How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? Key Content and Tips

Key takeaways:

• Cover letter length: Aim for 250-400 words, around half a page to one page.

• Key sections: Include contact information, introduction, relevant experience, company details, and closing.

• Writing tips: Personalize for each job, use bullet points, be concise, and always include a call to action

A cover letter should be between a half and a full page long. Generally, you should aim for a cover letter word count of 250 to 400 words and about three to six paragraphs. 

A short, concise cover letter serves as a written introduction to a prospective employer and outlines why you’re the best fit for the job. The cover letter you submit alongside your resume highlights your experience and helps explain how your skills and personality will complement the company.

In addition to asking how long a cover letter should be, you might also wonder what to write. Discover tips on how long a cover letter should be, offer an outline to follow, and highlight writing suggestions that can impress and inspire the hiring managers to invite you for an interview. 

What should be included in your cover letter?

1. Contact information and greeting. If you are sending your cover letter as a document or an attachment, include your contact information at the top, with the date and the recipient’s contact information. (You can skip this if you're writing your cover letter in the body of an email.) Then, begin your greeting. 

• Your information: Full name, city, state, phone number, email address.

• Recipient information: If included, add the date and the recipient's contact details. 

• Greeting: Use the hiring manager's name if known; otherwise, address it to the Hiring Manager.

2. Introduction. Before you begin writing, examine the company's mission statement, values, and products. Review the company’s social profiles and recent news.

• Introduce yourself: State the position you’re applying for.

• Company facts: Mention relevant facts you learned in your research and how you align with the company’s values.

3. Relevant experience

• Qualifications: Highlight your most recent job and responsibilities. If your previous job was in a different field or you’re new to the job market, explain why you’re a good fit for this position. 

• Achievements: Use statistics to showcase your accomplishments.

4. Company details and/or more qualifications

• Company-specific info: Mention what you appreciate about the company.

• Additional qualifications: Provide extra skills or traits that make you a valuable candidate and that complement the info already provided.

5. Closing

• Express gratitude: Thank the reader for their time.

• Call to action: Suggest scheduling an interview or another form of follow-up.

• Signature: Add contact details below your signature, including LinkedIn or portfolio links.

How long should a cover letter be for a job? 

A cover letter should be at least half a page or a whole page, but not longer. Shorter is better. 

The length also depends on how you plan to send the cover letter, either in the body of an email or as a separate attachment. If you send your letter in an email, it should lean towards a half-page. If it’s an attachment, you can go a bit longer, but not longer than a page. 

Although all options are acceptable, crafting your cover letter in an email gets instant visibility as opposed to an attachment that the recipient must open after reading your email. Check for delivery directions in the job description. If the description doesn’t include specific directions, an email will be your best option.  

What should be included in your cover letter? Consider this outline of the cover letter sections and the information each paragraph should include: 

What if a job description says a cover letter isn’t required?

Experts say you should always send a cover letter as it gives you a chance to introduce yourself, showcase your skills, and stand out. You might come across a job description that indicates a cover letter isn’t required and be inclined to skip it. Send one anyway. A cover letter will allow you to highlight your relevant skills, experience, and interest in the company, presenting yourself as the ideal match for the job.  

7 tips for writing an effective cover letter

You want your cover letter to stand out from the other candidates also applying for the job. Your words should express your qualifications and show your potential for growth at the company. Follow these tips to elevate your cover letter: 

1. Check the job description for requirements.

Before writing your cover letter, check for requirements in the job description. 

In some cases, the job description may include instructions for your cover letter. It might have requirements such as: maintaining a specific length, naming the recipient, and the information they want to know about you.

2. Know the name of the recipient.

Include the name of the hiring manager instead of a more general greeting like “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager.” Check the job description or company website for this information, or call the company to get the name of the hiring manager assigned to you. If you exhaust these options and can’t find the answer, use the general greeting.

3. Tailor the letter.

You’ll notice in the outline that the cover letter should include company-specific and job posting-specific details. As a result, every cover letter should be uniquely written for each of the jobs you're applying for and not repurposed.

4. Formatting is important too.

While it’s easy to focus on word selection or questions like, “How long should a cover letter be?” formatting is also a priority. Keep the margins standard, pick a legible and common font like Arial or Times New Roman, and font size of 11 or 12. 

Use bullet points for organization. In your second or third paragraph, when you mention your qualifications, list each of your qualities as a bullet point. 

Bullet points make your copy “skimmable,” so if a hiring manager is short on time, they might skip the paragraphs and simply read the bullets. 

5. Complement your resume; don’t repeat it.

Your resume offers a snapshot of your job experience, education, and skill set. Avoid repeating information from your resume in your cover letter. It should complement your resume instead of being a copy of it. Rather than duplicating the bullet points listed on your resume under your most recent job, for example, craft sentences that build on those bullets for your cover letter. 

6. Be concise.

A cover letter is a short document, so every word must count. Make your sentences concise and clear. When you’re finished writing, go back through your cover letter and remove any “fillers,” or phrases that don’t add value to your letter. 

7. Have a clear call to action.

Include a call to action at the end of your cover letter, such as a suggestion to schedule an interview to discuss your qualifications further. It’s one of the last things mentioned in your letter to encourage the hiring manager to take quick action. 

Explore cover letters and resumes on Coursera.

A cover letter should be one page or less that introduces you and compliments your resume or application. Craft your next cover letter by taking Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters from the University of Maryland. To further enhance your job hunt, consider courses like Successful Interviewing or Career Planning: A Path to Employment.