How to Write an IEEE Conference Paper in LaTeX
By Shihab Shahriar Antor · Updated June 2026 · 7 min read
To write an IEEE paper in LaTeX, use the IEEEtran class with \documentclass[conference]{IEEEtran}. It sets the official two-column format, title block, abstract, and IEEE reference style automatically. Add your sections, figures, and a BibTeX bibliography with IEEEtran.bst, then compile. LetX includes a ready IEEE template you can open and submit-format in the browser.
The IEEEtran document class
IEEE provides the official IEEEtran class, which encodes the exact two-column layout, fonts, and reference style IEEE venues require. You almost never set margins or column widths by hand — the class does it. The option in brackets picks the format:
| Option | Use for |
|---|---|
[conference] | Conference papers (most common) |
[journal] | IEEE Transactions / journals |
[technote] | Brief technical notes |
A complete IEEE paper skeleton
\documentclass[conference]{IEEEtran}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{cite}
\begin{document}
\title{Your IEEE Paper Title}
\author{\IEEEauthorblockN{First Author}
\IEEEauthorblockA{Department, University\\
Email: [email protected]}}
\maketitle
\begin{abstract}
A concise abstract of the contribution.
\end{abstract}
\begin{IEEEkeywords}
keyword one, keyword two, keyword three
\end{IEEEkeywords}
\section{Introduction}
Motivate the work and state contributions \cite{ref1}.
\section{Method}
Describe the approach.
\section{Conclusion}
Summarize results.
\bibliographystyle{IEEEtran}
\bibliography{references}
\end{document}The \\ inside \IEEEauthorblockA breaks affiliation lines. For multiple authors, separate \IEEEauthorblockN blocks with \and.
IEEE vs ACM vs Springer classes
| Venue | Class | Layout |
|---|---|---|
| IEEE | IEEEtran | Two-column |
| ACM | acmart | Two-column (sigconf) |
| Springer | llncs | Single-column LNCS |
Switching venues mostly means swapping the \documentclass and author block — your body content stays. Start from a ready IEEE conference template on LetX, or see the full template gallery. New to paper writing? Read how to write a research paper in LaTeX first.
Open the IEEE template and format your paper — free.
Browse Conference TemplatesFrequently asked questions
What class is used for IEEE papers in LaTeX?
IEEE papers use the official IEEEtran class. Set \documentclass[conference]{IEEEtran} for conference papers or [journal] for IEEE Transactions. It applies the required two-column layout, fonts, and reference style automatically.
How do I format IEEE references in LaTeX?
Cite from a .bib file and set \bibliographystyle{IEEEtran}, then run a BibTeX pass. This produces the numbered, IEEE-formatted reference list venues require.
How do I add multiple authors to an IEEE paper?
Use separate \IEEEauthorblockN (name) and \IEEEauthorblockA (affiliation) blocks inside \author, joined with \and. Use \\ inside an affiliation block to break lines.
Can I write an IEEE paper online without installing LaTeX?
Yes. LetX includes a ready IEEEtran template you can open in the browser, edit with co-authors in real time, and compile to a submission-ready PDF — no install.
Related
Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor — AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs. Builder of LetX (collaborative LaTeX) and QuantumSketch (AI STEM video).