting

No waiting, no uploads. Format your paper instantly with one click.

No Account Required

Start formatting immediately. No signup, no login, no strings attached.

Related MLA Tools

More free tools to help with your MLA formatting

Citation Generator

Create MLA 9 citations for any source type

Format Checker

Check your paper for MLA formatting issues

Heading Generator

Generate a proper MLA first-page heading

Header Generator

Create running headers with page numbers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MLA format?

MLA format is a set of guidelines created by the Modern Language Association for formatting academic papers. It specifies margins, font, spacing, heading structure, page numbers, and citation formatting.

What is MLA 9?

MLA 9 refers to the 9th edition of the MLA Handbook, published in 2021. It updated citation guidelines to better handle digital and non-traditional sources.

Does MLA require a title page?

No. MLA format does not require a separate title page. Instead, the first page includes a heading with your name, instructor, course, and date, followed by the centered title.

What font does MLA use?

MLA recommends 12-point Times New Roman. Other readable fonts like Arial or Calibri may be accepted, but Times New Roman is the standard.

What are MLA margins?

MLA requires 1-inch margins on all sides of the page — top, bottom, left, and right.

How do MLA page numbers work?

Page numbers appear in the running header — your last name followed by the page number (e.g., Smith 1), positioned in the top-right corner, 0.5 inches from the top edge.

Is this MLA formatter really free?

Yes. This MLA formatter is completely free with no signup required. All formatting is done in your browser — your documents never leave your device.

MLA Formatting Guides

Learn more about MLA formatting rules and citation guidelines