Best examples of APA format figures and tables for 2025

Real examples of APA format figures and tables in action

Instead of starting with definitions, let’s jump straight into real examples of APA format figures and tables and then unpack what makes them work. When you can see the layout, the title style, and the notes all together, the rules suddenly stop feeling abstract.

Below are several examples of APA-style figures and tables you are likely to create in psychology, education, public health, business, and social science papers.

Figure example of an APA-style line graph (pretest vs. posttest)

Imagine a simple experiment comparing test scores before and after a study-skills workshop. Here’s how an APA figure might be formatted in your manuscript:

Figure 1
Mean Exam Scores Before and After Study-Skills Workshop

Note. Error bars represent ±1 standard error of the mean. Pretest scores were collected one week before the workshop; posttest scores were collected two weeks after the workshop. N = 84 undergraduates.

In the text, you might write:
“Figure 1 shows that mean exam scores increased from the pretest (M = 71.4, SD = 8.6) to the posttest (M = 79.8, SD = 7.9).”

Why this works as one of the best examples of APA format figures:

• The label Figure 1 is bold and followed by a period.
• The title uses sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized).
• The title is italicized and on the same line as the figure number.
• The note starts with Note. in italics and clearly explains abbreviations, statistics, and timing.

If you’re looking for examples of how to present basic experimental results, this kind of line graph is often the first example of an APA figure that instructors expect you to master.

Examples of APA format bar chart figures (group comparisons)

Bar charts are everywhere in 2024–2025 research assignments, especially when comparing groups. Here’s an example of an APA format bar chart figure showing mean anxiety scores for three treatment conditions.

Figure 2
Mean Anxiety Scores by Treatment Condition

Note. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety (range = 0–40). CBT = cognitive behavioral therapy; MBSR = mindfulness-based stress reduction. Error bars display 95% confidence intervals. N = 120 adults recruited from a community mental health clinic.

In the text, you might write:
“Participants in the CBT condition reported lower anxiety than those in the waitlist control, as shown in Figure 2.”

Details that make this a strong example of APA format figures and tables style:

• Group labels on the x-axis match the terms used in the text (CBT, MBSR, control).
• The y-axis includes both a label (Anxiety score) and clear numeric values.
• The note spells out abbreviations and explains the scale.

When instructors ask for real examples of APA format figures and tables that compare interventions, this type of bar chart is exactly what they have in mind.

Flow diagram example of APA figure (participant recruitment)

Current journals and graduate programs increasingly expect transparent reporting of recruitment and attrition. A flow diagram is a clean way to show this.

Figure 3
Participant Recruitment and Retention Flow Diagram

Note. Adapted from a CONSORT-style flow diagram. Percentages are based on the total number of individuals screened (N = 342). Reasons for exclusion were not mutually exclusive.

In the text, you might write:
“As shown in Figure 3, of the 342 individuals screened, 198 met eligibility criteria, and 156 completed the follow-up assessment.”

Why this is one of the best examples of APA format figures and tables for methods sections:

• The figure title clearly states what the diagram represents.
• The note explains how percentages were calculated and whether the diagram was adapted from another source (which would also require a citation and possibly permission).
• The figure makes it easy for readers to assess potential bias due to attrition.

For more detailed guidance on reporting participant flow, the National Institutes of Health and CDC often provide examples of flow diagrams in their research resources that you can adapt into APA style.

Examples of APA format tables: Descriptive statistics table

Tables are usually better than figures when you need readers to see exact numbers. One of the most common examples of APA format tables is the descriptive statistics table.

Table 1
Descriptive Statistics for Key Study Variables (N = 210)

Note. Perceived stress was measured with the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Sleep quality was rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = very poor, 5 = very good).

In the text, you might write:
“Table 1 presents descriptive statistics for age, perceived stress, and sleep variables.”

Key details that align with APA examples of tables:

• The label Table 1 is bold; the title is italicized in sentence case.
• Vertical lines are omitted; only minimal horizontal lines are used.
• Units and scales are clarified in the note, not repeated in each cell.

If you’re collecting data similar to large national surveys (for instance, sleep data comparable to CDC reports on U.S. adults), this layout gives a clear, APA-aligned snapshot of your sample.

Correlation matrix example of APA format table

Correlation tables are another classic example of APA format tables, especially in psychology and education.

Table 2
Correlations Among Stress, Sleep, and Depressive Symptoms

Note. N = 210. p < .01. *p < .001. Depressive symptoms were measured using the PHQ-9.

Why this is one of the best examples of APA format figures and tables for correlational studies:

• Variables are numbered and listed in the same order in the stub column and across the top.
• The diagonal is left blank (or marked with em dashes) because each variable perfectly correlates with itself.
• Significance levels are explained in the note using standard APA notation.

If you compare your table to correlation examples in methods texts from universities like Harvard or major APA journals, you’ll see this same structure repeated.

Regression table example of APA format table (multiple predictors)

As assignments move into more advanced statistics in 2024–2025, instructors increasingly expect accurate regression tables. Here’s an example of an APA format regression table.

