How Long Should a Cover Letter Be: Full Guide with Tips
The ideal cover letter should be one page or 250-400 words; long enough to showcase your qualifications without overwhelming the hiring manager. A proper length, along with compelling content, makes your job application clear, concise, and professional.
In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about the length and format of this document, as well as how to write a cover letter for your job application and make every word count without expanding it too much. Stay tuned!
- A cover letter should be one page and about 250–400 words, usually structured into 3–4 paragraphs so it’s informative without overwhelming the reader.
- Shorter is better; hiring managers often spend only a few seconds reviewing cover letters, so clarity, relevance, and tight editing are essential.
- Ideal length varies slightly by seniority: 250–350 words for entry-level applicants, 300–400 for mid-career, and 350–400 for senior roles.
- Well-structured cover letters follow a pattern: a focused opening, 1–2 achievement-driven body paragraphs, and a concise closing with a call-to-action.
- Common mistakes include writing letters that are too long (600–800+ words) or too short (<200 words); both weaken your message and hurt your chances.
How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
A cover letter should be one page in length, typically containing 250-400 words distributed across 3-4 paragraphs. This length allows you to effectively communicate your skills and qualifications while respecting the hiring manager's time.
Most hiring managers spend a few seconds reviewing a cover letter, so conciseness is crucial. A one-page cover letter strikes the perfect balance between providing enough detail to showcase your fit for the role and being brief enough to maintain the reader's attention.
Furthermore, the one-page guideline applies regardless of whether you're submitting a printed document or an email. For email cover letters, aim for the same word count but adjust formatting to suit the digital format. It should be your elevator pitch, as you've probably got only a minute to make your case, so every word needs to count.
Why One Page is the Standard
One page is the standard due to several practical reasons, which are as follows:
- Hiring managers typically review dozens or even hundreds of applications for a single position. A concise, one-page cover letter demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively and respect their time.
- Second, a one-page limit forces you to focus on your most relevant qualifications rather than including every detail of your career history. This selectivity actually makes your application stronger by highlighting what truly matters for the specific role.
- Finally, a document that's too long may never be fully read, while a short cover letter might seem unprofessional or lacking in substance.
- Research has shown that candidates who write clear and structured cover letters have higher chances of landing an interview and getting a job.
Ideal Cover Letter Length by Word Count
Beyond the one-page guideline, knowing what the ideal cover letter word count is for your experience level helps you better organize and write your document. As previously mentioned, the standard one typically contains 250-400 words, though this can vary slightly based on circumstances:
- For entry-level positions or when you have limited or no relevant experience, aim for 250-350 words. This length allows you to discuss your education, relevant coursework or projects, transferable skills, and enthusiasm for the role without overextending into areas where you lack experience.
- Mid-career professionals should target 300-400 words. This range provides enough space to highlight 2-3 relevant achievements, explain your career growth, and demonstrate how your experience aligns with the job requirements. You have more substantial experience to draw from, so you can be more selective about which accomplishments to feature.
- Senior-level candidates can use the full 350-400 word range to discuss leadership experience, strategic achievements, and industry expertise. However, avoid the temptation to exceed this limit even if you have extensive experience. Instead, focus on the most impressive and relevant accomplishments that demonstrate your executive-level capabilities and vision.
How Many Paragraphs Should a Cover Letter Have?
A cover letter should contain 3-4 paragraphs: an opening paragraph, 1-2 body paragraphs, and a closing paragraph. Let’s explore this in more detail:
Your opening paragraph (2-3 sentences or 50-75 words) should immediately capture attention by stating the position you're applying for and a compelling reason why you're an excellent fit.
This might include a notable achievement, a mutual connection, or specific enthusiasm for the company's mission. Don't waste time with "I am writing to apply for..."—just state what you want to achieve directly right at the start of your cover letter.
The body section consists of 1-2 paragraphs (100-200 words total) that form the heart of your cover letter.
The first body paragraph should highlight your most relevant qualifications and achievements with specific, quantified examples. If using two body paragraphs, the second can focus on additional soft and hard skills or explain why you're interested in this particular company. Each body paragraph should be 4-6 sentences.
Your closing paragraph (2-3 sentences or 50-75 words) should thank the reader, express enthusiasm for an interview, and include a call to action to end your cover letter on a high note.
Keep it professional and confident without being presumptuous. Something like "I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience aligns with your team's goals" works better than "I look forward to hearing from you."
5 Powerful Cover Letter Tips to Ensure Conciseness
Here are some valuable tips on how to improve your cover letter and make it clear and concise, without expanding it too much:
Every cover letter must include specific information regardless of length constraints.
Start with your contact details, the date, and the employer's contact information (for printed letters). Address the hiring manager by name whenever possible; "Dear Hiring Manager" is acceptable only when you cannot identify a specific person.
