How to Cite a Chart in APA Format: Step-by-Step Guide & Examples (2025)-World Wide Topics

Okay, let's talk about something that trips up way too many students and researchers: how to cite a chart in APA format. Seriously, it feels like there are a million tiny rules, and finding a clear answer? Good luck with that. You find bits and pieces everywhere, but rarely the full picture you actually need. I remember scrambling during my own thesis – was that chart from the book, or the journal article it was reprinted in? Did I need permission? How much detail was *too* much? It was messy. Let's fix that.

This guide cuts through the confusion. We're going beyond just the basic templates. We'll cover the *why* behind the rules, tackle those weird edge cases everyone ignores, and show you exactly what to do. Whether you're staring at a bar graph in a textbook, a complex figure from a website, or something you adapted yourself, you'll know how to cite that APA chart correctly in both your text and your reference list. No more guesswork. No more losing marks over formatting. Let's just sort this out once and for all.

Why Bother Citing Charts Correctly in APA? It's Not Just About Rules

Look, I get it. Citing feels like busywork sometimes. But citing charts properly in APA is genuinely important, and it's not just about avoiding the professor's red pen.

Giving Credit Where It's Due: That chart? Someone spent time creating it, analyzing the data, designing it. Proper citation acknowledges their intellectual sweat. It's basic academic honesty.
Helping Your Reader Find It: Imagine reading an amazing chart in a paper and wanting to see the original source for more context. A good citation is a treasure map. A bad one leaves them lost and frustrated.
Avoiding Plagiarism Landmines: Copying a chart (or even heavily adapting one) without clear attribution is a fast track to serious academic trouble. Citing correctly draws the line between your work and theirs.
Establishing Your Own Credibility: Showing you know how to cite APA charts and figures meticulously signals professionalism and attention to detail. It makes *your* entire work look more trustworthy.

Think of it less as a chore and more as building the foundations for solid, ethical research. Okay, pep talk over. Let's get into the nuts and bolts.

The Core Elements of an APA Chart Citation

Before diving into specific examples, let's break down the absolute essentials you'll *always* need when figuring out how to cite a chart in APA. These are the building blocks:

APA Chart Citation Essentials: What info you MUST track down.

Creator: Who made the chart? This could be an individual author, a group author (like "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention"), or even a username on a site. If there's no clear author, you move the title to the author position (more on that later).
Year of Publication: When was the source containing the chart published? Found usually on the copyright page of a book, below the journal article title, or sometimes in the footer of a webpage. Crucial for the in-text citation.
Title of the Chart/Figure: The specific title given to *that* chart or figure itself. It might be something like "Figure 3.2" or "Global Temperature Trends (1990-2023)". If it doesn't have a formal title, you create a brief, descriptive one in square brackets. Tip: Look directly above, below, or in the caption for the chart's official title.
Source Publication Information: This is the bigger container holding the chart. We need:
- For Books/Reports: Book/report title (in italics), edition (if not the first), publisher name, page number(s) where the chart appears.
- For Journal Articles: Article title (not italicized), journal title (in italics), volume number (in italics), issue number (in parentheses, no italics), page range of the *article*, and the DOI or URL if online. Plus the specific page the chart is on.
- For Websites: Title of the specific webpage (in italics), name of the overall site (if different), and the full, direct URL. Publication date if available, retrieval date if content is likely to change.

The Nitty-Gritty: Reference List vs. In-Text Citation

Don't mix these up! APA requires two distinct parts when you cite a chart:

Citation Part	What It Does	Where It Goes	Key Components
In-Text Citation	Briefly points to the source right next to the chart in your writing.	Embedded in your paragraph, usually near where you discuss or mention the chart.	(Creator Last Name, Year, p. PageNumber)
Reference List Entry	Provides the full details so readers can find the source themselves.	On a separate "References" page at the end of your paper.	Creator. (Year). Title of Chart [Description if needed]. In Title of Larger Source (edition, page). Publisher. OR DOI/URL

Mess this up, and your reader won't know where to look. Got it? Okay, let's see what this actually looks like with real examples.

Step-by-Step: How to Cite a Chart in APA Style Based on Source

This is where the rubber meets the road. Let's break down the most common scenarios you'll encounter. Remember, tracking down ALL that core element info we just talked about is step zero!

Citing a Chart from a Book or Textbook

Textbooks are chart havens. Here's the formula for both your reference list and in-text citation.

Reference List Entry:
Smith, J. A., & Chen, L. (2023). Economic indicators in emerging markets (5th ed.). Global Economics Press. p. 147.

