Wikipedia citation generator
Cite a Wikipedia article, or any other wiki entry, in any citation style.
or fill in the details below
How to cite Wikipedia
A Wikipedia citation takes three steps, and the permanent link is made for you.
Step 1
Paste the article link
Any language edition works, and so do mobile links and links to a section. A short name that redirects, like JFK, gives the full article.
Step 2
We make the permanent link
Wikipedia changes all the time. We link to the exact version you read and fill in the date it was saved.
Step 3
Copy your citation
Add the reference entry to your list and use the in-text citation in your paper.
How to cite Wikipedia in APA
An APA Wikipedia citation gives the article title, the date of the version you read, In Wikipedia in italics, and the permanent link. With a permanent link, no retrieval date is needed.
Format
Title of article. (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. Permanent link
Example
Photosynthesis. (2026, August 25). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Photosynthesis&oldid=1371284103
In-text citation
Parenthetical: (“Photosynthesis,” 2026)
Narrative: “Photosynthesis” (2026)
In-text citation, with a section
Parenthetical: (“Photosynthesis,” 2026, Light-dependent reactions section)
Articles have no page numbers, so name the section your quotation comes from.
How to cite Wikipedia in MLA
An MLA Wikipedia citation gives the article title in quotation marks, Wikipedia in italics, the Wikimedia Foundation as publisher, the date and the link.
Format
“Title of Article.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Day Month Year, URL.
Example
“Photosynthesis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Aug. 2026, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis.
Another wiki
“Hermione Granger.” Harry Potter Wiki, Fandom, 26 Sept. 2026, harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Hermione_Granger.
Fandom and other wikis work the same way. Give the wiki’s own name and its publisher.
How to cite Wikipedia in Chicago
Chicago usually cites Wikipedia in a note only, not in the bibliography. The note gives the article title in quotation marks and the date of the version you read.
Footnote
Wikipedia, “Photosynthesis,” last modified August 25, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis.
How to find the permanent link to a Wikipedia article
The generator does this for you. To find it by hand:
Step 1
Open the Tools menu
On the article, open Tools at the top right. On a phone, use the desktop view.
Step 2
Choose Permanent link
The address changes to one ending in oldid= and a number. That number is the version you are reading.
Step 3
Copy the address
Use it as the URL in your citation, with the date of that version.
Should you cite Wikipedia in an academic paper?
Wikipedia is a good place to start, and many instructors don’t accept it as a source.
Check with your instructor
Some accept it for general background. Many ask for sources they can check, written by named experts.
Use its references
Every good Wikipedia article lists its sources at the bottom. Read them, and cite the ones you actually use.
Check what you cite
The Citation Checker checks that each source you list is real and cited correctly.
Other reference works have their own generators: the encyclopedia citation generator and the dictionary citation generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I cite Wikipedia in APA?
Give the article title, the date of the version you read, In Wikipedia in italics, and the permanent link. In the text, cite the title in quotation marks and the year, for example (“Photosynthesis,” 2026).
How do I cite Wikipedia in MLA?
Give the title in quotation marks, Wikipedia in italics, the Wikimedia Foundation, the date and the link without https://.
What is a permanent link?
A link to one saved version of the article. Wikipedia pages change often, so APA asks for the version you read. We make it for you when you paste the link.
Can I cite a Wikipedia article in another language?
Yes. Paste its link and we cite that language edition, with its own title and permanent link.
Can I cite a Fandom wiki?
Yes. Paste the page’s link and we fill in the wiki’s name, the date and a permanent link, the same way.
Is this Wikipedia citation generator free?
Yes. It’s free with no signup, and your citations go into the same list as the main Citation Generator.