sample of research paper cover page

APA Title Page (Cover Page) Format, Example, & Templates

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Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

In APA Style (7th edition), the cover page, or title page, should include:

• A running head (professional papers only) and page number
• The title of the paper
• The name of the author(s)
• The institutional affiliation
• An author note; optional (professional papers only)
• A student paper should also include course information

Note : APA 7 provides slightly different directions for formatting the title pages of professional papers (e.g., those intended for scholarly publication) and student papers (e.g., those turned in for credit in a high school or college course).

Professional paper APA title page

Student paper APA title page

Formatting an APA title page

Note : All text on the title page should be double-spaced and typed in either 12-point, Times New Roman font. In the 7th edition, APA increaded the flexibility regarding font options: which now include Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, or Georgia 11. All words should be centered, and capitalize the first letter of important words.

Running Head

In the 7th edition of the APA style manual, running heads are only required for professional papers that are being submitted for publication (student papers do not require a running head, but still need a page number).

Your title page should contain a running head that is flush left at the top of the page and a page number that is flush right at the top of the page.

Place the running head in the page’s header:

• The running head is the abbreviated title of the paper (IN UPPERCASE LETTERS) aligned left on the page header of all pages, including the title page. APA (7th edition) guidelines require that running heads be a maximum of 50 characters (spaces count as characters).
• The “Running head:” label used in the APA sixth edition is no longer used.
• Place the page number in this same header, but align right, beginning with page number 1 on the title page.
• This header should be 1 inch from the top. Some instructors allow for 1/2 inch, too, but the default is 1 inch.

Paper Title

Position the title of the paper in the upper half of the page. The title should be centered and written in boldface, and important words should be capitalized.

The APA recommends that your title should be a maximum of 12 words and should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose.

Author Name(s)

Institutional affiliation.

Position the school or university’s name below the author(s) name, centered.

A student paper should also include the course number and name, instructor name, and assignment due date.

Further Information

• APA Student Title Page Guide
• APA Referencing
• How to Write a Lab Report
• Essay Writing Guide for Psychology Students
• APA Style Citations & References
• Example of an APA Formatted Paper

Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Parts of a Paper / How to Write an Essay Cover Page

How to Write an Essay Cover Page

What you include in your cover page depends slightly on which citation style you are using, but the rules are generally the same.

Guide Overview

• APA cover pages
• MLA cover pages

For APA cover pages:

Include the title of the paper, running head, the author’s name, institutional affiliation, and an author’s note.

Here is an example of a cover page in APA:

For MLA cover pages:

Cover pages are not as frequently used in MLA format, as the inclusion of headers is preferred.

A header looks like this:

Cover pages can include the name of your school, your paper title, your name, your course name, your teacher or professor’s name, and the due date of the paper. If you are unsure of what to include, check with your instructor.

Here is an example of a cover page in MLA format:

For more help making cover or title pages, visit our title page generator   here.

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APA cover (title) page: format and templates

There are two types of title page required for APA style papers, a professional and a student version.

Student APA cover page

As long as students do not have any specific guidance from their instructors in regards to a cover page format, they should include the following elements on their cover page:

• Running head : only for APA 6th you write "Running head: TITLE" as a header. APA 7th does not require a running head.
• Title of the paper : three to four lines down from the top of the title page, centered and in bold for APA 7 (APA 6 does not have a title in bold).
• Name of author(s) : include a double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author name(s).
• Affiliation for each author (the university attended, including department)
• Course number and name
• Name of instructor
• Due date of the assignment (date format used in your location)
• Page number (included on all pages), cover page is number 1.
• Times New Roman is the preferred font, 12-point .
• Double spacing
• 1 inch margins

We created a a student APA cover page template of both 6th & 7th edition, which you can download:

Professional APA cover page

A professional APA cover page should include the following elements:

• Name of each author : include a double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author names.
• Affiliation for each author: give the name of the institution at which the research was carried out.
• Author note : see the specific instructions below.
• Running head (included on all pages): for APA 6th you write "Running head: TITLE" and for APA 7th only the title in caps is required (omitting the phrase running head).
• Page number (included on all pages): page 1 is the cover page.
• Times New Roman is the preferred font, 12 -point.

