In APA style, a figure is any visual element that isn't a table — graphs, charts, photographs, diagrams, maps, drawings, flowcharts, and infographics all count. Every figure follows the same four-part structure: a bold figure number, an italicized title (both placed above the image), the image itself, and an optional figure note below.
Figure Structure
Every APA figure has the same four components, presented in this order:
- Figure number — bold, flush left (e.g., Figure 1)
- Figure title — italicized, flush left, title case, one double-spaced line below the number
- Figure image — the chart, graph, photograph, or illustration itself
- Figure note — flush left, below the figure (optional)
Example Figure
Figure 1
Relationship Between Sleep Quality and GPA Among Undergraduate Students
Note. PSQI = Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Higher PSQI scores indicate poorer sleep quality. N = 142.
Formatting Details
- The figure number and title appear above the figure — this changed in APA 7th edition (6th edition placed captions below).
- The figure number is bold: Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.
- The title is italicized and in title case.
- The image itself should be high resolution and legible in both color and grayscale.
- Axis labels should be in sentence case and clearly readable.
- A legend (key) should appear within the figure if multiple data series are plotted.
Figure Notes
Figure notes work exactly like table notes — general, specific, and probability notes follow the same hierarchy and formatting:
- General note — applies to the entire figure. Starts with "Note." in italics.
- Specific note — explains a particular element. Uses superscript letters (ᵃ, ᵇ, ᶜ).
- Probability note — reports statistical significance. Uses asterisks (*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001).
Note. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
ᵃ Outlier excluded from trend line calculation.
All three types can appear together, in this order: general, specific, probability.
Numbering Figures
Figures are numbered separately from tables, in the order they appear in the text:
- Figures: Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3…
- Tables: Table 1, Table 2, Table 3…
The sequences are independent. You might have Table 1, then Figure 1, then Table 2 — the figure doesn't affect table numbering.
Never skip numbers or use suffixes like Figure 3a or Figure 2.1. Each figure gets its own sequential number.
Placement — Embedded vs. End of Paper
APA 7th edition allows two placement options:
Option 1: Embedded in the Text
Place each figure immediately after the paragraph that first mentions it — or at the top of the next page if it doesn't fit. This is the most reader-friendly approach and is what most instructors prefer.
Option 2: After the Reference List
Place all tables first (in order), then all figures (in order), each on its own page. This option is used primarily for manuscript submissions to journals.
Check with your instructor.Most student papers use embedded placement.
Referencing Figures in Text
Every figure must be mentioned in the body of your paper. Refer to them by their number — never by position:
Correct:
Figure 3 illustrates the relationship between sleep quality and test scores.
Participants in the treatment condition reported higher satisfaction (see Figure 1).
Incorrect:
See the figure on the next page…
The graph above demonstrates…
Types of Figures
APA covers many visual types — each has specific formatting considerations:
| Figure Type | Common Uses | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Bar chart | Comparing categories | Label axes in sentence case |
| Line graph | Showing trends over time | Include a legend for multiple series |
| Scatter plot | Showing correlations | Label both axes clearly |
| Pie chart | Showing proportions | Label slices directly (avoid separate legend) |
| Photograph | Documenting observations | Use high resolution; cite the source |
| Map | Geographic data | Include scale and orientation |
| Flowchart | Processes or decision trees | Use consistent shapes and labels |
| Diagram | Structures or models | Label all components |
For detailed citation guidance on specific figure types, see:
Reproducing Figures From Other Sources
If you're reproducing or adapting a figure from another source, include a copyright attribution in the figure note.
Reprinted Exactly
Note. From "Sleep Quality Among College Students: A National Survey," by R. K. Lawson and M. T. Chen, 2023, Journal of College Health, 71(4), p. 315 (https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jch.2023.0045). Copyright 2023 by Taylor & Francis. Reprinted with permission.
Adapted From a Source
Note. Adapted from Understanding Statistics for the Social Sciences (p. 112), by T. K. Park, 2021, Oxford University Press. Copyright 2021 by Oxford University Press.
Your Own Figure
If you created the figure from your own data, no copyright note is needed — just the regular figure note.
Common Figure Mistakes
- Placing the title below the figure. APA 7th edition puts figure titles above the image. This is a change from the 6th edition.
- Using title case for axis labels. Axis labels should be in sentence case (capitalize only the first word and proper nouns).
- Referring to "the figure below." Always use "Figure 1" or "Figure 3" — never positional language.
- Forgetting to mention the figure in the text. Every figure must be referenced by number in the body of your paper.
- Low-resolution images. Figures should be legible in both color and grayscale reproduction.
- Missing legend. If a figure plots multiple data series, include a legend (key) within the figure.
What's Next
- APA Tables — formatting rules for data presented in rows and columns
- APA General Format — page layout, margins, and spacing
Archivero helps you focus on your research while keeping the formatting consistent — so you can present compelling visuals without worrying about whether the title goes above or below.
