Cover letter format: font, spacing, length, and a template to copy
A cover letter is a one-page business letter. Header with your contact details, the date, a greeting, three to five short paragraphs, a sign-off. The format is not where you win; it is where you avoid losing.
Cover letter format at a glance
| Setting | Use this |
|---|---|
| Font | Calibri, Arial, Georgia, Garamond, or Times New Roman. The same font as your resume. |
| Font size | 11 or 12 pt for the body. Your name in the header can be 14 to 16 pt. |
| Line spacing | Single (1.0 to 1.15), with one blank line between paragraphs. |
| Margins | 1 inch (2.5 cm) on all sides. |
| Alignment | Left-aligned, no indents, no justified text. |
| Length | 230 to 330 words, three to five paragraphs, one page. |
| File | PDF named Firstname-Lastname-Cover-Letter.pdf, unless the posting asks for Word. |
Layout, top to bottom
| Block | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Header | Your name, phone, email, city, LinkedIn or portfolio if relevant. Same header as your resume so the two documents match. |
| Date | Optional in email; include it in a PDF. |
| Greeting | "Dear Ms. Alvarez," if you have a name. "Dear Hiring Manager," if not. |
| Opening | Job title and your strongest matching fact. Two sentences. |
| Body | Two proof paragraphs and one employer paragraph. Each 3-5 sentences. |
| Close | Thanks plus a plain ask. Two sentences. |
| Sign-off | "Sincerely," then your name. Contact line under it if the header is missing. |
Cover letter header
Use the same header as your resume: name on the first line, then city and state, phone, email, and LinkedIn or portfolio on one line. Then the date, then the employer block (hiring manager's name, title, company, address) if you are sending a formal PDF. In an email, skip the header and the employer block.
Font and font size
Any plain, readable font at 11 or 12 pt. Match the resume so the two documents look like a set. Avoid script fonts, light weights, and anything under 10.5 pt; if the letter only fits on one page at 10 pt, it is too long, so cut words instead.
Cover letter spacing and margins
Single line spacing (1.0, or 1.15 if you like more air), one blank line between paragraphs, no first-line indents, and 1-inch margins. Leave white space at the bottom of the page: a letter that fills the page to the margin reads as long before anyone reads a word.
How long should a cover letter be?
230 to 330 words: an opening of two sentences, two proof paragraphs, one paragraph about the employer, and a two-sentence close. Engineers and executives can go shorter. Past 350 words, most readers skim.
File format and name
PDF unless asked for Word. Name it Firstname-Lastname-Cover-Letter.pdf. No columns, tables, icons, photos, or colored bars; applicant tracking systems read text.
Email cover letter format
Subject line: the job title and your name ("Account Executive application: Marcus Bell"). Drop the header, date, and employer block; start at the greeting. Put your phone and LinkedIn under your name. Keep it a little shorter than the PDF version.
Copy and paste cover letter template
[Your name] [City, State] · [Phone] · [Email] · [LinkedIn] [Date] Dear [Name or Hiring Manager], I am applying for the [job title] position at [company]. [Strongest matching fact, with a number.] [Proof story 1 with result.] [Proof story 2 with result.] [Something specific about the company and what you would do with it.] Thank you for your time. [Plain ask.] Sincerely, [Your name]
Skip the template
Paste your resume and the posting; we write the letter in this exact format from your real experience. $9, once. Write my cover letter
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Cover letter format questions
What font size should a cover letter be?
11 or 12 pt for the body text, the same font as your resume. Your name in the header can be larger, 14 to 16 pt.
Should a cover letter be single or double spaced?
Single spaced, with one blank line between paragraphs. Double spacing pushes a normal letter onto a second page.
How long should a cover letter be?
One page, 230 to 330 words, three to five short paragraphs.
Can I copy and paste a cover letter template?
Copy the structure, not the sentences. Hiring managers recognise template lines; fill every bracket with a real fact from your own resume and the posting.
Do I put the date and address on a cover letter?
On a PDF or printed letter, yes: the date, then the hiring manager's name, company, and address. In an email, leave both out.