Since there are a few slight differences between the professional cover page in APA 6th and 7th edition, we created a template for each version, which you can download.

APA cover page: Author note format

An author note in a professional paper can be found at the bottom of the cover page. It is usually composed of four paragraphs.

• In the first paragraph : for APA 6, give the name of the author and their affiliation. For APA 7, give the authors' ORCID iDs. Omit this part if the authors don't have ORCID iDs.
• Second paragraph : Specify any changes of affiliation (for both APA 6 & 7). Use the following format: “[Author’s name] is now at [affiliation].” This paragraph may also clarify the death of an author.
• Third paragraph : give any confidentiality disclosures and/or acknowledgments.
• Fourth paragraph : give the contact information of the author(s).

Format : start this section in the bottom half of the title page, below the affiliations. Leave a minimum of one blank line between the affiliation and the author note title. Center the title “Author Note” in bold. The first line of each paragraph should be indented and all aligned to the left.

Further reading

For more details not covered in this guide, take a look at the following sources:

📝 Student and Professional APA cover page (7th ed.)

🌐 APA 6th cover page tutorial

Frequently Asked Questions about APA cover (title) page

The title page of a student paper serves as a representation of the author. It is a mere formality, as it makes your paper appear more academic. As a student, the title page helps your instructor identify on a glance who wrote the paper, what the topic is, and for what course. In sum, a student should add a title page when indicated.

The title page of a professional paper serves as a representation of the author. For professionals, the function of a title page is to introduce the reader to the main facts of the paper, such as the author, the topic, the year of publication, and contact information. In sum, a professional should add a title page to comply with academic standards.

No. According to APA style, the title's font of a title page should not include any type of Word Art or "fun" fonts of any kind. APA style indicates titles should be written in the same font as the rest of the text, it should centered and in bold (for APA 7).

Yes, APA style's title page should be formated as page 1 of the paper, followed by the abstract page as page 2.

If you learn better by watching than by reading, here are two YouTube tutorials that will help you create a title page: APA Style 7th Edition: Student Paper Formatting and APA Style 7th Edition: Professional Paper Formatting by Samuel Forlenza, PhD.

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Creating a captivating research paper title page – ultimate guide with examples.

August 29, 2019

A reader can become engaged or irritated after seeing your research paper title page. Th at is why you need to put in the effort to make sure that it is done properly, and it compels the reader to continue reading the content. Creating the title page for research paper is sometimes more difficult for students than writing a research paper.

How To Make A Title Page For Research Paper

The first thing you need to know is that there are primarily three formats for your title page – APA, Chicago style, and MLA. Your instructor will most likely tell you which format is ideal for the paper. The title page has to contain some precise information about the research in a few words. So, what should be contained in a research paper title page?

The front page of your research paper should contain your full name as it is stated on all your educational certificates. That should be on the same page where you put the topic.

Title Of The Research Paper

Make sure you come up with a good title for research paper and put it on the cover page along with your name. Make sure that the title is interesting. Also, it should not be misleading in any way but should provide a glimpse into the entire content. Typically, the title of the research paper title is expected to be written in capital letters and bold fonts.

Supervisor’s Name

Another important detail to add is the full name of the research supervisor. If you go through the research paper title page examples, you’ll see that adding the supervisor’s name is a must.

Course Information

You need to provide some information about the course, including the course code, academic year, and semester.

Now you know what your research paper title page is expected to contain, it’s time to dive into how to make a title page like a professional. Below are some useful tips for creating the perfect paper title page:

Use The Right Format

As stated earlier, there are three main research paper formats. The one you use will depend on what you’ve been instructed to use. However, you need to make sure you stick to one format from the title to the conclusion.

If you’ve been instructed to use the Chicago format, you have to make sure all the content on the cover page is aligned to the center. Your paper title should be halfway into the page. After the page title, write your full name followed by the name of your instructor and then the course title. There is no need to number the cover page when you’re using the Chicago style.

