MLA Title Page

One of the most common questions about MLA format is whether a paper needs a separate title page. The short answer is no: MLA style does not require a title page for student papers. The long answer depends on your instructor, your assignment, and the type of project you are submitting. This guide explains when you need a title page, how to format one when it is required, and what to put on the first page when it is not.

Does MLA Require a Title Page?

No. The 9th edition of the MLA Handbook states that a research paper does not need a title page. Instead of a separate cover page, MLA assumes your paper will begin with a first-page heading at the top of page one, followed by the title and the body of the essay. This is the default format for every MLA student paper, and the MLA Style Center and the Purdue OWL both describe the same setup.

Notice what this example does not include: no university name, no course title repeated as a label, no separate page before the essay. All of that identifying information lives in the four-line heading and the centered title on the first page itself.

"Does my paper have a title page?" — the fast answer

• MLA requirement: no separate title page; use the first-page heading instead.
• Instructor preference: if your instructor asks for a title page, follow their instructions exactly — their requirements override the default.
• Group projects: a title page is common (though not mandatory) when several students' names must appear together.

When Might an Instructor Require a Title Page?

Although MLA itself does not call for one, individual instructors often do — especially for major essays, research papers, and capstone assignments. The MLA Handbook's opening advice is that if your instructor has specific requirements for the format of your paper, you should check them before preparing your final draft. A title page requirement is exactly the kind of instruction that overrides the MLA default.

Common situations where a title page is expected include:

• The assignment asks for a "cover page" or "title page" explicitly.
• The paper is a team or group project with multiple authors to list.
• The course or department provides its own paper template that includes a title page.
• The paper will be submitted with a separate submission form or through a portal that expects identifying details up front.

If you are unsure whether a title page is expected, ask your instructor before you draft the document. Adding one when it was not requested is safer than omitting one that was — but a quick question settles it either way.

How to Format an MLA Title Page When It Is Required

Because MLA does not publish a single official title-page layout, there is no one "correct" template. What follows is the most common arrangement used across colleges and universities, consistent with MLA formatting principles. Treat these as defaults, and always adapt them to whatever your instructor's assignment sheet specifies.

What goes on the page

• The full title of the paper — centered, not bolded, underlined, or placed in quotation marks, in the same font and size as the rest of the paper.
• Your full name
• Your instructor's name
• The course name and number
• The date in Day Month Year format (for example, 18 November 2025)
• Optionally, the name of your college or university and the assignment name, if the course materials ask for them

Where everything sits

In the most common layout, the title is centered roughly one-third of the way down the page (about four double-spaced lines from the top margin). The identifying information — your name, instructor, course, and date — appears a few double-spaced lines below the title, also centered. Some instructors instead prefer the identifying information at the top of the page and the title centered in the middle; both are seen in the wild.

Formatting rules that still apply

• One-inch margins on all sides.
• Double-spaced throughout — no extra blank lines between items.
• The same readable 12-point font used in the body (typically Times New Roman).
• The running header with your last name and page number should still appear in the top-right corner, 0.5 inches from the top edge, on the title page.
• The title is not bold, not italicized except for words that would be italicized in the body, and not wrapped in quotation marks.

Some instructors who request a title page prefer a page number treatment that differs from the standard running header, and a few prefer that page one of the body not repeat the name header. When an instructor specifies this, follow them rather than the general default.

Title page for a group project

The Purdue OWL notes that a title page is often used when a paper is assigned as a group project. In that case, list every contributor's full name, each on its own line, followed by the instructor's name, the course, and the date — with the title centered on the page.

What Goes on the First Page Instead

When you do not use a separate title page — the standard MLA arrangement — the identifying information moves to the top of page one in the form of a four-line heading, followed by a centered title. The two setups answer the same question ("whose paper is this?") in different places on the page.

• The heading sits flush left at the top of the first page and contains your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date.
• The title is centered on the next double-spaced line after the heading.
• The first paragraph begins on the line after the title, indented half an inch.
• The running header (last name + page number) appears in the top-right corner of every page, including page one.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of this layout, including a full-page example, see our guide to the MLA first page format. If you are ever unclear about which element is which, our heading vs. header comparison breaks down the running header separately from the first-page heading.

Title Page vs. First-Page Heading: Which Do You Use?

Common Mistakes

• Creating a title page when your instructor did not request one — this adds a page that may push your essay past a length limit.
• Forgetting that the four-line heading still belongs at the top of page one when a title page is present.
• Bolding, underlining, or putting the title in quotation marks on the title page.
• Using a different font or font size on the title page than in the paper body.
• Adding excessive empty space or decorative borders that make the page look less like standard academic formatting.
• Omitting the running header and page number from the title page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a title page for a short essay?

No. For most short essays and typical MLA student papers, a separate title page is not required. Use the first-page heading format instead.

Does MLA have a specific title page format?

MLA 9 does not define one. The format you use when a title page is required is determined by your instructor or department; the examples above reflect the most common academic practice.

What if my instructor wants a title page but gives no guidelines?

Ask for clarification. If that is not possible, use the widely used layout above: title centered about a third of the way down, followed by your name, instructor, course, and date, centered and double-spaced, with the running header in the top-right corner.

Does the title page count as page one?

Usually the paper's page numbering starts with the body, and the first body page is page 1. However, this is instructor-specific. Confirm how many numbered pages are expected — MLA page numbers should run consecutively throughout, so if page numbers appear on the title page, the first body page may be numbered 2. Ask your instructor which convention they expect.