APA Tables and

Figures
By Zaharen G. Mejia Meza
The purpose of tables and figures in documents is to enhance
your readers' understanding of the information in the document;
usually, large amounts of information can be communicated more
efficiently in tables or figures. Tables are any graphic that uses a
row and column structure to organize information, whereas
figures include any illustration or image other than a table.
(Purdue University, 2021)
Visual material such as tables and figures can be used quickly
and efficiently to present a large amount of information to an
audience, but visuals must be used to assist communication, not
to use up space, or disguise marginally significant results behind
a screen of complicated statistics. Ask yourself this question first:
Is the table or figure necessary? For example, it is better to
present simple descriptive statistics in the text, not in a table.
 + RELATION OF TABLES OR
FIGURES AND TEXT

Because tables and figures supplement

the text, refer in the text to all tables and
figures used and explain what the reader
should look for when using the table or
figure.
Focus only on the important point the
reader should draw from them and leave
the details for the reader to examine on
their own.
DOCUMENTATION
If you are using figures, tables and/or data from other sources, be sure to
gather all the information you will need to properly document your sources.

INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE

Each table and figure must be intelligible without reference to the text, so be
sure to include an explanation of every abbreviation (except the standard
statistical symbols and abbreviations).
 ORGANIZATION, CONSISTENCY, AND COHERENCE
Number all tables sequentially as you refer to them in the text (Table 1,
Table 2, etc.), likewise for figures (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.).
Abbreviations, terminology, and probability level values must be
consistent across tables and figures in the same article. Likewise,
formats, titles, and headings must be consistent. Do not repeat the same
data in different tables.
Tables usually show numerical values or textual information arranged in columns or rows.

Table Components

Number: The table number goes above the table in bold. (e.g. Table 1)

Title: The table title goes one double-spaced line below the table number in italics in title case.
(In title case the first letter of major words are capitalized).

Headings: All tables should include column headings including a heading for the left most
column (aka stub heading).

Body: The table body includes all the rows and columns of a table. The body can be single
spaced, one-and-a-half spaced, or double spaced.

Notes: Notes describing the contents of the table appear below the table. Not all table include
table notes. Notes are double-spaced and flush left.
If you use a table or figure from another source, then you must acknowledge this
original source in a note placed underneath the table or figure within the text of your
paper.

Include the word Note. before your citation.

The format for citations placed underneath tables and figures is different to those used
for the reference list.

Note. Adapted from “Sampling and Recruitment in Studies of Cultural Influences on

Adjustment: A Case Study With Mexican Americans,” by M.W. Roosa, F.F. Liu, M.
Torres, N.A. Gonzales, G.P. Knight, and D. Saenz, 2008, Journal of Family Psychology,
22, p. 300.
"In the text, refer to every table and figure by its number - known as a callout...When you call
out a table or figure, also tell readers what to look for in that table or figure.

As shown in Table 1, the demographic characteristics...

Figure 2 shows that the event-related potentials ...

...of the results of the testing (see Table 3).

...of the comparisons (see Figures 4 and 7).

Do not write "the table above" (or "below") or "the figure on page 32. Page numbers often
shift during the writing process, which can lead to errors" Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association, 7th ed., 2020, p. 197).
APA considers figures "all types of graphical displays other than tables." This includes photographs,
drawings, charts, graphs, or any other illustration or non-textual portrayal of information.

Figure Components

Number: The figure number goes above the figure in bold (e.g. Figure 1)

Title: The figure title appears one double-spaced line below the figure number in italics in title case.
(In title case the first letter of major words are capitalized).

Image: The image part of the figure is the chart, graph, photograph, drawing or other illustration
itself

Legend: The figure legend (also know as a key), if used, should be positioned within the borders of
the figure and explain any symbols used in the figure image.

Note: figure notes can appear below the figure to explain, describe, clarify or supplement
information in the image. Not all figures include notes. Notes are double-spaced and flush left.
Figure Example
T
A
B
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E

E
X
A
M
P
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References
• Douglas College. Douglas College Library. 19 May 2022.
<https://guides.douglascollege.ca/APA-7/TablesFigures>.
• Purdue University. Purdue Online Writing Lab. 2021.
<https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_s
tyle/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/
reference_list_basic_rules.html>.