When you’re instructed to use the APA style, you have to number the title page at the top right corner. Use Times New Roman as your page font and keep one-inch margins on every side of the cover page. You may not need to write everything in capital letters.

For the MLA format, you need to start a third way into the paper, but it should not be as low as the Chicago style. You can add a subtitle to your original title. Just after that, add your name, the name of your school, the course title, your instructor’s name.

Writing A Research Paper – Quick Overview

After you’ve determined what you want your title page to look like, you need to find out how to start a research paper. It is important to note that each institution may have specific guidelines on how to write a research paper. So, make sure you read these guidelines thoroughly before you start. However, some general rules are as follows:

Don’t Joke With The Research

The research part of the research paper writing is crucial. Before you start writing anything, research the topic thoroughly, and get updated information about every fact you’re going to list. As soon as you understand the topic, you need to gather resources, formulate the idea, develop your thesis statement. Your research should be backed by empirical data. If possible, conduct first-hand research on the subject. Otherwise, look for reliable research on Google Scholar, government publications, encyclopedias, newspapers, and almanacs.

About Your Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement tells your reader what the main point of your essay is and what your supporting points are. It can be one or two sentences that prepare the minds of the readers for what is to come. Make sure that everything in the body of your paper is in line with the thesis statement, not opposite. Your thesis statement should appear at the end of your introduction and or should match the topic.

Work With An Outline

Your work would flow better if you use an outline from the beginning to the end. Your outline should be made up of all the points you intend to cover in the content. It can also include the research paper format. Make sure that you put down all the subheadings you intend to cover in the content as well as the details of the materials you want to use in each subheading.

Write A Draft First

To increase your chances of creating high-quality work, try writing a draft first. When you’ve completed the draft, you can start writing the content you will submit. Writing a draft first allows you to brainstorm ideas and find the perfect voice for the content.

Progress From Weakest To Strongest Point

For your content to have a logical flow, start with the weakest point, and slowly progress to the strongest. That doesn’t mean you need to start with a point that isn’t backed empirically. It just means the point you start with should not be your strongest. Each point should have a supporting argument as a backup. It makes your content better.

Restate Your Thesis Statement In Your Conclusion

When it’s time to conclude your paper after listing all the relevant points, you can restate your thesis statement as is common in research paper writing examples. That doesn’t mean you should copy and paste your thesis. Just find new words to say it and link all your points to it. Draw the reader’s attention to why all the points you’ve made support your thesis. That applies when you’re research is conclusive. If it is not, make sure you state that in the research is inconclusive.

Review Before Submission

So, you’ve completed your research paper successfully. That’s cool. However, you should not rush into submitting. Revise the work, make edits, and ask someone else to help you read it. Make sure that your work is as flawless as possible. There should be no inaccurate information, grammatical, or typographical errors. The last thing you want to do is submit a compelling research paper with bad grammar or typographical errors.

Let Our Writers Create Best Title Page For You

Writing a research paper, especially its title page, is like writing any other paper. However, it requires more precision and use of facts. Depending on the topic, make sure that everything you state is factual. These tips above will help when you’re creating a title page for your research paper and when you’re creating the paper. Also, should you feel stuck with crafting a research paper – feel free to hire our experts to help you get exciting results!

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Wow your professors and keep your research paper or thesis looking sharp with a fully customizable research cover page. Choose from thousands of professional-looking, editable templates to start with, then click and drag your favorite fonts, icons, and images to make it your own. When you’re finished, download and share it electronically or print it out.

How to make a research paper cover.

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Let Adobe Express be your go-to app for cover pages.

The cover page is the first step in letting your readers know what your research is about and who wrote it. Adobe Express lets you make a great first impression on professors, teachers, and peers with easy-to-use editing tools and the ability to simultaneously produce print and electronic versions of your work. You can print out your full-color page in any size or download it as a PDF, JPEG, or PNG.

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• How to setup your software
• Sample MLA Paper – normal paper
• Sample MLA Paper – has cover page
• Sample APA Paper
• Sample Chicago Paper
• Sample CSE Paper
• APA Format Guidelines
• MLA Format Cover Page

The Modern Language Association (MLA) does not require you to create a cover page when you complete your research paper, but some instructors may require it.