Furthermore, the body must include:
- Position you're applying for
- Mentions of where you found the job posting and why you're interested in this specific role and company
- 2-3 relevant achievements or skills
- Explanation of how you'll add value to the organization
Finally, you should end your letter with a professional sign-off and your full name. Keep in mind that your cover letter should complement your resume, not duplicate it.
Within your word limit, prioritize specific, quantifiable examples over vague claims. Instead of saying "I increased sales," write "I increased sales by 35% in six months by implementing a new customer outreach strategy." Specific examples and strong action verbs provide credibility and make your accomplishments memorable.
Also, choose 2-3 of the most impressive and relevant achievements from your resume and elaborate on them in your letter. Each should directly relate to the requirements mentioned in the job posting. This targeted approach demonstrates that you've tailored your cover letter to the specific role rather than sending a generic one.
Before writing, create a brief outline noting what you'll cover in each paragraph. This prevents you from rambling or including unnecessary information. Your outline might look like:
- Opening: Position applying for + strongest qualification/achievement
- Body 1: Relevant experience and 2-3 specific achievements
- Body 2: Why you're interested in this company specifically
- Closing: Thank you, call to action, contact information
Having this roadmap keeps you focused and helps you allocate appropriate space to each section. You'll naturally write a more concise, focused letter when you know exactly what each section should accomplish.
Write your first draft without worrying about your cover letter length; get all your thoughts down, then edit ruthlessly. After all, it's easier to cut content than to stretch insufficient material.
During editing, look for redundancies, wordy phrases, and information that doesn't directly support your candidacy. Cut entire sentences that don't add significant value, and in the end, read your letter aloud; if you run out of breath or something sounds repetitive, it needs editing.
Strategic formatting helps you maximize space while maintaining readability. Use 11-12 point font in a professional typeface like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, and set margins to 1 inch on all sides; slightly adjust if needed, but never below 0.7 inches.
Additionally, single-space within cover letter paragraphs and add one blank line between them for visual breathing room while keeping them to 4-6 sentences maximum. This formatting makes your letter appear more approachable and easier to scan quickly while fitting comfortably on one page.
2 Most Common Cover Letter Length Mistakes
Avoiding common length-related cover letter mistakes can significantly improve your cover letter's effectiveness. The most frequent ones are two extremes:
One of the most common mistakes is writing a cover letter that exceeds one page or 400 words. Multi-page cover letters or those approaching 600-800 words overwhelm hiring managers and suggest you lack proper communication skills.
Excessive length often results from including too much background information, repeating your entire resume, or failing to edit ruthlessly. If your first draft exceeds one page, identify and eliminate redundant information, reduce wordy phrases, and focus on only your most relevant qualifications.
On the opposite end, a cover letter shorter than 200 words or consisting of just 2-3 sentences appears lazy or disinterested. Extremely brief cover letters fail to provide enough information for hiring managers to assess your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.
Furthermore, a too-short cover letter suggests you didn't invest time in your job application or couldn't identify relevant qualifications to discuss. Even if you're applying for an entry-level position or career-changing role, you should be able to discuss relevant skills, education, transferable abilities, or a genuine interest in the company to reach at least 250 words.
The exception is when a job posting specifically requests a brief introduction or states "no cover letter required." In those cases, follow the employer's instructions; yet, this is pretty rare, as, according to research, 70.1% employers in the US use cover letters as a criterion when hiring.
Seamless Cover Letter Creation with ResumeBuilder.so
Creating the perfectly-sized cover letter is easier with the right tools and resources from ResumeBuilder.so.
Our cover letter builder helps you create a professional, properly-formatted cover letter in minutes. The tool automatically manages formatting, margins, and layout so you can focus on content. It also guides you through each section and helps you maintain the ideal length by providing real-time word count and suggestions.
Simply input your information, and the builder ensures your letter fits on one page while maintaining professional standards.
Additionally, you can browse our collection of professionally designed cover letter templates that automatically format your content correctly. Each template is optimized for one-page length, includes guidance on word count for each section, and is ATS-friendly and designed to complement our resume templates.
Finally, if you need some inspiration or want to see what a proper cover letter for your industry looks like, you can review our library of examples by field and experience levels. All of them demonstrate proper length, structure, and content selection so that you can fit compelling content into the 250-40-word framework.
Final Thoughts
As you could see, your cover letter works in tandem with your resume, not as a replacement for it, which is why it needs to be relatively short and concise. On one page, you can provide context, demonstrate enthusiasm, and show personality while letting your resume handle the comprehensive career details.
With the right length and compelling content, your cover letter can be the key to landing your next interview. After all, you can always use ResumeBuilder.so's tools and templates to create a perfectly sized and professional cover letter.
How Long Should a Cover Letter Be FAQ
Sophia Martinez knows what it’s like to start over—because she did it herself. After switching careers twice, she’s now helping others navigate the transition with confidence. Whether you’re shifting industries, returning to the workforce after a break, or feeling stuck in your current role, Sophia’s insights will help you take the next step.