Structure Breakdown:
Author Last, First Initial. (Year). Title of Book (Edition if not first ed.). Publisher. p. PageNumber.

In-Text Citation:
The data illustrates significant growth (Smith & Chen, 2023, p. 147).

OR
As shown in Figure 4.1 (Smith & Chen, 2023, p. 147), the trend reverses after 2020.

What if there's an editor? If the chapter/chart is in an edited book, cite the specific chapter author(s), then "In" followed by the editor names (Ed. or Eds.), book title, page range of the *chapter*, and publisher info. Include the specific chart page in the in-text citation.

Reference List Entry (Edited Book Chapter):
Rivera, M. (2022). Demographic shifts in urban centers. In K. Tanaka & R. Dubois (Eds.), The future of cities: Global perspectives (pp. 89-112). Urban Studies Publishing. p. 95.

In-Text Citation:
(Rivera, 2022, p. 95)

Citing a Chart from a Journal Article

Academic articles are prime sources for charts. The DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is gold – use it if available!

Reference List Entry:
Johnson, P. D., Williams, T. R., & Garcia, F. (2024). Neural network efficiency comparisons. Journal of Advanced Computing, 42(3), 567-589. https://doi.org/10.1000/jac.2024.12345. p. 572.

Structure Breakdown:
Author. (Year). Article title. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), Article Page Range. DOI or URL. p. ChartPage.

In-Text Citation:
The performance metrics clearly favored Model B (Johnson et al., 2024, p. 572).

Important: Notice the "p." before the specific page number where the chart appears. This is mandatory in the in-text citation for charts and figures to pinpoint its location within the larger article.

Citing a Chart Found on a Website or Online Report

Websites can be trickier. You need the *specific* page the chart is on, not just the homepage.

Reference List Entry (Organization Author):
Pew Research Center. (2023, November 15). Social media use by age group in the U.S., 2023 [Chart]. Pew Research Center: Internet & Technology. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/chart/social-media-use-by-age-group-us-2023/

Structure Breakdown:
Author/Organization. (Year, Month Day). Title of specific webpage/chart [Description like Chart, Graph, Infographic]. Name of Larger Site (if different). Retrieved Date Accessed, from URL

Reference List Entry (Individual Author on Site):
Miller, A. (2024, January 5). Q4 sales projections: Regional breakdown [Chart]. Data Insights Blog. Retrieved January 17, 2024, from https://www.datainsightsblog.com/q4-sales-projections-regional-breakdown

In-Text Citation (For both above):
(Pew Research Center, 2023) OR (Miller, 2024)

Crucial Nuances for Websites:

Retrieval Date: Only include this ("Retrieved January 17, 2024, from") if the content is likely to change or be updated (e.g., wikis, dashboards with live data, some government stats). For stable reports or articles, you usually don't need it. When in doubt, include it. It won't hurt.
Missing Author? Move the title of the webpage to the author position. Example: Global carbon emissions forecast, 2050 [Chart]. (2023, June 10). Climate Analytics Hub. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from https://www.climateanalyticshub.org/forecasts/global-carbon-2050 ... In-Text: (Global carbon emissions forecast, 2050, 2023).
Missing Date? Use "(n.d.)" for "no date". Example: DataVizPro. (n.d.). Customer satisfaction drivers [Infographic]. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from https://www.datavizpro.com/infographics/customer-satisfaction-drivers ... In-Text: (DataVizPro, n.d.).

The Grey Area: Citing Reproduced or Adapted Charts

This is where people get really nervous. Can you use that chart if you change it? Sometimes yes, but you *must* be transparent and you often need permission.

Reproduction: Using the chart *exactly* as it appears in the original source.
Adaptation: Modifying the chart in some way – changing the data, combining parts, redesigning it significantly.

Rule #1: Permission is (Usually) Required. Copyright law applies to charts and figures just like text. Reproducing or adapting a chart in your thesis, dissertation, or especially a published article or book usually requires written permission from the copyright holder (often the publisher). Check the source's permissions guidelines or use the Copyright Clearance Center. Fair Use in coursework? Maybe for limited classroom use, but always cite meticulously and check your institution's policy. Don't assume.

Rule #2: Credit the Original Even If You Adapt. Even with permission and adaptation, you still cite the original source! This is critical for tracing the intellectual lineage.

Reference List Entry (Adapted Chart - Book Example):
Adapted from The Marketing Landscape 2024 (p. 88), by Davis, R. & Moore, S., 2024, Market Trends Publishing. Copyright 2024 by Market Trends Publishing. Adapted with permission.