If your instructor requires your paper to have a cover page, here is how to make it (very easy). This cover page should include: your school name, your research paper title, your name, your class, your professor name and your paper due date.

How to Format Your MLA Cover Page:

• This page is double spaced and the letters are centered.
• Font: Times New Roman
• Font size: 12
• The first letter of each word should be capitalized with the exception of very short words such as: the, and, of, or, a, an, in, to, for. Note: the first letter of the first word should be capitalized, regardless of what kind of word it is.
• Type the name of your university or college.
• Skip to about one-third of the page and type your research paper title, include a subtitle if you have.
• Skip several lines down and type your name, your course name and number, your instructor name and your paper’s due date.

Sample MLA Format Cover Page:

Sample MLA Format Cover Page

Alternate First Page:

If your instructor requires a cover page, you would omit the main heading on your first page. Here is an example of the first page if a cover page is used. You still need your last name and page number on the first page and every other page.

Sample MLA Format First Page with Cover Page

Sample MLA Paper:

Visit here for a sample paper with the cover page. The cover page can vary slightly. This paper also has the outline page for your sample.

If you find this website useful, please share with a friend:

How do I get the header on the second page on down? I tried editing it but then it takes the header away from all the pages.

In word select the header then go to: Header & Footer>Page Number>Format Page Numbers>Page Numbering>Start at page>Set to 0

How do I get the header on the second page on down? I tried editing it but then it takes the header away from all the pages. I am using windows. Also, the page numbers are not working for me either. Please help me.

How should I start the page after my cover page?

https://mlaformat.org/mla-format-heading/

Thank you so much Stephen !!! Helped a lot in my written assignments 🙂

Great site ! Thank you so much. Just returned to school to complete my bachelors and needed a little refreshing. Has all the information I needed !

Thanks so much for all of the great information! I have not used MLA before and was a little panic stricken. I have found all of my answers here. This is now saved to my favorites so I can use it regularly. Thanks again!

Should the lines on the cover page be double spaced?

Thanks so much for the picture of the cover page it has helped a lot. But, I was wondering do I still need to put my Title at the top of every page after the header?

Hello Lydia. You do not.

After your cover page, your next page’s heading should look like the “Alternate First Page” above.

After the “Alternate First Page” => your next pages should have “The Inner Pages” heading: https://mlaformat.org/mla-format-heading/

Sample paper: https://mlaformat.org/mla-format-sample-paper-with-cover-page-and-outline/

hey Lydia you don’t need to but if you want to you can

Thank you so so much. I love the simplicity of the website, very easy to understand. I finally have a cover page for my paper!!

I love this website!! It helped so many times with all my essays. I’m working on a college one and this was very useful. Thank you soo much. And thanks for the examples im a visual person I needed that 🙂

Hi Kaylin, I am glad you find this site useful. Take care!

By the way (sorry i forgot!) for the coverpage, would the text font be 12 times new roman???

You can set everything 12, Times New Roman. Or you can set the Title a little larger than 12, that should work too.

In the example above, I have the title larger than 12.

Here is an example with everything set at 12.

Thank you so much for your help on this useful website! I found it very organized and I’m very glad that I came across this particular article. Thanks!!!!!!!:)

I have a question regarding the cover page and the following pages. If I have a cover page as the example provided, do I still need the heading on the next page? And should the pages after that contain my last name on the top left as the header does on the on the previous pages? or do I not need the header at all if I have the cover page and just my name?

Excellence question, Stella! I have updated this article with information on the first page if a cover page is used. Please see “Alternate First Page” above.

You can omit the main heading but you still need your last name and page number on the first page and all subsequent pages. Take care!

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Must-Have Research Paper Cover Page Templates with Samples and Examples

Sapna Singh

A well-structured, meticulously carved out cover page is indispensable to the submission and the ultimate acceptance of every research paper . It gives a huge facelift to the detailed analysis, appraisal, or interpretation that the researcher conducted and now wishes to document through the research paper.

