How do I cite a conference paper in APA?

To cite a conference paper in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a conference paper in APA?

In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Smith & Jones, 2024)

How to Cite a Conference Paper in APA (7th edition)

Learn how to cite conference proceedings and presentations in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

APA Reference List Format

Here is the standard APA format for citing a conference paper in your reference list:

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year, Month Days). Title of paper [Conference presentation]. Conference Name, Location.

APA Example for a Conference Paper

A complete APA reference for a conference paper, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Ibrahim, Y., & Wong, L. (2023). Automated reference checking at scale. Proceedings of the Conference on Scholarly Infrastructure, 88–97. https://doi.org/10.1000/csi.2023.088

Matching in-text citation: (Ibrahim & Wong, 2023)

APA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Smith & Jones, 2024)

Narrative

Smith and Jones (2024) presented...

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your conference paper.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: apa.csl

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a conference paper in APA?: To cite a conference paper in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the APA format for a conference paper citation?: The APA format for a conference paper is: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year, Month Days). Title of paper [Conference presentation]. Conference Name, Location.
What does the in-text citation look like for a conference paper in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Smith & Jones, 2024)