How to Cite Figures and Tables
Updated October 2026
When you reproduce or adapt a figure, table, chart, or graph from a source, the citation lives in the caption beneath it — not just the reference list. APA and MLA each have a specific note format, and reused visuals may also need the copyright holder's permission.
APA: the figure/table note
Figure 1 Title of the Figure in Title Case Note. From "Article Title," by A. Author, Year, Journal, Volume(Issue), p. xx (https://doi.org). Copyright Year by Holder.
APA numbers figures and tables (Figure 1, Table 1), gives each a title, and puts the source in a Note beneath it beginning with Note. From or Note. Adapted from. The full source also appears in your reference list.
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Citation style
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (2020). The 7th dropped the publisher location and the "Retrieved from" prefix that the 6th required.
MLA: the caption
MLA labels it Fig. 1 and writes a caption directly under the visual with the full source information. If the caption gives complete source details, a separate Works Cited entry isn't required; if you only abbreviate it, add the full entry to Works Cited.
Reproduced vs. adapted vs. your own
- Reproduced exactly — From in the note, plus permission for copyrighted material in published work.
- Adapted (you changed it) — Adapted from in the note.
- Your own figure/table built from data — no source citation for the figure itself, though the data you used is cited.
- Data from one source, your chart — cite the data source in the note: Note. Data from…
Permissions and the reference list
For published work, reproducing a copyrighted figure usually requires the rights holder's permission, acknowledged in the note. For class papers this is generally fine under academic use, but the citation is still required. The underlying source always goes in your reference list too. To cite a standalone image you're discussing (not reproducing), see How to Cite an Image.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- Where does the citation for a reproduced figure go?
- In a note or caption directly beneath the figure or table — APA uses 'Note. From …', MLA uses a caption under 'Fig. 1'. The source also appears in your reference list.
- What if I made the figure from someone else's data?
- The figure is yours, so it isn't cited as reproduced — but cite the data source in the note: 'Note. Data from …', and in your reference list.
- Do I need permission to reproduce a figure?
- For published work, reproducing copyrighted figures usually requires the rights holder's permission, noted in the caption. Class papers generally fall under academic use, but still need the citation.
- What's the difference between 'From' and 'Adapted from'?
- 'From' means you reproduced the figure exactly; 'Adapted from' means you modified it. APA notes use one or the other.