How do I cite a patent in APA?

To cite a patent in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a patent in APA?

In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Inventor, Year)

How to Cite a Patent in APA (7th edition)

Learn how to cite a patent or intellectual property filing in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

APA Reference List Format

Here is the standard APA format for citing a patent in your reference list:

Inventor, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of patent (Patent No. US XXXXXXX). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

APA Example for a Patent

A complete APA reference for a patent, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Lindqvist, E. (2019). Automated bibliographic reference parser (United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent No. US 10,482,119 B2). https://patents.example.org/US10482119

Matching in-text citation: (Lindqvist, 2019)

APA In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Inventor, Year)

Narrative

Inventor (Year) patented...

Key APA Formatting Rules

Include the inventor name, filing date, patent number, and issuing office.
Use the [Patent] description bracket.
Include the database or URL if accessed online.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your patent.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th 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 reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: apa.csl

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a patent in APA?: To cite a patent in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the APA format for a patent citation?: The APA format for a patent is: Inventor, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of patent (Patent No. US XXXXXXX). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
What does the in-text citation look like for a patent in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Inventor, Year)