How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
A cover letter should be no longer than one page. For most jobs that means 250 to 400 words, split into three to five short paragraphs. A letter slightly under a page is fine. A letter over a page is almost always too long.
If the job advert gives its own limit, such as “no more than 300 words” or a character limit in an online form, follow that instead.
What career advisers say
The career services team at UC Santa Barbara gives a simple rule: a maximum of one page, made up of three to five paragraphs. That is an introduction, one to three body paragraphs and a closing paragraph. It adds that a letter a little under one page is acceptable, but you should not go over.
Most career and resume sites agree and put a number on it: about 250 to 400 words. That is what fits on one page once you add your contact details, the date, a greeting and a sign-off.
Cover letter length at a glance
| Recommended | |
|---|---|
| Pages | 1 page or less |
| Words | 250 to 400 |
| Paragraphs | 3 to 5 |
| Words per paragraph | About 50 to 120 |
| Reading time for a recruiter | Under 2 minutes |
At the average silent reading speed of 238 words per minute, found in a 2019 review of reading studies, a 350-word letter takes about a minute and a half to read. Recruiters often skim, so every sentence needs to earn its place.
A word budget for each paragraph
Here is one way to plan a 350-word letter:
| Paragraph | What it does | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Opening | The job you are applying for and one line on why you fit | 50 to 70 |
| 2. Main evidence | Your strongest example, with a result or number | 100 to 120 |
| 3. Second example | Another skill from the job advert, with proof | 80 to 100 |
| 4. Closing | Thanks, availability and a call to action | 40 to 60 |
| Total | 270 to 350 |
If you only have one strong example, drop paragraph 3 and give paragraph 2 a little more room. Three paragraphs is enough for an entry-level job or an internship.
Does length change by job type?
- Entry-level jobs and internships: 200 to 300 words is often enough. You have less experience to cover, so keep it tight.
- Most professional jobs: 250 to 400 words.
- Senior roles: still aim for one page. Pick your best two or three achievements rather than listing everything.
- Academic and research posts: these can be longer, sometimes up to two pages, because they cover research and teaching. Check what the department asks for.
- Email applications: shorter is better, about 150 to 250 words, because people read email quickly on screen.
- Online forms with a box for your letter: check the character or word limit before you paste.
How to check your cover letter length
- Paste your letter into our free word counter. It shows the word count, character count and paragraph count at once, without uploading your text.
- If you write in Microsoft Word, look at the status bar at the bottom of the window. See how to check word count in Word.
- In Google Docs, press Ctrl+Shift+C. See how to count words in Google Docs.
- Finally, save the letter as a PDF and check it fits on one page with your normal font and margins.
How to shorten a cover letter that is too long
- Cut the repeat of your CV. The letter should explain why your experience fits this job, not list every job you have had.
- Keep one example per point. One strong result beats three weak ones.
- Remove filler openers. Lines like “I am writing to apply for the position of” can become “I’d like to apply for the Marketing Assistant role.”
- Shorten long sentences. If a sentence has more than about 25 words, split it or trim it.
- Drop general claims. “Hard-working team player” says little. A short example of teamwork says more.
How to make a short letter stronger
If your letter is under 200 words, it may look rushed. Add:
- One specific reason you want to work for this company.
- One example that matches a requirement in the job advert, with a number if you can, such as “cut response times by 20%”.
- A clear closing line, such as when you are available for an interview.
Quick answers
- How long? One page or less.
- How many words? 250 to 400 for most jobs.
- How many paragraphs? 3 to 5.
- Can it be two pages? Only for some academic or senior roles, or if the employer asks.
- Email cover letter: about 150 to 250 words.
Before you send it, paste your letter into the word counter for a final check. If the employer asks for a page count instead, our guide to how many pages 500 words fills will help you plan.