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

To cite an e-book without page numbers in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

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

The Harvard format for an e-book without page numbers is: Author, A. (Year) Title of book. Edition. Publisher.

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

In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Roy, 2008, ch. 6)

How to Cite an E-book Without Page Numbers in Harvard (Cite Them Right)

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

Harvard Reference List Format

Here is the standard Harvard format for citing an e-book without page numbers in your reference list:

Author, A. (Year) Title of book. Edition. Publisher.

Harvard Example for an E-book Without Page Numbers

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

Roy, A. (2008) The god of small things. Random House.

Matching in-text citation: (Roy, 2008, ch. 6)

Harvard In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Roy, 2008, ch. 6)

Narrative

Roy (2008, ch. 6) describes...

Key Harvard Formatting Rules

Cite Them Right references most e-books in the same way as print books, so the reference does not change because the book was read on a Kindle.
When the e-book has no page numbers, give the chapter, section or paragraph instead of a page.
Some university guides based on Cite Them Right accept a location or percentage as a last resort, but a chapter is the safer choice because it is the same in every copy.
Older editions of Cite Them Right added Available at: and a Downloaded: date for e-reader books, so check which edition your institution follows.

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 Harvard (Cite Them Right) 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 Harvard 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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an e-book without page numbers in Harvard?: To cite an e-book without page numbers in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Harvard format for an e-book without page numbers citation?: The Harvard format for an e-book without page numbers is: Author, A. (Year) Title of book. Edition. Publisher.
What does the in-text citation look like for an e-book without page numbers in Harvard?: In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Roy, 2008, ch. 6)