In this guide
A cover letter should be 250 to 400 words: three or four short paragraphs that fit on one page with room to sign. An email note or an application form box needs less, about 100 to 200 words. Paste your letter into the checker above to see where it lands, then use the cuts below to trim it.
The short version
- Aim for 250 to 400 words in the body of a full letter, and 100 to 200 for an email or a form box.
- One page is the limit. At 11pt with one-inch margins that's about 470 words of body text, so a letter that spills over is too long, not set too large.
- Cut the sentences that announce what you're about to say. Keep the one example that proves you can do the job.
How long should a cover letter be for each kind of application?
It depends on where the letter goes. A letter attached as a file is read like a document, so it gets the full page. A letter pasted into an email or an application form is read like a message, so it gets a few short paragraphs.
MIT's career office puts the limit plainly: no longer than one page. Inside that page, 250 to 400 words is enough for an opening that names the job, one or two paragraphs of proof and a short close.
| Where it's going | Body words | Paragraphs |
|---|---|---|
| Full letter, attached as a PDF or Word file | 250–400 | 3–5 |
| Email, with the body as the letter | 100–200 | 2–4 |
| Application form text box | 100–250, or the box's limit | 1–4 |
How many words fit on one page?
With one-inch margins, single spacing and a blank line between paragraphs, the body of a letter holds about 370 words at 12pt, 470 at 11pt and 600 at 10pt. That's after the header, date and greeting, and the sign-off with room to sign.
MIT suggests a 10 to 12 point font. If your letter only fits at 10pt, it's too long. Shrinking the type keeps every word and makes each one harder to read. Cut words instead, then set it at 11 or 12.
The checker above uses the same page model, so it warns you when a letter runs onto a second page before you export it. It's an estimate: fonts differ, so check the real file before you send it.
| Font size | Body words that fit | Room for 400 words? |
|---|---|---|
| 10pt | About 600 | Yes, with space |
| 11pt | About 470 | Yes, with space |
| 12pt | About 370 | No, cut to about 370 |
What does the right length look like?
Here is the same application written twice. The first is an email note of about 110 words. The second is a one-page letter of about 260. Both name the job in the first sentence, give one piece of proof and end on a next step. The longer one adds a second example and a reason for wanting this employer.
Dear Ms. Alvarez,
I'm applying for the Operations Coordinator role at Halden Foods. For three years I've kept a 40-person warehouse team on schedule at Brightline Supply, covering shift planning, supplier calls and the weekly reports.
Last year I rebuilt our shift rota in a shared spreadsheet so supervisors could swap cover without emailing me. Overtime fell by a quarter in two months, and the rota is still in use. I also took over supplier check-ins when our buyer left.
Your move to same-day delivery is the kind of change I'd like to help run. My resume is attached, and I'd be glad to talk whenever suits you.
Best regards, Sam Rivera 555-0142 · sam.rivera@example.com
Dear Ms. Alvarez,
I'm applying for the Operations Coordinator role at Halden Foods. For the last three years I've kept a 40-person warehouse team on schedule at Brightline Supply. Your posting reads like a description of my week: shift planning, supplier calls and the reports that tie them together.
At Brightline I rebuilt our shift rota in a shared spreadsheet so supervisors could swap cover without emailing me. Overtime fell by a quarter in the first two months, and the rota is still in use. I also took over supplier check-ins when our buyer left, which taught me to chase a late delivery politely and early. Each Friday I send a one-page summary of missed slots and their causes, and two suppliers changed their routes after seeing it.
What draws me to Halden is the move to same-day delivery you announced in the spring. That kind of change lives or dies on the coordination behind it, and it's the work I enjoy most. I'd bring a habit of writing things down so the next shift isn't guessing, and a calm phone manner when a truck is two hours late. I also know the stock system you list in the posting, so I could take on the weekly reports from my first week.
I'd welcome the chance to talk about how I could help your team through the next stage of that rollout, and I'm happy to bring a copy of the rota and a sample Friday report. Thank you for your time. I can be reached at 555-0142 or sam.rivera@example.com.
Sincerely, Sam Rivera
How do you cut a cover letter that's too long?
Long letters rarely have too much proof. They have too much throat-clearing: sentences that announce what the next sentence will say. Cut in this order and stop once you're under 400 words.
- Delete the sentence that says you're writing to apply. The first line can name the job and give a reason at once.
- Delete what your resume already lists, such as degrees, dates and job titles. Point to one result instead.
- Merge paragraphs that make the same point. Three short ones beat five thin ones.
- Cut the adjectives about yourself (hard-working, passionate, detail-oriented) and keep the example that shows them.
- Shorten the close to two sentences: thanks, and a next step.
Openings
I'm applying for the Marketing Coordinator role at [company].
Instead of “I am writing to express my interest in the position of Marketing Coordinator at your company.” Saves 7 words.
