How do I cite a patent in Chicago?

To cite a patent in Chicago (17th 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 Chicago?

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

How to Cite a Patent in Chicago (17th edition)

Learn how to cite a patent or intellectual property filing in Chicago format (17th 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 a patent in your bibliography:

Inventor Last Name, First Name. "Title of Patent." U.S. Patent XXXXXXX, filed Month Day, Year, and issued Month Day, Year.

Chicago Example for a Patent

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

Lindqvist, Erik. 2019. Automated bibliographic reference parser. United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent US 10,482,119 B2, issued November 19, 2019. https://patents.example.org/US10482119.

Matching in-text citation: (Lindqvist 2019)

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Inventor Year)

Narrative

Inventor (Year) invented...

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Include the inventor, title, patent number, and dates filed and issued.
Identify the patent office and country.

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 Chicago (17th 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 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: chicago.csl

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a patent in Chicago?: To cite a patent in Chicago (17th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for a patent citation?: The Chicago format for a patent is: Inventor Last Name, First Name. "Title of Patent." U.S. Patent XXXXXXX, filed Month Day, Year, and issued Month Day, Year.
What does the in-text citation look like for a patent in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Inventor Year)