How to Write an Appendix in APA Format

Key Takeaways

• Not all APA-style papers need an appendix; it’s added only if it prevents the main text from becoming cluttered.
• An appendix can include items like surveys, raw data, or materials used in research.
• Each appendix must be labeled and titled on a new page, with references cited like in the main paper.

When you are writing an academic paper in APA format, every detail counts, from the title page to the abstract to the reference section. One often-overlooked detail is the APA appendix. This section is found at the end of a paper and contains information that supplements the text but is too unwieldy or distracting to include in the main body of the paper. 

An APA appendix allows you to include supplemental information in your paper without cluttering the main text. Some elements that might be included in this section are surveys, raw data, and research instruments. Adding this information to the appendix lets you keep your paper focused while maintaining thoroughness and transparency.

APA format is the official writing style used by the American Psychological Association. This format dictates how academic and professional papers should be structured and formatted. 

Keep reading to learn more about how to properly structure and format your APA appendix to ensure that your paper meets expectations and is easy for readers to understand.

Does Your Paper Need an APA Appendix?

Not every APA-style paper needs an appendix. The first step you need to take is to determine if one is necessary. An APA appendix should include information that supports your research but that would be too long or distracting to include in the main text of your paper.

Some questions to ask about whether you should put information in the body of the paper or an appendix:

• Is the material necessary for the reader to understand the research? If the answer is yes, it should be in your paper and not in an appendix.
• Would including the information interrupt the flow of the paper? If the answer is yes, then it should likely appear in the appendix.
• Would the information supplement what already appears in your paper? If yes, then it is a good candidate for inclusion in an appendix.

Your appendix is not meant to become an information dump. While the information in your appendices is supplementary to your paper and research, it should still be useful and relevant. Only include what will help readers gain insight and understanding, not clutter or unnecessary confusion.

What to Include in an APA Appendix

Once you’ve decided that your paper needs an APA appendix, the next step is figuring out what type of content belongs in it.

The APA official stylebook suggests that the appendix include information that would be distracting or inappropriate in the paper’s text.

Some examples of information you might include in an appendix include:

• Correspondence (if it pertains directly to your research)
• Demographic details about participants or groups
• Examples of participant responses
• Extended or detailed descriptions
• Lists that are too lengthy to include in the main text
• Large amounts of raw data
• Lists of supporting research and articles that are not directly referenced in-text
• Materials and instruments (if your research relied on special materials or instruments, you might want to include images and further information about how these items work or were used)
• Questionnaires that were used as part of your research
• Raw data (presented in an organized, readable format)
• Research surveys

While the content found in the appendix is too cumbersome to include in the main text of your paper, it should still be easily presented in print format. The information in your appendix should also add value to your paper, but shouldn’t be essential for understanding the main text. Think of it as the “bonus” section. This information supports your point, but your reader doesn’t need it to understand your points or findings.

The appendices should always act as a supplement to your paper. The body of your paper should be able to stand alone and fully describe your research or your arguments.

The body of your paper should not be dependent upon what is in the appendices. Instead, each appendix should act to supplement what is in the primary text, adding additional (but not essential) information that provides extra insight or information for the reader. 

Basic Rules for an APA Appendix

Including an appendix isn’t just about tacking all the extra content onto the end of your paper. Just like with the rest of your paper, there are specific formatting rules you need to follow to help ensure consistency and clarity.

APA style rules specify guidelines for how your appendices should be organized, labeled, and referenced within your paper.

Here are some basic APA appendix rules to keep in mind when working on your paper:

• Your paper may have more than one appendix.
• Each item usually gets its own appendix section.
• Begin each appendix on a separate page.
• Each appendix must have a title.
• Use title case for your title and labels (the first letter of each word should be capitalized, while remaining letters should be lowercase).
• If your paper only has one appendix, simply title it Appendix. 
• If you have more than one appendix, each one should be labeled Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, and so on.
• Put the appendix label centered at the top of the page.
• On the following line under the appendix label, place the centered title of the appendix. 
• If you refer to a source in your appendix, include an in-text citation just as you would in the main body of your paper, and then include the source in your main reference section.
• Each appendix may contain headings, subheadings, figures, and tables. 
• Each figure or table in your appendix should include a brief but explanatory title, which should be italicized. 
• If you want to reference your appendix within the text of your paper, include a parenthetical note in the text. For example, you would write (See Appendix A).

Formatting an APA Appendix

How do you format an appendix in APA? An APA appendix should follow the overall rules on how to format text. Such rules specify what font and font size you should use, the size of your margins, and the spacing of the text.

Some of the APA format guidelines you need to observe:

• Use a consistent font, such as 12-point Times New Roman or 11-point Calibri
• Double-space your text
• All paragraphs should be indented on the first line
• Page numbering should be continuous with the rest of your paper

The appendix label should appear centered and bolded at the top of the page. A descriptive title should follow and should also be bolded and centered. As with other pages in your paper, your APA format appendix should be left-aligned and double-spaced. Each page should include a page number in the top right corner. You can also have more than one appendix, but each one should begin on a new page.

Data Displays in an APA Appendix

When presenting information in an appendix, use a logical layout for any data displays, such as tables or figures. All tables and figures should be labeled with the words “Table” or “Figure” (sans quotation marks) and the letter of the appendix, and then numbered.

For example, Table A1 would be the first table in Appendix A. Data displays should be presented in the appendix following the same order in which they first appear in the text of your paper.

In addition to following basic APA formatting rules, you should also check to see if there are additional guidelines you need to follow. Individual instructors or publications may have their own specific requirements.

Where to Include an APA Appendix

Knowing where to place your APAi appendix is just as important as knowing what to put in it. Placing it incorrectly can disrupt the flow of your paper and confuse readers.

If your paper requires an appendix, it should be the very last page of your finished paper. An APA format paper is usually structured in the following way:

Your paper may not necessarily include all of these sections. At a minimum, however, your paper may contain a title page, abstract, main text, and reference section. Also, if your paper does not include tables, figures, or footnotes, the appendix would come immediately after the references.

Never include an appendix containing information that is not referred to in your text. 

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition (2020).

2. APA Style. Appendices setup.

3. APA Style. Order of pages.

Additional Reading

• American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2020.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the “Everything Psychology Book.”

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