Table 3
Multiple Regression Predicting Depressive Symptoms From Stress and Sleep

Note. N = 210. R² = .41, adjusted R² = .39. CI = confidence interval. p < .05. p < .01. *p < .001.

Why this is a strong example of APA format tables:

• Predictors are listed in the left column; each column is clearly labeled.
• Confidence intervals are presented in brackets with commas, consistent with APA style.
• The note defines abbreviations and reports model fit statistics.

This kind of table mirrors real examples of regression output you’ll see in published articles and in statistics guides from institutions such as the National Library of Medicine.

Demographic table example of APA format (survey or clinical sample)

Demographic tables are everywhere in current health, education, and social science research. They’re also one of the most common examples of APA format tables students get wrong.

Table 4
Participant Demographic Characteristics (N = 156)

Note. Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding. Demographic categories were self-reported.

Why this fits well among examples of APA format figures and tables:

• Categories are grouped with bold subheadings (Gender, Race/Ethnicity).
• Both counts and percentages are reported, a common expectation in 2024–2025 coursework.
• The note clarifies rounding and how data were collected.

If you compare this to demographic tables in public datasets (for example, CDC or NIH survey reports), you’ll see a similar structure adapted into APA style.

How to decide between figures and tables in APA style

Once you’ve seen several examples of APA format figures and tables, the next question is when to use each.

Situations where a figure is usually better:

• You want readers to see a pattern or trend at a glance (for example, a sharp pre–post change).
• You’re showing an interaction effect or nonlinear relationship that’s easier to grasp visually.
• You’re presenting a process or structure (like a flow diagram or conceptual model).

Situations where a table is usually better:

• Readers need exact values, not just a general trend.
• You’re reporting many variables at once (for example, a correlation matrix).
• You’re summarizing regression output or demographic breakdowns.

The APA Publication Manual (7th ed.) and the APA Style website both include real examples of APA format figures and tables that demonstrate this decision-making in context.

2024–2025 trends that affect your APA figures and tables

Assignments in 2024–2025 are reflecting broader research trends, and that shows up directly in examples of APA format figures and tables:

• More confidence intervals, fewer naked p-values. Many instructors now expect confidence intervals on figures (as in the bar chart and regression examples above), not just p-values in notes.
• Greater transparency in methods. Flow diagrams and detailed recruitment tables are increasingly common, inspired by standards like CONSORT and NIH reporting guidelines.
• More attention to diversity reporting. Demographic tables that go beyond a single race/ethnicity line are now standard in many U.S. programs, mirroring expectations from major health agencies like the CDC.
• Open science practices. Some courses encourage including notes that reference preregistration, data availability, or code repositories. While not required for every class paper, you may see examples of APA format figures and tables that mention these in notes.

When you look for the best examples of APA format figures and tables in current journal articles, you’ll see these trends woven into the layouts and notes.

Practical tips drawn from real examples of APA format figures and tables

Looking across all the examples above, a few patterns show up repeatedly:

• Keep titles short but informative. “Mean Anxiety Scores by Treatment Condition” is better than a vague “Results of Study.”
• Explain everything in the note. Abbreviations, scales, statistical thresholds, and data sources belong in the note, not crammed into the title.
• Match terms between text, figure, and table. If you call it “Perceived stress” in the text, don’t switch to “Stress level” in the table.
• Use sentence case. Only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized in titles for APA figures and tables.
• Number in the order of appearance. The first figure you mention in the text is Figure 1, the second is Figure 2, and so on; same logic for tables.

If you’re ever unsure, compare your work to at least one published article in your field and one official APA example. The more real examples of APA format figures and tables you study, the more natural the style will feel.

FAQ: Common questions about APA figures and tables

How many examples of APA format figures and tables should I use in a typical paper?
There’s no fixed number. Use a figure or table only when it makes information clearer than plain text. A short lab report might have one or two tables and one figure; a thesis might have many more. If a figure or table simply repeats what you’ve already said in the text, it probably isn’t needed.

Can I use color in APA figures, and do your examples include color?
Yes, APA allows color as long as it improves readability and will reproduce clearly in print or PDF. The examples of APA format figures and tables described here work in grayscale, but you can use color to distinguish lines or bars, especially for presentations or online submissions.

Do I need a note for every figure and table?
No. If there’s nothing to clarify—no abbreviations, no special statistics, no data source—you can omit the note. However, many of the best examples of APA format figures and tables in published work include at least a brief note because it helps readers interpret the display.

Where can I see official examples of APA format figures and tables?
The official APA Style website provides sample papers and figure/table examples. University writing centers, such as those at major institutions in the U.S. and U.K., also host real examples of APA format figures and tables that match current 7th edition guidelines.

Is it okay to copy a figure layout from a published article if I change the data?
You can use published articles as inspiration for layout, but do not copy exact figures or tables without permission, especially if the structure is distinctive. Instead, treat them as examples of APA format figures and tables and recreate your own version with your data and your wording.

If you treat the examples above as templates—adjusting titles, labels, and notes for your own data—you’ll be very close to the level of professionalism you see in current 2024–2025 journal articles and graduate theses.