The cover page is the first impression of your research paper. A way to understand the significance of a cover letter for a research paper is going through this quote of an American film director, Miranda July, “People like to recall their first impressions, which is why those first descriptions are so important. After a while, you don’t look at people as attentively; you hold on to that first impression.” Hence, listing all pertinent information on the research paper’s all-important first and opening page is crucial.

The introduction to a research proposal is your first chance to impress your reader and should be perfect. Click here  to know more.

A well-written research paper cover page should be center-aligned, preferably in font Times New Roman, size 12, but it can be any font and size in line with the guidelines that the sponsoring institute or the guide may mandate. It should also be correctly capitalized, clear, intriguing, and brief.

This blog offers ready-to-use templates to help you correctly write a research paper’s cover page. This will help you establish the groundwork for future research. Use SlideTeam’s Must-Have Research Paper Cover Page Templates  to build a well-structured and formatted cover page that adheres to the citation and formatting style rules. These templates are a sure-shot way to get extra credit from your instructor.

To create a research plan in a flash (with templates) that will save you hours of work in the long run, click  here.

The 100% customizable nature of the templates provides you with the flexibility to edit your presentations. The content-ready slides give you the much-needed structure.

Make your research look neater and more professional with SlideTeam’s best-in-class PPT Templates!

Template 1: cover page for research paper dissertation proposal.

Use this PPT Template to explain the dissertation in your research paper. It includes the title, student's name, university name, and dissertation proposal to give the reader/assessor a complete picture of your research. This template will assist you in aligning the cover page with your university’s criteria and making any necessary revisions. With this download, enhance the quality of your dissertation and leave a lasting impression on your advisors. Get it now!

Download this template

Template 2: Cover Page for Research Paper Degree

Use this PPT Template to create a cover page for your research paper proposal. It includes the title, student’s name, student number, university name, degree sought, and the name of the principal supervisor to demonstrate professionalism and accountability for your academics. This slide highlights your focused academic activities related to the curriculum, assisting you in creating a positive impression. The presentation format and design add value to your research work and adequately represent your dedication, hard work and thoughtfulness in bringing it all together in an engrossing research paper, and an even better cover page. Download now!

Representation of the research work.

A research paper’s cover page gives a report, an academic dissertation, or a thesis a professional appearance. It should be straightforward and concise, with only text. Use SlideTeam's PPT Templates to learn how to format a cover page with only the most essential information.

PS Check out our blog on research cover letter templates  to find the best answer for professionally presenting your study.

FAQs ON RESEARCH PAPER COVER PAGE

What is a research cover page.

A cover page is the first page of a research paper that comprises information about the author and the content. It is concise and brief and is meant to give readers the first impression of your work, which in most cases has spanned years. Its goal is to provide a professional viewpoint to a report, academic dissertation, or thesis. It includes the author's name, the title of the essay, the name of the course with its code, the author’s affiliation, the due date of the paper or date of publication, and the guide’s/teacher's name.

What is the difference between a research paper's cover page and the title page?

A title page is a page that appears at the very beginning of your document and contains only the title, the author’s name, and the institution name. A cover page, on the other hand, is usually placed after the title page. It can concisely describe the project's true purpose and intended research. It lists the why and the how of the research in 2-3 sentences, not any more.

What should a research paper cover?

Introduction

References sections (Figures, tables, and appendix or appendices)

In each of these sections, there needs to be a definite flow and the same formatting to look uniform. The major section that the assessor or the reader looks at immediately is the cover page, and as this blog has explained, you need to get it ready-made from us to create a wonderful first-impression. Then, the discussion section and the results are two major sections where the meat of the research is to be found. After the cover page, a researcher has to be work hard to make these stand out and deliver to world-class standards.

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• Top 10 Research Proposal Introduction Templates With Examples and Samples (Free PDF Attached)
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Blog Graphic Design 20 Professional Report Cover Page Examples & Templates

20 Professional Report Cover Page Examples & Templates

Written by: Michelle Martin Aug 11, 2023

The combination of reports and business resembles the harmonious pairing of peanut butter and jelly, yet the process of crafting reports is often more intricate than assembling the yummy sandwich.

