Autobiography Format: Templates & Formatting Rules [2025]

Quick Format Rules (The Basics)

Typography:

• Font: Times New Roman, Garamond, or Georgia
• Size: 11-12 point for body text, 16-18 point for chapter titles
• Spacing: Double-spaced for drafts/school, single-spaced for final versions
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Alignment: Left-aligned or justified (pick one, stick with it)

Page Numbers:

• Bottom center or top right
• Start with Introduction (front matter uses Roman numerals: i, ii, iii)
• Don't number the title page

What Goes in Your Autobiography (In Order)

Every autobiography follows this basic structure. Some parts are optional check your assignment requirements. 

A. Front Matter (Before Your Story Starts)

1. Title Page

• Your title (centered, larger font)
• Subtitle if you have one.
• "An Autobiography by [Your Name]"
  

2. Table of Contents (Optional for short papers, required for books) 

• List all chapter titles with page numbers
• Create this LAST after your pages are finalized

3. Dedication (Optional)

• 1-3 sentences dedicating your work to someone
• "For my grandmother, who taught me stories matter."
• Skip it if you'd rather thank people in Acknowledgments

4. Acknowledgments (Optional, 1-2 pages)

• Thank people who helped you write this or shaped your life
• Keep it genuine, not a grocery list of everyone you know

B. Main Content (Your Actual Story)

5. Introduction (2-5 pages)

• Who you are
• Why you're writing this
• What readers will discover
• How your story is organized

6. Body Chapters (The bulk of your autobiography)

• Divide your life into chapters
• Each chapter = one time period or theme
• Start each chapter on a new page
• Use consistent chapter heading format

Chapter count guidelines:

• Short autobiography (10-20 pages): 3-5 chapters
• Student autobiography (20-50 pages): 5-8 chapters
• Standard autobiography (50-150 pages): 8-12 chapters
• Book-length (200+ pages): 15-25 chapters

7. Conclusion (2-4 pages)

• Where you are now
• What you've learned
• Reflection on your journey
• Brief forward-looking statement

C. Back Matter (Optional Add-Ons)

8. Appendix (Optional)

• Photos, documents, letters, family trees
• Label each: "Appendix A: Family Photos 1950-1970"
• Reference in your main text where relevant

9. Index (Optional, mainly for published books)

• Alphabetical list of names, places, topics with page numbers
• Only needed for books 150+ pages going to publication
• Skip this for school assignments

Format by Assignment Type

Different purposes = slightly different rules.

1. Student Autobiography Format

What's different:

• Follow your teacher's style guide (MLA, APA, etc.)
• Usually requires specific heading format
• Double-spaced is standard
• Stick to page limits (going over hurts your grade)

Typical student requirements:

• High school: 5-12 pages, 3-5 chapters
• College: 10-20 pages, 5-8 chapters
• Proper citations if you reference sources

2. Professional Autobiography Format

What's different:

• Business-appropriate tone throughout
• Emphasize career achievements and professional development
• Consider adding 1-page executive summary at start
• Single-spaced, polished appearance

3. Published Book Format

What's different:

• Industry-standard manuscript format
• Must be impeccable (publishers reject sloppy formatting)
• 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced
• Proper title page with contact info and word count
• Chapter titles one-third down the page

Format Your Chapters

Two main ways to structure your autobiography:

1. Chronological (Most Common)

Your life in order, from earliest memories to now.

Chapter structure:

• Chapter 1: Early Childhood (0-5)
• Chapter 2: Elementary School (6-11)
• Chapter 3: Adolescence (12-18) - and so on

Best for: Traditional autobiographies, student assignments, and straightforward life stories.

2. Thematic (Less Common but Powerful)

Organized by life areas instead of timeline.

Chapter structure:

• Chapter 1: Family & Relationships
• Chapter 2: Education Journey
• Chapter 3: Career Path
• Chapter 4: Major Challenges - and so on.

Best for: Complex lives that don't fit simple timelines, highlighting specific patterns.

3. Chapter-by-Chapter Format Template

Detailed structure for organizing your autobiography systematically.

4. Basic Chapter Page Layout

Every chapter should look like this:

5. Example Pages (Visual Reference)

Downloadable Resource (Complete Pack)

Get every template in one download:

• Title page
• Table of contents
• Introduction
• Chapter structure
• Conclusion
• Student format
• Professional format
• Manuscript format

Bottom Line

Autobiography format isn't complicated:

• Standard fonts and margins
• Clear chapter structure
• Consistent formatting throughout
• Download a template and fill it in

That's it. Don't overthink it. Master the autobiography genre for exam success. Explore our complete autobiography writing guide to learn the perfect structure and style.