Structure:
Adapted from [Original Source Description], by Creator, Year, Publisher. Copyright [Year] by Copyright Holder. Adapted with permission.

Reference List Entry (Adapted Chart - Journal Example):
Adapted from "Machine Learning Applications in Radiology" (Figure 2, p. 215), by K. Patel and O. Ivanova, 2023, Journal of Medical Imaging, 50(4), pp. 210-230. https://doi.org/10.1000/jmi.2023.45678. Copyright 2023 by the Association of Medical Imaging. Adapted with permission.

In-Text Citation (For Adapted Charts):
(Adapted from Davis & Moore, 2024, p. 88) OR (Adapted from Patel & Ivanova, 2023, Figure 2, p. 215)

See the difference? You're signaling loud and clear that this chart started life elsewhere, even though you changed it. Transparency is key. Seriously, don't skip the permission step if you're adapting for anything beyond personal coursework scrutiny – publishers take this seriously.

Special Situations: Presentations, Lectures, and More

Life isn't always books and journals. Sometimes you need to cite a chart from less conventional places.

Conference Presentations/Posters:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of presentation [Conference presentation slides or poster]. Conference Name, Location. URL if available online.

In-Text: (Author, Year) - Specify "slide 7" or "Figure 1" in your sentence describing it.
Class Lecture Notes/Slides: Treat these like personal communication – cite only in-text, not in the reference list.
(B. Johnson, personal communication, March 12, 2024) - Mention in your text that it was "Figure 3 from lecture slides".
Check if your professor/institution requires citing lectures in the reference list! Some do, using formats similar to conference presentations.
Databases/Data Archives (e.g., Statista, OECD iLibrary): Cite the specific chart download/report, treating it like a report or webpage depending on structure. Include the database name only if it's essential for retrieval.
Statista. (2024). Global market share held by smartphone operating systems from 2009 to 2023 [Chart]. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/266136/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-operating-systems/

In-Text: (Statista, 2024)

Formatting the Chart Itself Within Your APA Paper

Citing isn't just about the references. APA has specific rules for how the chart should appear in your document.

Figure Number: Assign it sequentially (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) based on when it first appears in your text.

Figure Title: A brief but descriptive title, italicized, placed above the figure.

Legend: Explains symbols, colors, or patterns within the chart (if needed).

Note: Appears below the figure. This is CRITICAL and has three possible parts:

General Note: Starts with "Note." Explains units, defines abbreviations used only in the figure, or provides context. This is where your copyright attribution/permission statement goes for reproduced/adapted figures!
Specific Note: Explains particular elements (e.g., "Error bars represent ±1 SEM"). Labeled with superscript letters (e.g., ^a) within the figure pointing to these notes.
Probability Note: Used to indicate statistical significance (e.g., *p < .05, **p < .01).

Example Figure Setup:

Figure 1 Projected Internet User Growth by Region (2024-2028)

^aNote. Data sourced from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2023 projections. Adapted from Global Connectivity Report 2023 (p. 22), by ITU, 2023. Copyright 2023 by the International Telecommunication Union. Adapted with permission.
^a APAC = Asia-Pacific region.

The "Note." section under the figure is where you seamlessly integrate your citation and adaptation statement. It keeps the chart clean but fully credited.

Top Mistakes People Make (And How to Dodge Them)

After grading stacks of papers and seeing countless online posts asking about how to cite a chart in APA, these are the errors popping up constantly. Avoid these like the plague!

Mistake	Why It's Bad	The Fix
Forgetting the Page Number in the In-Text Cite	Leaves reader hunting through the whole source. APA mandates it for figures.	Always include "p. XX" (or "pp. XX-YY" for a range) in the parentheses after the year.
Omitting the Chart Title	The reference entry looks incomplete. "Figure 3" isn't a title!	Find the specific title above/below the chart or create a descriptive one in square brackets [Like This].
Treating the Website Homepage as the Source	Reader can't find the chart buried deep in a site.	Cite the *exact webpage URL where the chart lives. Right-click the chart, "Open image in new tab" often reveals the page URL.
Incorrect Creator Attribution	Gives credit to the wrong person/entity. Common with organizational reports.	Look for the author name(s) directly on the chart, the report cover/title page, or the article byline. No author? Move the title to the author spot.
Missing the "Adapted from" Label	Falsely implies you created the original visualization. Academic dishonesty.	If you changed the chart significantly, clearly state "Adapted from" in both the reference entry and the figure note.
Ignoring Copyright/Permission	Legal risk, especially for theses/dissertations/publications.	Assume you need permission to reproduce/adapt unless it's explicitly open license (e.g., CC-BY) or your use falls under strict classroom Fair Use. Check source policies.
Confusing Reference List vs. Figure Note	The reference list entry isn't enough context for the figure itself.	The full citation goes in the References. A shortened attribution (Author, Year, p. XX; Adapted from...) goes in the general note below the figure in your paper.