Fret not! Behold these 20 report cover page templates, seamlessly blending professionalism with style. These templates are guaranteed to bestow a flawless final flourish upon your most recent statistical masterpiece.

The cherry on top? Every single one of them is both cost-free and effortlessly adaptable, allowing you to personalize them to your liking in under a minute.

Looking for even more convenience? The Venngage report maker , along with an array of versatile report templates , stands ready to provide you with exceptional assistance in your endeavor.

Click to jump ahead:

What’s the purpose of a report cover page?

20 free report cover page templates, how to make a report cover page, report cover page faqs.

You didn’t spend umpteen hours researching, writing, editing, proofing and perfecting your  business report  just for nobody to read it, right? Your report cover page, also known as your title page, matters because it’s the first thing people see. Your report cover page is a first impression.

From it, people make snap judgments like:

• What is this about?
• Do I need to read this?
• Is this going to be worth my time?

Several things subconsciously make up those judgments, including:

• Your title, and how intriguing it is (or isn’t).
• The cover page’s design.

Because it’s your first page, seeing a polished and professional report cover page / title page subconsciously makes people assume your report is equally as high quality, too. And that makes them more likely to actually read it and have a positive opinion of it afterwards.

All ready to impress? Let’s take a look at 20 report cover page templates that’ll help you nail those first impressions and  create an amazing report !

Classic report cover page templates

Work for a large company or presenting to a conservative audience? Play it safe with this classic professional report cover page template.

For most reports, a simple cover page is all you need. Swap out the tea mug for your own logo, or another illustration that better fits your company from our collection of  over 20,000 icons .

This report cover page template also features a large photo, but with a more refined design that’s perfect for corporations,  consulting firms  and institutions.

An academic vibe emanates from this report cover page template, so it’s perfect for technical reports or institutions.

I love that this report cover features key insights on the cover to hook your potential reader right away. This would be perfect for a  white paper  or study, or even to highlight the best data from your sales or  annual report .

This template also features a large cover photo, but keeps the rest of the  report design  minimal with only a title and company name. Because of the huge photo space, it’s perfect for showing off physical projects, like real estate developments.

This report cover page template is ideal for any type of report, although it’s particularly suited to making your  financial reports  shine.

Bold report cover page templates

The bright color and chunky border set this report cover page template / title page apart from the rest. Go big and get your report noticed.

Show off your work or team with this professional, but splashy, report cover template.

Perfect for promoting your brand colors, this bold template is sure to get your reader’s attention.

This colorful cover page template packs a punch while being super quick to customize. Change the text to your report title and you’re done. You could leave the colored bars as is, or change them to match your brand colors.

An eye-catching report cover with the most minimal approach possible: Only a title. Unlike the others featured here, this one doesn’t include a company name, date, or any other text fields. You can stay with the minimal approach, or add more text fields easily in the  Venngage editor .

This report cover template brings boldness not only with bright colors and shapes, but also being in landscape format. Ooh, rebellious.

Simple yet elegant, this report cover puts your products or  project  front and center with a modern flair sure to get attention.

Creative report cover page templates

Punch it up a notch with this colorful cover page. It’s perfect for  marketing presentations  or any report geared toward design-minded folks.

This fun cover page template reminds me of an old-school composition notebook. Changing the colors to black and white would emphasize that effect — sure to be a hit with the elder Millennials on your team. 😉

While it may not be suitable for a boardroom of C-suite executives, this report cover’s illustrative style will certainly turn heads. Reimagine this scene with entirely new elements from our library of  over 40,000 icons and illustrations , or simply replace a few individual items to better suit  your HR reporting  needs.

If the above template is too casual for your audience, try this title page. It has a more classic layout while still utilizing creative illustration elements.

Customizing this illustrated report cover is quick and easy: Replace the icons inside the silhouette with graphics or text that represents your industry or the subject matter of your report.

Featuring a modern, minimal border and cute, yet still professional, illustrations, this report cover page template is perfect for study results and insightful reports.

