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

To cite an e-book without page numbers in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

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

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

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

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

How to Cite an E-book Without Page Numbers in MLA (9th edition)

Learn how to cite Kindle, EPUB, and online e-books that have no fixed page numbers in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

MLA Works Cited Format

Here is the standard MLA format for citing an e-book without page numbers in your Works Cited page:

Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. E-book ed., Publisher, Year.

MLA Example for an E-book Without Page Numbers

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

Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. E-book ed., Random House, 2008.

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

MLA In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Roy, ch. 6)

Narrative

Roy describes, in chapter 6, how...

Key MLA Formatting Rules

MLA 9 treats an e-book read in an app or on a device as a version of the book and writes e-book ed. in the version slot; you may name a specific format such as Kindle ed.
When the e-book has no page numbers, cite a numbered division the book itself uses, such as ch. 6, with a comma after the author’s name.
Do not cite Kindle locations or other device-specific numbering, and do not count paragraphs that the book does not number.
If the book has no numbered divisions at all, give the author alone and no number.

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 MLA (9th 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 Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA 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

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an e-book without page numbers in MLA?: To cite an e-book without page numbers in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for an e-book without page numbers citation?: The MLA format for an e-book without page numbers is: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. E-book ed., Publisher, Year.
What does the in-text citation look like for an e-book without page numbers in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Roy, ch. 6)