MLA Header: Format, Examples & Free Generator

MLA Header Generator is a free browser-based tool that turns five details — student name, instructor, course, date, and paper title — into a correctly formatted MLA 9 first-page heading and running head, with a live preview and editable DOCX export.

What is MLA Header Generator?

MLA Header Generator is a free online utility that builds the four-line MLA first-page heading (name, instructor, course, date) plus a centered title and a top-right running head. You type five fields into the tool and it returns a live preview plus a downloadable editable DOCX file for Word or Google Docs. It runs locally in the browser with no account required, and it is published at headergenerator.io.

Key Features

• Live preview — the four-line heading and the running head update as you type each of the five fields.
• DOCX export — download an editable Word document containing the generated heading and title.
• Copy for Google Docs — copy the generated text and finish page settings manually in Docs.
• Local processing — no account and no upload; details stay in the browser.
• Built-in checklist — a five-item MLA checklist (four-line heading, day-month-year date, upper-right running head, double spacing, one-inch margins) tracks completion.
• MLA 9 formatting rules — enforces left-aligned double-spaced heading, centered unstyled title, and a surname-plus-page-number running head.
• Mistake guidance — flags common errors such as repeating the heading block on every page, numeric dates like 09/04/2026, single spacing, and APA-style "Running head:" labels.

Who is it for?

• Students writing MLA papers — generate the first-page heading and running head for essays in English, humanities, and other MLA-style courses.
• Students using Word or Google Docs — export a DOCX or copy text, then apply one-inch margins, 12pt font, and double spacing in the editor.
• Writers checking formatting — verify heading order, date format, and running head placement before submitting.

What can you do with MLA Header Generator?

• Build a first-page heading: enter name, instructor, course, date, and title to get the four-line block above a centered title.
• Set up the running head: produce a surname-plus-page-number line for the upper-right header on every page.
• Export to an editor: download an editable DOCX for Word or copy the text into Google Docs, then verify pagination on page two.

How does MLA Header Generator work?

1. Fill five fields: name, instructor, course, date, and title.
2. Review the live preview as the heading and running head update.
3. Download the DOCX or copy the text, then confirm margins, font, and double spacing in your editor.

FAQ

What belongs in the MLA heading?

The MLA first-page heading has four lines: your full name, your instructor's preferred title and name, the official course name or number, and the submission date written as day month year. The paper title is centered on the next double-spaced line, not part of the four-line block.

Is a running head the same as the heading?

No. The four-line heading appears once at the upper left of page one only. The running head is a separate surname and automatic page number placed in the upper-right header of every page, such as Lee 1, with one space between surname and number.

How should the date look in MLA format?

Write the date in day-month-year order with the month spelled out, for example 4 September 2026. Numeric formats such as 09/04/2026 are incorrect in MLA, and the generator flags this as a common mistake.

Does the MLA header go on every page of my paper?

No. The four-line heading block ends on page one; only the running head continues on later pages. Repeating the heading block on every page is listed as a common MLA header mistake.

Is the MLA header double-spaced?

Yes. The heading uses the same double spacing as the rest of the essay, with no blank lines or empty paragraphs between entries, and