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: you@example.com}}
\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.
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Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor , AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs. Builder of LetX (collaborative LaTeX) and QuantumSketch (AI STEM video).