MLA papers follow a small, well-defined set of formatting rules — 1-inch margins on all sides, a legible 12-point font, double spacing throughout, and a half-inch indent on the first line of every paragraph. This guide gives you the exact settings and shows how they look on the page.
MLA Formatting at a Glance
| Setting | MLA Requirement |
|---|---|
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides |
| Font | Times New Roman, 12pt (other legible fonts accepted) |
| Line spacing | Double-spaced throughout, including the Works Cited |
| Paragraph indent | First line indented 0.5 inch (Tab key) |
| Alignment | Left-aligned (ragged right), never fully justified |
Margins
MLA papers require 1-inch margins on all four sides of the page:
- Top: 1 inch
- Bottom: 1 inch
- Left: 1 inch
- Right: 1 inch
The running header (last name + page number) sits 0.5 inches from the top edge, within the top margin area — see the MLA page numbers guide for the full placement rules.
In most word processors, the default margin setting is already 1 inch. You can verify this under File > Page Setup or Format > Page Setup.
Font
MLA recommends using a readable, 12-point font. The standard choice is Times New Roman, but other fonts are acceptable as long as they are legible:
- Recommended: Times New Roman, 12pt
- Acceptable alternatives: Arial (11pt), Calibri (11pt), Cambria (12pt)
Do not use decorative, script, or overly stylized fonts. The font should be easy to read in both print and digital formats.
Line Spacing
MLA papers must be double-spaced throughout. This includes:
- The heading
- The title
- All body paragraphs
- Block quotations
- The Works Cited page
- Notes and footnotes (if used)
Do not add extra space between paragraphs or sections. The entire document uses consistent double spacing.
Paragraph Indentation
Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches (one half-inch). This can be set using the Tab key or through your word processor's paragraph settings.
Text Alignment
MLA papers use left-aligned text (also called "flush left" or "ragged right"). Do not fully justify the text. The right edge of the text should be uneven.
What These Settings Look Like
When the rules above are applied, the first page of a paper begins with the four-line heading, followed by the centered title, and then the body — each first line indented half an inch, everything double-spaced:
Sofia Rubio
Professor Chen
English 101
12 October 2025
The Rhetoric of the Opening Scene
Every film makes a promise in its first minutes. Before the title appears, the camera, the sound, and the performances begin establishing what kind of story the audience is about to watch.
The first line sits indented half an inch from the left margin; every line of text runs double-spaced at 12-point Times New Roman.
Notice the half-inch indent on the first line of each paragraph and the even white space between lines. To check a paper you have already written against these rules, use the MLA Format Checker.
Format Your Paper Automatically
Our MLA Formatter applies all these rules — margins, font, spacing, and indentation — with one click, and the Format Checker verifies papers you have already written.