How to Create an APA-Formatted Results Table

April 11, 2026 3 min read By Angel Reyes

A well-formatted results table can communicate more in a glance than a full page of text. But APA formatting for tables has specific rules, and getting them wrong is one of the easiest ways to get your dissertation sent back for revisions.

Here's how to get it right the first time.

APA 7th Edition Table Basics

Every APA table must include:

  1. Table number — bold, flush left (e.g., Table 1)
  2. Title — italic, flush left, on the line below the number (e.g., Descriptive Statistics for Test Scores by Group)
  3. Column headers — clearly labeled, centered
  4. Body — the actual data
  5. Note — any explanations, abbreviations, or significance markers below the table

Formatting Rules That Matter

  • Use horizontal lines only: one below the title, one below the headers, and one at the bottom. No vertical lines anywhere.
  • No bold in the body of the table.
  • Align decimal points in numeric columns.
  • Use consistent decimal places (typically two) throughout.
  • Italicize statistical symbols: M, SD, t, F, p, r, R²
  • Never write p = .000. Use p < .001 instead.

Example: Descriptive Statistics Table

Table 1

Descriptive Statistics for Reading Scores by Condition

Variable n M SD
Control 45 74.20 8.33
Treatment 48 81.55 7.91

Example: t-Test Results Table

Table 2

Independent Samples t-Test Comparing Reading Scores

Variable t df p d
Reading score 4.53 91 < .001 0.90

Note. Effect size is reported as Cohen's d.

Notice the effect size column — your committee will expect it.

Example: ANOVA Results Table

Table 3

One-Way ANOVA Results for Satisfaction by Department

Source SS df MS F p η²
Between groups 245.30 2 122.65 5.87 .004 .09
Within groups 2,510.44 120 20.92
Total 2,755.74 122

Example: Regression Results Table

Table 4

Multiple Regression Results Predicting Job Performance

Predictor B SE β t p
(Constant) 22.45 3.21 6.99 < .001
Experience (years) 1.34 0.42 .28 3.19 .002
Education level 3.67 1.08 .31 3.40 .001
Training hours 0.52 0.19 .22 2.74 .007

Note. R² = .35. All predictor variables were entered simultaneously.

For more on reading these numbers, see our guide on interpreting regression output.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Using screenshots from SPSS. Never paste SPSS output into your dissertation. Recreate the table in APA format using Word or your writing tool.
  2. Forgetting the table note. If you use asterisks for significance (e.g., *p < .05), define them in the note.
  3. Including too much information. Tables should highlight key results. If a table has 15 columns, it's doing too much.
  4. Inconsistent formatting. Use the same decimal places and notation across all tables in your document.
  5. No table reference in text. Every table must be mentioned in the narrative: "As shown in Table 1, the treatment group..."

Practical Tips

  • Build a template for each type of table you'll need. Reuse it for consistency.
  • Format tables last, after your analyses are finalized. Nothing wastes more time than reformatting a table three times.
  • Ask your chair if your program has a specific table template or style sheet — some programs add requirements beyond APA.