• Choose a template

Pick any of the report cover page templates featured in this article, or browse our  full collection of report templates . I’ve shown you the cover pages here, but every template also comes with a full set of inner pages to make your entire report shine.

I’m using  this report cover template  for this example.

Click  Create  on the template you want to use.

• Add your branding

Clicking  Create  on a template opens the editor tool where you can easily swap out colors, fonts, images, edit text and more.

To swap a color, click on the element you want to change, then click the  color icon  in the top bar and choose a new one. You can use the eyedropper to pick another color from your template, or enter a HEX or RGB color code. You can also adjust the opacity.

Need some inspiration? Check out these top  color palette generators .

To edit text, click on the text box you want to change. Double-clicking automatically selects the text. Start typing to overwrite it, or select just the section you want to change.

With the text box selected, change the font, color, size or other styles using the formatting bar at the top.

You can also upload your own font file to ensure your report cover perfectly matches the rest of your report, and brand.

• Swap out images

To edit an image, click on it and choose  Replace .

You can upload your own image, or search and choose from over 3 million  royalty-free stock images  from Pexels and Pixabay, conveniently accessible right inside the editor.

You may run into what I have with this report cover page template: I changed the photo, but it’s still got the blue overlay on it. Not to worry, here’s how to change that.

Open the left side menu and click  Background . You can choose a new background color based on other colors used in your document — an easy way to keep designs on-brand — or, specify your own color. You can even add a gradient background with one click, or add a pattern on top of your background color.

The possibilities are endless for customizing your visual elements.

Once you change the background color, your photo may be too dark or too light to show up properly. To adjust this, click on the photo, then  Opacity  at the top. Play around with it until it looks just right.

• Optional: Create the rest of your report

Click on any page to edit it and add in your report content. Click the  plus icon  to add a new blank page, or the  double-rectangle icon  to duplicate an existing page.

No time for that level of detail, or already have a completed report and only need a cover? No problem — just  export the first page  as your new cover and attach it to your existing PDF with  Adobe Acrobat ,  Preview  for Mac, or with an online tool like  MergePDF .

• Wow your boss/team/mom

Whoever’s gonna be reading your report will be heckin’ impressed by your top notch style, friend. Nicely done.

What should be on a report cover page?

There is only one “must-have” thing on your report cover: your report title.

But, most people also include:

• Your company name
• Company website URL
• Contact information, like email or phone number (usually only if giving a presentation)
• An identifier of what type of report it is (e.g. “ Annual Report ,” “Q4 Earnings Report,” “ Progress Update ,” etc)

Ultimately, what you include is up to you and the requirements of your report. You can easily add new text fields or images — or edit existing ones — to any of our  report cover page templates  to suit your needs.

Does my report cover page need to match the rest of my report?

Well… it’d be nice if it did. But no, it’s not required.

For example, your report may be in a spreadsheet format, or listing out balance sheets and financial statements. Most of these types of reports are automatically generated from software. Trying to brand them by copy and pasting that content into a nice looking template probably isn’t worth your time.

Plus, the people reviewing those reports are likely expecting the familiar format they’re used to and may be put off by a big change.

But your report cover page and actual report don’t need to be identical to “match.”

As long as the font in your report isn’t size 36 Comic Sans, attaching a nicely designed cover page will make any report appear more professional and put together. (If your report  is  in Comic Sans, sorry, nothing can redeem it.)

Make a report cover page in 60 seconds or less

A professional, well-designed report cover page communicates the value of your report right away. It immediately gives your reader the impression of importance and competence, which is probably what you want your boss to think about you.

Plus, a great title page makes it much more likely your report will actually be read.

To recap, here’s how to make your own report cover page in less than 60 seconds:

• Step 1:  Sign up for a free  Venngage account .
• Step 2:  Choose a report cover page template.
• Step 3:  Add your branding, colors, fonts, and edit the text.
• Step 4 (Optional):  Create the rest of your report with matching report page templates.
• Step 5:  Save, share, print or export your cover and attach it to your existing report.

It’s really that quick to make a professional report cover page using a Venngage report cover page template. Gather your brand elements and report title and go forth and rock that report!

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