How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? (2026)

The short answer: a cover letter should be 250–400 words and fit on a single page — three to four short paragraphs. Recruiters spend seconds on each application, so a focused half-page beats a dense full one almost every time.

Here is how to hit that length without leaving out what matters.

The ideal cover letter length

• Word count: 250–400 words. Under 200 usually feels thin; over 400 starts to lose the reader.
• Length: half a page to a full page, never more.
• Paragraphs: an opening, one or two body paragraphs, and a short close.
• Font and spacing: the same readable body font as your resume, with normal margins.

How to structure it within that length

• Opening (2–3 sentences): why this role and your single strongest, most relevant qualification.
• Body (1–2 short paragraphs): match two or three of the posting’s top requirements to concrete results.
• Close (2 sentences): restate your interest and invite the conversation.

If you can say it in fewer words, do. Tight writing reads as confident; padding reads as filler.

When to go shorter or longer

• Shorter (150–250 words): quick email applications, referrals, or when the posting says "brief".
• Longer (up to one full page): senior or academic roles, or when a posting asks specific questions you must answer.
• Never multiple pages — extra length rarely helps and often hurts.

Common length mistakes

• Restating your whole resume instead of adding context.
• A long, slow introduction before you get to the point.
• Generic filler sentences that could apply to any company.
• Shrinking the font to cram more in — keep it readable.