Set all four page margins to 1 inch. Keep body text inside those margins; place the last-name-and-page-number running header 0.5 inch from the top and aligned with the right margin.
What size are MLA margins?
Use one-inch margins on all four sides of the page. On US Letter paper, that leaves a text area 6.5 inches wide by 9 inches tall. Keep headings, titles, paragraphs, quotations, and the Works Cited list within that area.
- ✓ Top: 1 inch
- ✓ Bottom: 1 inch
- ✓ Left: 1 inch
- ✓ Right: 1 inch
The running-header exception
The last-name-and-page-number running header is positioned one-half inch from the top edge. It stays flush with the right margin, so the text itself does not extend beyond the one-inch right boundary.
Smith 1 Your Name Instructor Name Course Day Month Year
Set MLA margins in Google Docs
Choose File → Page setup, select Pages, and enter 1 for the top, bottom, left, and right margins. Pageless documents do not use normal page margins or repeating headers, so switch to Pages before formatting the paper.
Set MLA margins in Microsoft Word
Choose Layout → Margins → Normal to apply one-inch margins. If the document was previously customized, open Custom Margins and confirm that all four values are 1 inch.
Common margin mistakes
Do not widen margins to change the page count, use spaces to imitate a left margin, or place the four-line student heading in the repeating header area. Imported templates can also retain nonstandard page settings, so verify the values before writing.
- ✓ Check all four sides
- ✓ Use page settings, not spaces
- ✓ Keep the four-line heading in the document body
- ✓ Verify settings after importing a file
Create your MLA header
Enter your details once, see the complete first page, then copy or download it.
Open the free generatorFrequently asked questions
Are MLA margins 1 inch?
Yes. Standard MLA paper formatting uses one-inch margins at the top, bottom, left, and right.
Is the MLA header inside the one-inch margin?
The running header is one-half inch from the top edge and aligned with the right margin. The four-line student heading begins at the one-inch top and left margins.
Does MLA use 1.25-inch margins?
No. Use one-inch margins unless your instructor or assignment requires something different.
Based on the MLA Style Center’s paper-formatting guidance and the MLA Handbook, ninth edition. Last reviewed 11 October 2026. Always follow your instructor’s directions.