How do I cite a report in APA?

To cite a report 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 report citation?

The APA format for a report is: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of report (Report No. xxx). Publisher. https://url

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

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

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

Learn how to cite a report or white paper 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 report in your reference list:

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of report (Report No. xxx). Publisher. https://url

APA Example for a Report

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

Doyle, F., & Ahmed, K. (2024). The state of academic integrity (Research Report RR-2024-08). Centre for Learning Research. https://www.example.org/reports/integrity

Matching in-text citation: (Doyle & Ahmed, 2024)

APA In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Author, Year)

Narrative

Author (Year) reported...

Key APA Formatting Rules

Include the report number in parentheses if available.
Name the publishing organization, not a journal.
Include the DOI or URL.
Treat like a book but include the report number.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your report.
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

Metadata to collect

author or issuing organization
report title
report number or series
publisher
year
DOI or URL

Common metadata traps

Do not repeat the publisher when it is the same as the author.
Include the report number so readers can tell it from similar titles in the same series.

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a report in APA?: To cite a report 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 report citation?: The APA format for a report is: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of report (Report No. xxx). Publisher. https://url
What does the in-text citation look like for a report in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author, Year)