MLA format requires page numbers on every page of your paper. They appear as part of the running header in the top-right corner.
Page Number Format
Page numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3...) and are preceded by your last name with a space:
Smith 1
Smith 2
Smith 3
Placement Rules
- 0.5 inches from the top edge of the page
- Aligned to the right margin
- Same font as the rest of the paper (12pt Times New Roman)
- Appears on every page, including the first page
- No special "p." or "page" prefix — just the number
MLA 9 Clarification
Some older MLA guides suggested omitting the header on the first page. MLA 9 simplified this: the running header with last name and page number appears on every page with no exceptions.
Multiple Authors
If your paper has multiple authors, use the first author's last name in the running header. The header always refers to the person submitting the paper.
Generate Headers Automatically
Use our free Header Generator to create running headers for your paper.
Open Header Generator