How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? Ideal Length & Word Count

Typically, a cover letter should be 250-400 words or three to four concise paragraphs. The ideal cover letter length is a half-page to one page long.

This length allows you to introduce yourself, highlight your most relevant qualifications, and express your enthusiasm for the position without overwhelming the reader.

How to achieve the ideal cover letter length

Use these tips to keep your cover letter to one page while maximizing its impact.

1. Structure your cover letter properly

Many people mistakenly think their cover letter is the place to tell their life story, and end up wasting space on unnecessary details.

Understanding the main parts of a cover letter helps you keep your cover letter focused and organized.

A well-structured cover letter should be concise and broken into three to four informative paragraphs:

1. Introduction: In your first paragraph, introduce yourself and explain why you’re interested in the job.
2. Body paragraph(s): Your body paragraphs should highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments that demonstrate why you’re an excellent fit for the role. Be sure to connect your qualifications to the needs of the company. Research the company’s current projects and future goals, and explain how your experience has prepared you to contribute to them.
3. Closing paragraph: Your final paragraph should restate your interest in the position, thank the hiring manager for their time, and end with a call to action expressing your enthusiasm for further discussion about the role.

2. Write concisely

Every word in your cover letter counts. Write your first draft without worrying about length, then edit for conciseness.

Look for redundant phrases, unnecessary adjectives, filtering language like “I think” or “I believe,” and long-winded explanations that can be simplified. Removing these makes your writing more concise and helps you sound more confident.

Here’s an example of a sentence from a cover letter that’s not written concisely:

This sentence sounds professional but uses wordy language to communicate a basic idea. Simplify it to communicate the same idea directly:

If you’re struggling to make your cover letter more concise, here are a couple essential editing tips:

Replace phrases with a word

While common phrases like “due to the fact that” or “in the event that” sound fancy, they make your writing less direct. Hiring managers typically prefer clear, straightforward language because it’s easier to read and makes you sound more confident.

Replace unnecessary phrases with fewer words. For example, “due to the fact that” can be replaced with “because”, and “in the event that” can be replaced with “if”.

Use online tools to help you

Using a cover letter builder can help you put together an effective cover letter by prompting you with questions about your experience. These tools help make sure you hit all the essential talking points while using concise language.

You can also try using AI tools like ChatGPT to help you write or revise your cover letter.

Keep in mind that AI writing tools often create details to fill in the blanks, so it’s important to edit your cover letter to make sure it accurately represents your experience.

3. Focus on your most relevant experience

Focus on the experiences and skills that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Carefully review the job description and identify the key qualifications the employer is seeking.

Then, choose one or two of your most impressive and relevant accomplishments to highlight in your cover letter. Provide specific examples of how you’ve used your skills to achieve results in previous roles.

This targeted approach allows you to make a strong case for why you’re a good fit without going on to a second page.

4. Use bullet points

Using a few bullet points in your cover letter is a great way to showcase your relevant accomplishments and save space.

Bullet points are effective because they:

• Draw attention — even if the reader is skimming your cover letter, they’ll look more closely at your bullet points than the rest of the letter
• Save space by eliminating transitional phrasing between sentences
• Break up large chunks of text, making your cover letter clearer and easier to read

5. Use the STAR method

The STAR method is a writing technique used to describe your experience in concise and achievement-oriented terms.

STAR stands for Situation (the overall problem you were faced with), Task (what you were responsible for doing), Action (what you did in the situation), and Result (what you achieved).

This structured approach helps you convey important information efficiently, keeping your cover letter within the ideal length while still making a strong impact.

Here’s an example of a cover letter section that applies the STAR method to fit an impressive achievement into two brief sentences:

6. Adjust your formatting

Sometimes, achieving the ideal cover letter length is a matter of formatting. For example, your margins, font size, and line spacing can make a big difference to the length of your cover letter.

First, adjust your cover letter’s spacing and margins to fit more words on the page. The page should be single-spaced with 1” all around, although you can reduce the margins to 0.5” if you’re still having trouble fitting your cover letter on one page.

Changing the font on your cover letter is also a good way to save space. Stick with a standard, easy-to-read font, and don’t make your text smaller than 10-12 points.

Lastly, consider shrinking the header of your cover letter to save space (if necessary).

Some cover letter templates feature large headers to help your name stand out. If your cover letter is too long, adjust the header by reducing the font size and cutting any unnecessary graphics or white space.

7. Double-check the job description for requirements

Before submitting your cover letter, always double-check the job description and application instructions for any specific length or formatting requirements. If the employer provides guidelines, be sure to follow them exactly.

This demonstrates your attention to detail and ability to follow instructions, which are valuable qualities in any role.

Frequently asked questions about cover letter length

Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about cover letter length:

How many paragraphs should a cover letter have?

A cover letter should have three to four paragraphs. This structure allows you to introduce yourself, highlight your relevant qualifications, and conclude with a call to action, all while keeping it to one page or less.

Can a cover letter be two pages?

We recommend keeping your cover letter to one page, though two-page cover letters are appropriate in rare instances, like if you’re applying to senior-level positions or roles in academia where a more detailed background is expected.

However, a one-page cover letter is ideal for most job applications. If your cover letter extends to two pages, look for ways to condense it. Focus on the most relevant and impactful information, and consider whether any details would be better suited to be discussed in an interview.

Should a cover letter be double-spaced?

No, a cover letter shouldn’t be double-spaced. Cover letters should be single-spaced to create a professional look and help your individual paragraphs stand out.

However, if you’re writing a short cover letter and want to space out the text more, try going up to 1.15 spacing.