Double-checking for these will save you headaches later. Trust me, it's worth the extra minute.

Your Burning APA Chart Citation Questions Answered (FAQ)

Let's tackle the specifics people keep asking. These are based on real confusion I see online and from students.

Q: How do I cite a chart within a chart (like a small inset graph)?

A: Usually, you cite the main source where you found the entire figure. If the inset is from a *different* source, that's messy! Ideally, recreate the main figure and cite the inset source separately elsewhere if critical, or include a note like "Inset data adapted from [Source]". Avoid it if possible – it complicates attribution.

Q: The chart has no title! What do I put in the reference entry?

A: Create a brief, clear, descriptive title for it yourself and put it in square brackets. Be objective. Example: [Bar chart showing smartphone ownership by age group]. Describe what it shows, not what you think it means ("[Chart proving young people love phones]" is bad!).

Q: How detailed should the figure note be?

A: Concise but complete. The "Note." should cover necessities: explanation of non-standard abbreviations used *only* in the figure, units of measurement, and the citation/attribution for the chart (Author, Year, p. X; Adapted from...). Don't repeat the axis labels unless they are truly cryptic.

Q: Do I need to cite a chart I made myself from raw data?

A: If you created the chart entirely from scratch using data *you collected*, no, you don't cite it. It's your original work! Label it clearly as your own (e.g., Figure 1). If you made the chart using data *from another source*, you absolutely must cite that original data source in your figure note and reference list. The chart design might be yours, but the data isn't!

Q: How do I cite a chart from an annual report PDF I downloaded?

A: Treat it like a report. Author (usually the organization), Year, Title of the Full Report (italicized), any report number, page number of the chart. If you have a direct URL to the PDF, include it. If not, you can omit the URL but mention it's available from the organization. Example: National Science Foundation. (2023). Science & Engineering Indicators 2023 (NSB-2023-1). p. 3-15. Retrieved from https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20231/

Q: My chart is from Instagram/Twitter/a social media post. How do I cite that?

A: Follow the webpage format, but include the platform and handle if possible. Author [@handle]. (Year, Month Day). First few words of the post (if it's the title) or a description [Type of post - Photo, Infographic, Chart] [Attached media description if needed]. Platform Name. URL Example: DataWorld [@DataWorld_Org]. (2023, October 12). Global coffee consumption trends are shifting! [Infographic] [Image attached]. X. https://twitter.com/DataWorld_Org/status/1234567890

Q: Where exactly do I put the chart in my paper?

A: APA prefers figures appear as soon as possible *after* they are first mentioned in the text. Don't bury them in an appendix unless required by your instructor/journal or if they are supplemental. Include them within the main body for readability.

Q: How do I cite historical charts or those found in archives?

A: Include as much information as possible: Creator, Year created (or estimated), Title/Description [Chart], Repository/Archive Name (if applicable), Collection, Reference Number (if applicable), URL if digitized. Example: Smith, J. (ca. 1850). [Map of river trade routes] [Chart]. National Archives, Cartographic Collection, RG 77, F-123. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123456

Tools and Resources to Make APA Chart Citing Easier

Doing this manually every time? Brutal. Here are some lifelines:

Citation Generators (Use with CAUTION!): Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, and even the citation feature in Word or Google Docs can generate APA references. BUT they often struggle with charts, figures, and webpages. They miss page numbers, format titles wrong, and butcher website citations. Always, always double-check the output against the official APA manual or a reliable guide (like this one!). They are a starting point, not a final solution.
The Gold Standard: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Chapter 7 covers figures and tables in detail. Yes, it costs money, but it's the definitive source. Check your library.
Reliable Online Guides: University libraries often have superb APA guides. Look for ones from Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab), University of Washington, or APA Style Blog (official, but search their archives). Be wary of random blog posts – quality varies wildly.
Your Professor/Librarian: If genuinely stuck on a weird source, ask! They'd rather clarify than see a messed-up citation. Be specific about where you found the chart.

There you have it. No magic shortcuts, but hopefully a clear path through the APA chart citation jungle. Finding out how to cite a chart in APA properly takes a bit of diligence, but getting it right makes your work stronger and keeps you out of trouble. Now go tackle those charts!

How to Cite a Chart in APA Format: Step-by-Step Guide & Examples (2025)