Citing Tables and Figures in APA Style | Format & Examples
When you reprint or adapt a table or figure from another source, the source should be acknowledged in an in-text citation and in your reference list. Follow the format for the source type you took the table or figure from.
You also have to include a copyright statement in a note beneath the table or figure. The example below shows how to cite a figure from a journal article.
| APA reference entry | Shi, F., & Zhu, L. (2019). Analysis of trip generation rates in residential commuting based on mobile phone signaling data. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 12(1), 201–220. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26911264 |
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| APA in-text citation | (Shi & Zhu, 2019, p. 212) |
| Copyright note | Note. From “Analysis of Trip Generation Rates in Residential Commuting Based on Mobile Phone Signaling Data,” by F. Shi and L. Zhu, 2019, Journal of Transport and Land Use, 12(1), p. 212 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/26911264). CC BY-NC. |
Citing tables and figures
Tables and figures taken from other sources are numbered and presented in the same format as your other tables and figures. Refer to them as Table 1, Figure 3, etc., but include an in-text citation after you mention them to acknowledge the source.
You should also include the source in the reference list. Follow the standard format for the source type you took the table or figure from.
Including a copyright note
As well as a citation and reference, when you reproduce a table or figure in your own work, you also need to acknowledge the source in a note directly below it.
The image below shows an example of a table with a copyright note.
If you’ve reproduced a table or figure exactly, start the note with “From …” If you’ve adapted it in some way for your own purposes (e.g. incorporating part of a table or figure into a new table or figure in your paper), write “Adapted from …”
This is followed by information about the source (title, author, year, publisher, and location), and then copyright information at the end.
Types of copyright and permission
A source will either be under standard copyright, under a Creative Commons license, or in the public domain. You need to state which of these is the case.
| Standard copyright | Copyright 2020 by Scribbr. |
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| Creative Commons | CC-BY-NC. |
| Public domain | In the public domain. |
Under standard copyright, you sometimes also need permission from the publisher to reprint or adapt materials. If you sought and obtained permission, mention this at the end of the note.
Look for information on copyright and permissions from the publisher. If you’re having trouble finding this information, consult your supervisor for advice.
Examples from different source types
| Note format | Note. From or Adapted from “Article Title,” by Initials. Last name, Year, Journal Name, Volume(Issue), p. Page number (URL or DOI). Copyright statement. |
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| Copyright note | Note. Adapted from “Analysis of Trip Generation Rates in Residential Commuting Based on Mobile Phone Signaling Data,” by F. Shi and L. Zhu, 2019, Journal of Transport and Land Use, 12(1), p. 212 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/26911264). CC BY-NC. |
| APA reference entry | Shi, F., & Zhu, L. (2019). Analysis of trip generation rates in residential commuting based on mobile phone signaling data. Journal of Transport and Land Use, 12(1), 201–220. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26911264 |
| Note format | Note. From or Adapted from Page Title, by Initials. Last name, Year (URL). Copyright statement. |
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| Copyright note | Note. From A Complete Guide to APA In-Text Citation, by R. Streefkerk, 2020 (https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/in-text-citation/). Copyright 2020 by Scribbr. |
| APA reference entry | Streefkerk, R. (2020, October 2). A complete guide to APA in-text citation. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/in-text-citation/ |
| Note format | Note. From or Adapted from Book Title (p. Page number), by Initial. Last name, Year, Publisher (DOI or URL). Copyright statement. |
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| Copyright note | Note. From The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men’s Health (p. 107), by H. B. Simon, 2004, Free Press. Copyright 2004 by Free Press. Reprinted with permission. |
| APA reference entry | Simon, H. B. (2002). The Harvard Medical School guide to men’s health. Free Press. |
Frequently asked questions about APA Style citations
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Caulfield, J. (2023, December 27). Citing Tables and Figures in APA Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 14, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/citing-tables-figures/
