How to Add Page Numbers in MLA Format in Word

To add MLA-style page numbers in Word, insert an automatic page number in the top-right header, then place your surname before it—for example, “Garcia 1.” Use the same header on every page, including page one, and set it about half an inch from the top. Before you begin, check whether your instructor has any paper-specific requirements; those take priority if they differ from standard MLA formatting.

What You’ll Need

A document open in Microsoft Word. These steps use Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; menu labels can vary slightly in other editions.
The surname you want to appear in the header. Use the same surname you use in your paper heading unless your instructor directs otherwise.
Your paper’s usual font and size, so the header can match the body text.

Step-by-Step

Open the paper and check its page layout. Save a copy if you are making changes to a finished document. MLA papers commonly use one-inch margins, but page numbers can be added independently of the margin settings. If you need to check the margins in Word for Windows, go to Layout > Margins. Choose the setting required by your instructor; do not change margins just to move the page number.
Open the header area. Double-click near the top edge of a page, above the body text. Word switches to header editing and displays the contextual Header & Footer tab. You can also open it from the ribbon with Insert > Header > Edit Header. The header is separate from the first line of your paper, so you do not need to add extra spaces or blank paragraphs to position it.
Insert an automatic page number at the top right. On the Windows ribbon, choose Insert > Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3. This is the right-aligned option in the standard gallery. Word inserts a page-number field, which updates on later pages and when pagination changes. Do not type the number yourself: a typed “1” would repeat instead of changing to “2,” “3,” and so on.
Put your surname before the number. In the header, click immediately to the left of the inserted number. Type your surname followed by one space. The result should read like Garcia 1, aligned at the right. If clicking is awkward, use the arrow keys to place the insertion point just before the page-number field, then type the surname and space. Avoid deleting or replacing the shaded page-number field; that field is what makes the numbering automatic.
Make sure the whole header is right-aligned. Click in the header line and press Ctrl+R on Windows. This aligns the surname and number together at the right margin. If the number is already at the far right and the surname appears directly before it, the alignment is likely correct. Do not use spaces to push the text across the page: spacing can shift when fonts or margins change.
Set the header’s distance from the top. While the header is active, use the Header & Footer tab and find the Position group. Set Header from Top to 0.5" (half an inch), then press Enter. If you cannot see the Position group, widen the Word window or look for a collapsed ribbon group. The page number should sit in the header, not in the document body.
Match the paper’s type style. Select the surname and number, then set them to the same font and size as the paper unless your instructor specifies something else. A common MLA setup uses a readable 12-point font, but follow your course instructions. Keep the header plain: do not add “Page,” “p.,” a comma, bold styling, or decorative lines unless they are specifically requested.
Check first-page and section settings. Look on the Header & Footer tab for Different First Page. Leave it unchecked for the standard MLA student-paper header, which includes the surname and page number on page one. Also leave Different Odd & Even Pages off unless you have a specific reason to use alternating headers. If the document has sections, check that the header is linked as needed and that numbering continues through each section.
Close the header and inspect the pages. Select Close Header and Footer, or double-click in the body of the document. Scroll through the first, middle, and last pages. Confirm that every page has the same surname, that the numbers increase in order, and that the header is at the upper right. Save the document after checking it.

For Word on Mac: The controls are similar, though the ribbon and page-number gallery may look different. Open the header by double-clicking at the top of a page, then use Insert > Page Number and choose a top-of-page, right-aligned style. Add the surname before the number and use the header controls to set its position. The Mac alignment shortcut is Command+R, rather than Ctrl+R. If you use Word for the web, some header layout controls may be limited; open the document in the desktop app if you cannot set the header position precisely.

Common Mistakes

Typing a number instead of inserting a field: A manually typed “1” stays “1” on every page. Use Word’s Page Number gallery so the number changes automatically.

Leaving off the surname: Standard MLA page headers use the writer’s surname followed by the page number, not the number alone. Check your instructor’s directions if they request a different header.

Removing the header from page one: The Different First Page option is useful for some business documents, but it usually conflicts with a standard MLA student-paper header. If page one has no number, check this setting.

Adding “Page” or “p.” before the number: MLA headers normally show the surname and number without a label or punctuation between them. Use a single space, as in “Garcia 1.”

Trying to align the header with repeated spaces: Spaces are fragile and may shift as the document changes. Use a right-aligned header paragraph or the right-aligned page-number style instead.

Assuming page numbering must restart at the Works Cited page: In a standard paper, numbering continues through the whole document. The Works Cited page has the next number in sequence; it does not start over at 1.

Tips

Finish major edits before doing a final page-by-page check. Adding or removing text can change where page breaks fall, although Word’s automatic numbering will update the header field. If you need to print or submit a PDF, check the exported file as well: a correct Word header can still be affected by a section break, a different first-page setting, or a conversion issue.

If you are starting a new paper, set up the header near the beginning. That makes it easier to notice a missing page number before the document is long. When using a template, inspect its header rather than assuming it follows MLA rules. Templates may include a title-page layout, a different first page, or a footer that is not appropriate for your assignment.

Use the surname that identifies you on the paper. If two students with the same surname are submitting work to the same instructor, ask whether a first initial or another distinguishing detail is wanted rather than inventing a format. Likewise, follow a teacher’s instructions if they specifically ask for a title page or different pagination; classroom directions can override the general setup described here.

Troubleshooting

The number repeats on every page. The number may have been typed as ordinary text. Double-click the header, remove the repeated text, and reinsert it through Insert > Page Number > Top of Page. If you are unsure whether it is a field, click it; Word may shade the field when selected.

The page number is on the left or in the center. Click in the header paragraph and use Ctrl+R on Windows or Command+R on Mac. You can also reinsert a right-aligned option such as Plain Number 3, then add the surname before the field.

Page one has no header, or its header looks different. Open the header on page one and check whether Different First Page is selected. Turn it off for the standard MLA layout. If it is already off, check whether page one starts a separate section with its own header settings.

The numbering restarts partway through the document. A section break may have introduced new page-number settings. Click in the affected section’s header, open Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers, and choose Continue from previous section. If the header itself differs, check Link to Previous on the Header & Footer tab. Be careful: changing linked headers can also change other sections.

The header is too high, too low, or missing from view. Reopen it and set Header from Top to 0.5 inches. If the text seems hidden, check that the font color is not white and that the header is not outside the printable area. Print Preview can help distinguish a screen-display issue from a layout problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do MLA page numbers start on the first page?
Yes, the usual student-paper format numbers the first page as 1 and shows the surname and number in its header. Follow your instructor’s directions if they specify an exception.

Should the page number be in the header or footer?
Use the header at the top right for the standard MLA format. A footer number at the bottom of the page is not the usual MLA placement.

Should I include my first name?
Usually, no. The standard header uses your surname, a space, and the page number. Use a different name format only if your instructor requests it.

Does the Works Cited page need the same header?
Yes. Keep the same surname-and-number header, and let the numbering continue from the preceding page. Do not restart the sequence just because the Works Cited section begins.

Can I use this method in an existing document?
Yes. Insert the page-number field in the document’s header and check the section settings. Existing section breaks or a different first-page header may need adjustment so the numbering appears consistently.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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