MLA Title Page Generator: Free MLA 9 Cover Page Maker
Most MLA papers do not need a title page. You only need one when your instructor asks for it or when several students submit one paper together. For those two cases, this generator lays out every line for you: names, instructor, course, date, and a centered title.
Fill in your details, preview the page, and download it as a Word file or copy it into Google Docs. The layout follows the MLA Handbook, 9th edition, and the guidance MLA gives for group projects, so the page is right the first time.
Do You Need an MLA Title Page?
Check your situation before you make one. An unrequested title page can count as a formatting error.
| Your Situation | Title Page? | What to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard solo essay or research paper | No | Four-line heading on page one |
| Instructor asks for a cover page | Yes | Title page, formatted as instructed |
| Group project with two or more authors | Yes | Title page listing every author |
| Instructor wants a heading and a title page | Yes | Both, as your instructor describes |
When your instructor's format differs from the MLA default, follow your instructor. MLA itself advises formatting a requested title page according to the instructions you are given.
How to Create a Title Page with the Generator
A complete title page takes about a minute.
- Add each author's name. For a solo paper, enter one name. For a group project, add every member, and each name gets its own line.
- Enter your instructor's name. Use the form they prefer, such as Professor Diaz or Dr. Patel.
- Type the course. Add the course name, number, or both, such as English 102.
- Choose the date. The tool formats it in MLA order, such as 5 October 2026.
- Write your paper title. It is placed in the center of the page in title case. Run it through the MLA Title Case Converter first if you are unsure about capitalization.
- Preview and download. Check the layout, then download the Word file or copy it into Google Docs.
After the title page, start your essay text on the next page.
MLA Title Page Format
An MLA title page uses the same details as a first-page heading, spread across a full page. The identifying lines sit at the top left, and the title sits in the center.
| Element | Placement | Formatting |
|---|---|---|
| Author name or names | Top left, one per line | Plain text, double-spaced |
| Instructor's name | Next line | Plain text |
| Course name and number | Next line | Plain text |
| Date | Next line | Day month year, month spelled out |
| Paper title | Centered, about halfway down | Title case, no bold, italics, or underline |
| Running head | Top right, 0.5 inch from the top | Last name and page number |
Use the same font and size as your essay throughout. MLA accepts any readable font between 11 and 13 points, with 12-point Times New Roman being the most common choice.
Title Page for a Group Project
Group papers are the main reason MLA recommends a title page. Listing four or five names in a first-page heading would push the essay halfway down page one, so the details move to their own page.
- List every author's full name, each on its own line, at the top left.
- Add the instructor, course, and date below the names, as you would for a single author.
- Center the title partway down the page.
- Start the essay text at the top of the next page.
For the running head, include each author's last name before the page number if they fit on one line. If they do not fit, MLA suggests using the page number alone. Agree on the name order with your group before you start, and keep it the same everywhere.
MLA Title Page vs. First-Page Heading
Both hold the same information. The difference is where it goes and when MLA expects it.
| Feature | First-Page Heading | Title Page |
|---|---|---|
| When to use it | Default for most MLA papers | Group projects or when requested |
| Location | Top of page one, above the essay | A separate page before the essay |
| Title position | Centered on the line after the date | Centered about halfway down the page |
| Authors | One name | One or more names, each on its own line |
| Essay text starts | On page one | On the next page |
If you only need a heading, use the MLA Heading & Header Generator instead.
Page Numbers and Running Head with a Title Page
MLA asks you to number pages consecutively through the whole paper, including the Works Cited page. With a title page, that usually means the title page is page 1 and the essay starts on page 2.
- Place the running head at the top right, half an inch from the top edge.
- Use automatic page numbering in Word or Google Docs, never typed numbers.
- Keep the running head in the same font and size as the essay.
Some instructors prefer no number on the title page. In that case, turn on Different First Page in Word, or the matching option in Google Docs, and the essay will still continue from page 2. For the exact menu steps, see MLA format in Microsoft Word or MLA format in Google Docs.
Common MLA Title Page Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Adding a title page to a solo paper without being asked | Use a first-page heading instead |
| Making the title bold, large, or underlined | Keep it plain, same font and size as the essay |
| Centering the name and course lines | Align them to the left margin |
| Using an APA-style layout with the title on top | Put the identifying lines first, then the title |
| Writing the date as 10/5/2026 or October 5, 2026 | Write 5 October 2026 |
| Repeating the full heading on page 2 | Start page 2 with the essay text only |
| Adding images, borders, or a school logo | Keep the page text-only unless your instructor asks |