What goes on a title page and why it matters

A title page is the first page of a document that shows the title, author, date, and sometimes the organization or institution. It is separate from the body text and usually does not have a page number. Most word processors let you create one by inserting a page break after your title information, which pushes your actual content onto page two.

Title pages are standard for formal documents: research papers, reports, theses, and business proposals. They give readers a clean first impression and make the document look intentional rather than hastily assembled. If you are writing something casual — a letter, a short memo, or a personal document — you probably do not need one.

The exact format depends on what you are writing for. A school assignment may require a specific layout set by your teacher. A business report might follow your company's template. Academic papers often follow MLA, APA, or Chicago style, each with different rules about where things go and how far down the page.

Key Takeaways

  • A title page is created by typing your title and author information, then inserting a page break to move your actual content to page two.
  • Most word processors (Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice) have a page break feature under the Insert menu that does this automatically.
  • Center your text and use larger font sizes for the title to make it visually distinct from the rest of your document.
  • If your school or organization has specific formatting rules, follow those before trying to make the page look good on your own.
  • Templates built into your word processor can save time if you do not want to format a title page from scratch.

Creating a title page in Microsoft Word

Open a new blank document and type your title at the top. Select the title text and center it by pressing Ctrl+E (Windows) or Cmd+E (Mac), or by clicking the center alignment button in the toolbar. Increase the font size — 18 to 28 points is typical for a title — and consider making it bold.

Press Enter a few times to add space, then type your name. Center that as well. Add more space, then type the date and any other required information (course name, institution, instructor name) on separate lines, each centered. Leave everything single-spaced or use 1.5 spacing depending on your requirements.

Once your title page content is complete, place your cursor at the end of the last line and go to the Insert menu. Click Page Break (or press Ctrl+Enter). This creates a new page, and your document content will now start on page two. Your title page will not have a page number, but page two will be numbered as page 1 if you set that up in your header and footer settings.

If you want to use a template instead, go to File > New and search for "title page" in the template gallery. Word offers dozens of pre-formatted options. Pick one that matches your document style, and it will populate with placeholder text you can replace with your own information.

Creating a title page in Google Docs

Start a new document and type your title. Highlight it and click the center alignment button in the toolbar (or press Ctrl+Shift+E). Use the font size dropdown to increase the size — 24 to 32 points works well for a title in Google Docs. Make it bold if you want emphasis.

Press Enter several times to create space, then type your name, centered. Add the date and other required information below, each on its own line and centered. Google Docs does not have a built-in page break feature in the same way Word does, but you can insert one by going to Insert > Break > Page Break. This will push your content to a new page.

To prevent the page number from appearing on your title page, go to Insert > Header and Footer > Header (or Footer, depending on where your page numbers are). On the title page, right-click the page number and select "Remove" or uncheck the "Show on first page" option if that setting is available in your template.

Google Docs also has templates. Click the template gallery icon (the grid icon) when you open a new document, search for "title page," and select one. The template will give you a formatted starting point that you can edit with your own text.

Creating a title page in LibreOffice Writer

Open LibreOffice Writer and type your title. Select it and click the center alignment button in the toolbar. Increase the font size using the font size dropdown — 20 to 28 points is standard. Make it bold if desired.

Press Enter to add space, then type your name, centered. Add the date and other information below, each centered on its own line. When you are done with the title page content, place your cursor at the end of the last line and go to Insert > Page Break. This creates a new page for your document content.

LibreOffice will automatically number pages starting from page one. If you want the title page to not have a page number, go to Insert > Header and Footer > Header (or Footer). On the title page, you can delete the page number field, or you can right-click it and choose "Delete" to remove it from that page only.

Formatting tips that work across all editors

Center all text on your title page. Use larger font sizes for the title (18 to 32 points depending on the editor and your preference) and smaller sizes for supporting information like your name and date (12 to 14 points). Leave plenty of white space — do not crowd everything to the top of the page.

If your assignment or organization has specific formatting rules, follow those exactly. Some schools require the title to be in all capitals. Some require specific margins or spacing between elements. Check your assignment sheet or style guide before you spend time formatting.

Keep the design straightforward. A title page should look professional and clean, not decorated with images, borders, or unusual fonts. Stick to standard fonts like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial. If you are unsure about what looks right, use a template — it will handle the spacing and alignment for you.

Using templates to save time

Every major word processor includes title page templates. In Microsoft Word, go to File > New and type "title page" in the search box. In Google Docs, click the template gallery when opening a new document. In LibreOffice, go to File > Templates > Manage Templates and search for title page options.

Templates are especially useful if you are writing for a specific format like APA or MLA, because the template will already have the correct spacing and layout built in. You straightforward replace the placeholder text with your own information. This takes two minutes instead of fifteen.

If your school or organization provides a template, use that instead of a generic one. Your instructor or manager has already decided what the title page should look like, and using their template ensures you meet the requirements without guessing.

What to do if your title page looks wrong

If your title page and document content are on the same page, you did not insert a page break. Go back to where your title page ends, place your cursor at the end of the last line, and insert a page break using Insert > Page Break (or Ctrl+Enter in Word).

If your page numbers are showing on the title page when they should not be, go to your header and footer settings. In Word, right-click the page number on the title page and select "Remove." In Google Docs, uncheck "Show on first page" in the header settings. In LibreOffice, delete the page number field from the title page only.

If your text is not centered, select it and use the center alignment button in the toolbar. If the spacing looks wrong, check whether your assignment has specific requirements — if it does, follow those. If it does not, add or remove line breaks (Enter key) until the layout looks balanced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a title page for every document?

No. Title pages are standard for formal documents like research papers, theses, reports, and business proposals. Short letters, memos, emails, and personal documents do not need them. Check your assignment sheet or organization's style guide to know whether one is required.

Can I put a page number on the title page?

Typically no. Most style guides (MLA, APA, Chicago) say the title page should not have a page number, or it should be numbered but not displayed. Check your specific requirements. If you need to remove the page number from the title page only, use your header and footer settings to hide it on the first page.

What font size should my title be?

Title sizes vary by style guide and editor. For most documents, 18 to 32 points works well — large enough to stand out but not so large it looks unprofessional. If your assignment specifies a size, use that. Otherwise, make it noticeably larger than your body text (which is usually 12 points).

Can I add images or a background to my title page?

You can, but most formal documents do not. Stick to text and white space unless your assignment specifically asks for images or your organization's template includes them. A clean, straightforward title page looks more professional than a decorated one.

What if I am using a template but need to change the layout?

Templates are editable. Click on any text box or element and modify it. Delete elements you do not need, move things around, or change fonts and sizes. If you make a mistake, you can always start over with the template or undo your changes with Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac).