How do I cite an ISO standard in Chicago?

To cite an ISO standard 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 ISO standard citation?

The Chicago format for an ISO standard is: Standards Body. Title of Standard. Standard number. Publisher, Year. URL.

How to Cite an ISO Standard in Chicago (18th edition)

Learn how to cite ISO, IEC, and other published technical standards 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 ISO standard in your bibliography:

Standards Body. Title of Standard. Standard number. Publisher, Year. URL.

Chicago Example for an ISO Standard

A complete Chicago reference for an ISO standard, written by hand and checked against the official Chicago guidance for this source:

International Organization for Standardization. Information and Documentation—Guidelines for Bibliographic References and Citations to Information Resources. ISO 690:2021. International Organization for Standardization, 2021. https://www.iso.org/standard/72642.html.

Matching in-text citation: 1. International Organization for Standardization, Information and Documentation—Guidelines for Bibliographic References and Citations to Information Resources, ISO 690:2021 (International Organization for Standardization, 2021), https://www.iso.org/standard/72642.html.

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

Footnote: 1. International Organization for Standardization, Information and Documentation—Guidelines for Bibliographic References and Citations to Information Resources, ISO 690:2021 (International Organization for Standardization, 2021), https://www.iso.org/standard/72642.html.

Narrative

Shortened note: 2. International Organization for Standardization, Information and Documentation, clause 3.

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Chicago 18 has no dedicated rule for standards, so cite one like a report or book with the standards body as the author.
Give the designation after the title and repeat the body as publisher, as Chicago does when an organization is both author and publisher.
Use a closed em dash in the title and headline-style capitalization.
In a shortened note, use the body and a short title and point to the clause you cite rather than a page.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your ISO standard.
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 standards body as author
the full designation with its year, such as ISO 690:2021
the exact title as printed, including its dash
the edition number and publication date
the URL or database you used
the clause or section you cite

Common metadata traps

A designation without its year, such as ISO 690, points to whichever edition is current, so always give the year of the edition you read.
The page at iso.org is a catalogue record and preview, not the full text; if you read the standard through a library database such as a national standards body’s platform, cite that copy.
National adoptions such as BS ISO 690:2021 are published by the national body, so cite the version actually in front of you rather than the ISO original.

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an ISO standard in Chicago?: To cite an ISO standard 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 ISO standard citation?: The Chicago format for an ISO standard is: Standards Body. Title of Standard. Standard number. Publisher, Year. URL.
What does the in-text citation look like for an ISO standard in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. International Organization for Standardization, Information and Documentation—Guidelines for Bibliographic References and Citations to Information Resources, ISO 690:2021 (International Organization for Standardization, 2021), https://www.iso.org/standard/72642.html.