How to Cite an E-book Without Page Numbers in IEEE (standard)
Learn how to cite Kindle, EPUB, and online e-books that have no fixed page numbers in IEEE format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
IEEE Reference List Format
Here is the standard IEEE format for citing an e-book without page numbers in your reference list:
[1] A. A. Author, Title of Book, xth ed. City, Country: Abbrev. of Publisher, year.
IEEE Example for an E-book Without Page Numbers
A complete IEEE reference for an e-book without page numbers, written by hand and checked against the official IEEE guidance for this source:
[1] A. Roy, The God of Small Things. New York, NY, USA: Random House, 2008.
Matching in-text citation: [1, Ch. 6]
IEEE In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
[1, Ch. 6]
Narrative
Roy [1, Ch. 6] describes...
Key IEEE Formatting Rules
- The IEEE Reference Guide has no rule for e-readers, so a Kindle or EPUB book is cited like the print book.
- Add [Online]. Available: and the URL only when the book was read at a public web address.
- Point to the passage with IEEE’s part locators, such as [1, Ch. 6] or [1, Sect. 4.5], instead of a page.
- Do not give Kindle locations; IEEE’s locators name parts of the work, not positions on a device.
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 IEEE (standard) 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 IEEE 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 IEEE?
- To cite an e-book without page numbers in IEEE (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the IEEE format for an e-book without page numbers citation?
- The IEEE format for an e-book without page numbers is: [1] A. A. Author, Title of Book, xth ed. City, Country: Abbrev. of Publisher, year.
- What does the in-text citation look like for an e-book without page numbers in IEEE?
- In IEEE, the in-text citation for the example above is [1, Ch. 6]
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