📄 Cover Page Generator · Free

Make a properly formatted title page in 30 seconds.

Fill in your details. See a live preview. Download as DOCX, PDF, or copy the formatted text. Built to the current MLA 9th, APA 7th, and Chicago 17th editions.

Free, no signup· MLA · APA · Chicago· DOCX + PDF download
Your title page details
style: APA 7th
title case · centered on the page
department also accepted: "Department of Education, Boston University"
spelled out: "April 18, 2026"
Preview updates as you type
Live preview
APA 7TH
CHARTER SCHOOLS REFORM1
Charter Schools and Public Education Reform:
A Comparative Analysis
Madison Thompson
Department of Education, Boston University
EDU 410: Education Policy
Dr. Sarah Chen
April 18, 2026

01Formatting rules by style

Quick reference for what each style requires. The generator handles this automatically, but here's what's actually different between them. For worked examples, see our guide to making an essay cover page.

MLA
9th ed
  • No separate title page unless required. Header on page 1 instead.
  • Top-left: name, instructor, course, date (DD Month YYYY).
  • Title centered on the next line, title case, no bold or italics.
  • Running header: Last name + page number, top-right, every page.
  • Times New Roman 12pt, double-spaced, 1" margins.
APA
7th ed
  • Separate title page required.
  • Title bold, centered, upper third of page.
  • Author name, department + institution, course, instructor, date — each on its own line, centered.
  • Running head: abbreviated title (≤50 chars), all caps, top-left + page number top-right.
  • Student version: omit "Running head:" label (only used for professional papers).
Chicago
17th ed
  • Separate title page standard for student papers.
  • Title 1/3 down the page, centered, title case, no bold.
  • Author name centered, halfway down.
  • Course, instructor, date at the bottom, centered, single-spaced.
  • No page number on the title page (page count starts on page 2).

What goes on an essay cover page

A cover page — also called a title page — is the first thing your instructor sees, and getting it wrong is an easy way to lose points before they've read a word of your argument. Each style handles it differently: MLA generally skips a standalone cover page in favor of a top-left header block, while APA 7th and Chicago 17th both expect a dedicated title page. This generator codifies the current edition rules for all three so you don't have to memorize margins, spacing, and capitalization.

Whichever style you're assigned, the essentials are the same: your paper title, your name, your institution or course, your instructor, and the due date. The differences are in placement and emphasis — where the title sits on the page, whether it's bold, and how the running head is formatted. If you want side-by-side examples and the common mistakes that cost marks, read our companion essay cover page writing guide, which walks through each style in detail.

Paired Writing Guide
How to make a cover page for an essay
Side-by-side examples for MLA, APA, and Chicago — what each style looks like, what to include, and the common mistakes that lose points.
Read the guide

02Frequently asked questions

Is the cover page generator really free?
Yes — no signup, no card, no watermark. Fill in your details, download the file. The tool itself uses no AI and no paid API; the formatting rules are static per style. The wider PaperDue library and writing tools are subscription-based, but the cover page generator is and will remain free.
Do I need a separate title page in MLA?
Usually no. MLA 9th edition uses a header block at the top of page 1 (name, instructor, course, date) followed by the title centered below — no separate cover page. But some instructors require one anyway; if yours does, the MLA tab in this generator produces a properly formatted standalone title page that follows MLA conventions. Our cover page guide shows both layouts.
What's the difference between student and professional APA title pages?
APA 7th separates the two. The student version includes course number/name, instructor, and assignment due date — the running head is just the abbreviated title in all caps, no "Running head:" label. The professional version includes an author note instead of course details and prefixes the running head with "Running head:". This generator defaults to the student version (most common use case).
Can I edit the title page after downloading?
Yes. The .docx download is an editable Word file — open it in Word, Google Docs, Pages, or LibreOffice and change anything. The .pdf version is for when your instructor asks for a PDF; if you need to edit, use the .docx.
Why does the preview look different from the download?
The preview is scaled to fit your screen, but the proportions, margins, and font choices match the actual download. When you open the .docx or .pdf, it'll be standard 8.5" × 11" with 1" margins and the correct font (Times New Roman 12pt across MLA, APA, and Chicago).