IEEE Paper Format: Structure, Template & Formatting Guide (2026)
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The IEEE paper format uses: A4/US Letter size, two-column layout, Times New Roman 10pt, 1-inch margins, Roman numeral section headings (I. INTRODUCTION), numbered reference citations [1], figure captions centred below figures, table captions above tables, and equations numbered in parentheses on the right margin. Use only the official IEEE template — custom formatting is not accepted by IEEE editors.
IEEE formatting is strict. Papers that do not comply with the official template are returned to authors before review. Spending 30 minutes on correct formatting before submission saves weeks of delays from format-related desk rejections.
For the complete guide to writing and publishing IEEE papers, see: How to Write and Publish an IEEE Research Paper.
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IEEE Paper Format Specifications
| Element | Specification |
|---|---|
| Paper size | A4 (210×297mm) or US Letter (8.5×11 inches) |
| Layout | Two-column (each column ~3.5 inches wide, 0.25 inch gutter) |
| Margins | Top: 0.75", Bottom: 1", Left: 0.625", Right: 0.625" (A4) |
| Body text font | Times New Roman, 10pt |
| Section headings | Roman numeral + ALL CAPS: I. INTRODUCTION |
| Subsection headings | Letter + italic: A. Dataset Description |
| Abstract | Italic, 150–250 words, no numbered headings |
| Index Terms | Italic, 4–8 terms, alphabetical |
| Figures | Numbered, caption below, centred (Fig. 1. Caption text.) |
| Tables | Numbered, caption above in SMALL CAPS (TABLE I. Caption) |
| Equations | Centred, numbered in parentheses right-aligned |
| Reference style | IEEE numbered: [1], [2], [1]–[3] |
How to Use the IEEE Template in Microsoft Word
- Download the official IEEE .docx template from ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org or your specific conference/journal's website
- Open the template — do NOT create a new document and apply styling manually
- Replace placeholder text with your content — keep all style formats intact
- Use the pre-defined Word styles (IEEE_title, IEEE_abstract, IEEE_first-paragraph, etc.) for each element
- Do not modify column widths, margins, or font sizes — these are set by the template
- Check page count before submitting — use File → Properties to see exact page count
IEEE Reference Format Examples
Journal article:
[1] K. Vijayalakshmi and R. Kumar, "Deep learning-based anomaly detection in IoT networks," IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 3421–3430, Apr. 2023, doi: 10.1109/TIE.2022.3213889.
Conference paper:
[2] M. Sharma and V. Singh, "Edge computing for real-time video analytics," in Proc. IEEE ICASSP, 2024, pp. 5674–5678.
Book:
[3] I. Goodfellow, Y. Bengio, and A. Courville, Deep Learning. Cambridge, MA, USA: MIT Press, 2016.
Use LaTeX for Equation-Heavy Papers
If your paper has many equations, matrices, or mathematical proofs, LaTeX produces significantly better output than Word. Overleaf (overleaf.com) is free and offers the IEEE LaTeX template pre-installed. LaTeX also handles two-column figures and cross-references more reliably than Word.
"IEEE formatting is not bureaucracy — it is standardisation that makes the global research community's literature readable across thousands of publications and decades of archives. Following it precisely shows editorial professionalism before a reviewer reads your first sentence."
— Vignesh Kumar, PhD Research Consultant, Thesis Ace Writers
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Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
IEEE papers use: A4 or US Letter size, two-column layout, Times New Roman 10pt for body text, 1-inch margins on all sides, section headings in Roman numerals (I. INTRODUCTION), IEEE numbered citation format [1], figure/table captions centred below figures and above tables.
Download the official IEEE template from IEEE Author Center (ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org) or the specific conference/journal page. Templates are available for both Microsoft Word (.docx) and LaTeX. Using the official template is mandatory — custom formatting is not accepted.
IEEE accepts both Microsoft Word and LaTeX manuscripts. LaTeX is preferred for papers with complex mathematics, equations, and algorithms — it produces cleaner typesetting. Word is acceptable for most computer science and engineering papers. Final proofs are typically handled by IEEE's production team regardless of submission format.
Page limits vary by publication. IEEE Access has no hard page limit. Most IEEE Transactions journals have a nominal limit of 8–10 pages in double-column format (roughly 6,000–8,000 words), with extensions permitted for additional pages at a fee. Conference papers are typically limited to 4–6 pages.
Number equations consecutively in parentheses — (1), (2), (3) — on the right margin. Define all variables immediately after their first appearance. In Word, use the built-in Equation Editor or MathType. In LaTeX, use equation environments. IEEE style uses italic variables (x, y) and bold for vectors and matrices.