Published February 2, 2021. Updated August 30, 2021.

To cite a textbook in APA style, it’s helpful to know basic information including the author name, book title, year, publisher name, and DOI/URL.

The templates and examples below are based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition.

There are two main textbook types to consider: print textbooks and digital textbooks.

If you’re trying to cite a textbook, the Chegg Writing APA citation generator could help.

Citing a print textbook in APA style

For citing print textbooks in APA style, the surname and year are used in both the narrative and parenthetical formats.

In-text citation template and example:

Narrative:

Author Surname (Year)

Branson (2020)

Parenthetical:

(Author Surname, Year)

(Branson, 2020)

Reference list entry template and example:

Read this APA format guide for more style basics.

Citing a digital textbook in APA style

For citing a digital textbook in APA style, the surname and year are used in both the narrative and parenthetical formats.

In-text citation template and example:

Narrative:

Author Surname (Year)

Martin (2020)

Parenthetical:

(Author Surname, Year)

(Martin, 2020)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more information on citing sources in APA, also read these guides on APA in-text citations and APA reference page examples.