How do I cite an e-book without page numbers in Chicago?

To cite an e-book without page numbers in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the Chicago format for an e-book without page numbers citation?

The Chicago format for an e-book without page numbers is: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. Format.

What does the in-text citation look like for an e-book without page numbers in Chicago?

In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things (Random House, 2008), chap. 6, Kindle.

How to Cite an E-book Without Page Numbers in Chicago (18th edition)

Learn how to cite Kindle, EPUB, and online e-books that have no fixed page numbers in Chicago format (18th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing an e-book without page numbers in your bibliography:

Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. Format.

Chicago Example for an E-book Without Page Numbers

A complete Chicago reference for an e-book without page numbers, written by hand and checked against the official Chicago guidance for this source:

Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. Random House, 2008. Kindle.

Matching in-text citation: 1. Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things (Random House, 2008), chap. 6, Kindle.

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

Footnote: 1. Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things (Random House, 2008), chap. 6, Kindle.

Narrative

Shortened note: 2. Roy, God of Small Things, chap. 7.

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Chicago 18 names the downloadable format, such as Kindle or EPUB, at the end of the note and the bibliography entry.
If there are no fixed page numbers, cite a chapter, a section title or another number in the note, or omit the locator.
For an e-book read online, give a URL or the name of the database instead of a format.
A PDF that reproduces the print pagination can be cited by page, like the print book.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your e-book without page numbers.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (18th 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 bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

the author, title, publisher and year from the e-book’s copyright page
the edition, if it is not the first
the format or platform, such as Kindle or EPUB
the chapter number, section heading or paragraph of the passage
the DOI or stable URL, if you read the book online

Common metadata traps

Kindle location numbers and reading-app percentages change with the device, font size and app, so a reader with another copy cannot find the passage from them.
Many Kindle books can show the print edition’s real page numbers; when your copy has them, cite those pages instead of a chapter.
Take the publisher and year from the e-book’s copyright page, not from the store listing, which often shows the date the e-book went on sale.

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an e-book without page numbers in Chicago?: To cite an e-book without page numbers in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for an e-book without page numbers citation?: The Chicago format for an e-book without page numbers is: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. Format.
What does the in-text citation look like for an e-book without page numbers in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things (Random House, 2008), chap. 6, Kindle.