I graduated from Leeds in June with a degree in [subject].
Instead of “My name is Sam Rivera and I am a recent graduate of the University of Leeds.” Saves 5 words.
I saw your Data Analyst posting on LinkedIn.
Instead of “I am reaching out to you today in regards to the job posting that I saw on LinkedIn for a Data Analyst.” Saves 14 words.
I'm excited about this role because [one specific reason].
Instead of “I am very excited and enthusiastic about this amazing and unique opportunity to join your team.” Saves 7 words.
I'm looking for a role where I can [what you want to do more of].
Instead of “At this point in time I am currently looking for a new opportunity where I can grow.” Saves 2 words.
I'd like to work at [company] because [one specific reason].
Instead of “It would be a great honour and privilege for me to have the opportunity to work for a company such as yours.” Saves 12 words.
Middle paragraphs
I've worked in retail for six years.
Instead of “As you can see from my resume, I have worked in retail for six years.” Saves 8 words.
As a data analyst at Brightline for three years, I build the reports.
Instead of “In my current role as a Data Analyst at Brightline, where I have worked for the past three years, I am responsible for building reports.” Saves 12 words.
I managed a team of five across two sites.
Instead of “I was responsible for managing a team of five people across two different locations.” Saves 5 words.
Our team was small, so I took on [two specific tasks].
Instead of “Due to the fact that our team was small, I took on a wide variety of different tasks.” Saves 7 words.
To speed up onboarding, I wrote a new welcome guide.
Instead of “In order to improve the onboarding process for new customers, I created a new welcome guide.” Saves 6 words.
My resume has the details.
Instead of “I have attached my resume, which provides further details about my education and work experience.” Saves 10 words.
Last year I [one result that matches the posting].
Instead of “I believe that I would be a great fit for this role because of my skills and my experience.” Saves 10 words.
I led five people through [a project], and it shipped on time.
Instead of “The skills that I have developed over the years include communication, teamwork, leadership and time management.” Saves 4 words.
I answered [number] support tickets a week and kept satisfaction above [score].
Instead of “I have always been passionate about helping customers and solving their problems.” Same length, but now it proves something.
I caught [an error] before it reached [a client], so now I review every report.
Instead of “I am a hard-working, detail-oriented team player with excellent communication skills.” 4 words longer, but now it proves something.
Cut it. The proof paragraph already makes this case.
Instead of “I am confident that my skills, experience and qualifications make me an ideal candidate for this position.” Saves 17 words.
Closings
My resume is attached.
Instead of “Please find attached my resume for your review and consideration.” Saves 6 words.
Thank you for your time.
Instead of “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and consideration.” Saves 10 words.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Instead of “I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.” Saves 4 words.
I'd welcome the chance to talk.
Instead of “I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application with you further in an interview.” Saves 9 words.
Thank you for reading.
Instead of “Thank you so much in advance for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read my letter.” Saves 15 words.
Can a cover letter be too short?
Yes. Under about 150 words, a full letter usually skips the proof and reads as if it could go to any employer. If yours is short, add one example: the situation, what you did and what changed. A clear outcome without a number is fine.
The exception is when the employer sets the length. If the form allows 500 characters, write to 500 characters. If the posting asks for a short note, send a short note.
Common questions
Is 500 words too long for a cover letter?
Usually, yes. 500 words fills a page at 11pt with little room to sign, and most of it will be skimmed. Cut to 400 or fewer unless the posting asks for more.
Can a cover letter be two pages?
Not for most jobs. Keep it to one page. If the employer asks for a longer statement, such as a teaching or research statement, follow their instructions instead.
How many paragraphs should a cover letter have?
Three to five: an opening that names the job, one or two paragraphs of proof and a short close. On a phone, a paragraph over about 110 words looks like a wall of text, so split long ones.
What font size should a cover letter use?
10 to 12 point, the range MIT's career office suggests. Use the same font as your resume. If the letter only fits at 10pt, cut words rather than shrinking the type.
How long should an email cover letter be?
100 to 200 words, in two to four short paragraphs in the body of the email, with your resume attached. If you also attach a full letter, the email itself can be two sentences.
Does the greeting count toward the word count?
Not in the ranges here. 250 to 400 words is the body: the paragraphs between the greeting and the sign-off. The checker above leaves out the greeting, the sign-off and anything under it.
Write it at the right length from the start. Free, in your browser.
Sources and further reading
- How to write an effective cover letter, MIT Career Advising & Professional Development
- Cover letters: cover letter breakdown, Purdue University Center for Career Opportunities
- Cover letters: formatting and organization, Purdue Online Writing Lab
Put it into practice on a real resume.
Each example is a complete resume with role keywords and bullets that show proof. Open one in the Studio and make it yours, then download it with a free account.
