Google Docs MLA Format: How to Set Up an MLA Paper

Here's the catch. Page setup, headers and page numbers don't work in pageless format, so if those options seem to be missing, switch the document to pages format first. And the Docs citations tool lists MLA as the 8th edition, while Purdue OWL's guide works from the MLA Handbook, 9th edition, so check which one your instructor wants.

MLA rules and where they live in Docs

MLA rule (Purdue OWL)	Where to find it in Google Docs, as of October 2026
1 inch margins on all sides	File, Page setup, Pages, Margins
Double-spaced text, including the heading	Format, Line and paragraph spacing, Double
Legible font such as Times New Roman at 12 pt	Font and Font size in the toolbar
Last name and page number, top right, half an inch from the top	Insert, Page elements, Header and Page number
First line of each paragraph indented half an inch	The Tab key, which MLA recommends over pressing the space bar five times
Title centred	Align in the toolbar, then Centered
Works Cited entries with a 0.5 inch hanging indent	Format, Align and indent

Margins, spacing and font

1. Open your document in Google Docs on your computer.
2. Click File, then Page setup, and select Pages at the top of the dialog.
3. Set Margins to 1 inch on every side and click OK. Click Set as default first if you'd like every new document to start this way.
4. Select your text, open Format, then Line and paragraph spacing, and click Double.
5. Pick a legible font at 12 pt from the toolbar. MLA asks for regular and italic styles that look clearly different from each other.

Leave only one space after full stops and other punctuation unless your instructor says otherwise. If you'd like more detail on the margin dialog itself, here's my guide to changing margins in Google Docs.

The MLA heading block on page one

MLA papers don't get a title page unless one's specifically requested or it's a group project. Instead, the first page opens with a heading block in the upper left corner.

1. Type your name, your instructor's name, the course and the date, each on its own double-spaced line.
2. Press Enter and type your title in Title Case, not all capitals.
3. Select the title and centre it with Align, then Centered.
4. Don't underline it, italicise it or put it in quotation marks.
5. Start your text on the next double-spaced line.

For a group project, OWL says to list every contributor's name on its own line in the heading, then carry on with the rest of the MLA header requirements.

Adding the last name and page number header

1. Click Insert, then Page elements, then Header.
2. Type your last name followed by a space.
3. Click Insert, then Page elements, then Page number, and choose where the numbers go.
4. Use Align, then Right, so the header sits flush with the right margin.

Number every page consecutively in Arabic numerals. Some instructors ask you to leave the header off the first page; in Docs, click the header and tick Different first page. If you're writing in sections, MLA suggests numbering them with an Arabic number, a full stop, a space and the section name.

Works Cited page rules

• Begin Works Cited on a separate page at the end, with the same 1 inch margins and last name and page number header.
• Centre the words Works Cited at the top, without italics, underlining, bold or quotation marks. Only the title is centred.
• Align entries with the left margin, double-space them and don't add extra space between entries.
• Indent the second and later lines of each entry by 0.5 inches to make a hanging indent.
• Alphabetise entries by the first item in the citation, usually the author's last name.
• Use italics for titles of larger works, like books, and quotation marks for shorter works, like articles.
• Use a DOI if you can, otherwise a URL with http:// removed, and end every entry with a full stop.

For page ranges, MLA drops repeated digits, so pages 225 through 250 become pp. 225-50, with a hyphen. A single page uses p. before the number. If you're citing an online video, here's how to cite a YouTube video.

Using the Docs citations tool for MLA

1. Click Tools, then Citations, and choose MLA in the sidebar.
2. Click Add citation source, pick the source type and how you accessed it. You can search by URL for websites or by ISBN for books.
3. Fill in the fields. Recommended ones carry a blue asterisk.
4. Place your cursor in the text, hover over the source and click Cite. If a hash symbol appears, replace it with the page number.
5. Put your cursor at the end and click Insert bibliography.

The heading the tool generates reads Bibliography, and it's always in English, while MLA labels the page Works Cited, so retype that heading. My full guide to adding citations in Google Docs has the full walkthrough.

My verdict on MLA format in Google Docs

I'd set the margins, font and spacing first and click Set as default, so every future essay starts right. I'd use the citations tool to save typing, then check each entry against the OWL rules and fix the heading. Skip a title page unless your instructor asks for one, and always follow their guidelines where they differ from the standard.

Frequently asked questions

What are the MLA margins in Google Docs?

MLA uses 1 inch margins on all sides. In Google Docs, set them under File, then Page setup, then Margins.

How do I add my last name and page number in Google Docs?

Click Insert, then Page elements, then Header, type your last name and a space, then add Page number from the same menu and align it right.

Does an MLA paper need a title page?

No, not unless it's specifically requested or it's a group project. Put your name, instructor, course and date in the upper left of page one instead.

How big is the hanging indent on a Works Cited page?

The second and later lines of each entry are indented 0.5 inches, with the first line flush with the left margin.

Which MLA edition does the Google Docs citations tool use?

The citations tool lists MLA 8th edition, while Purdue OWL works from the MLA Handbook 9th edition, so check what your instructor wants.