A cover letter should be half a page to one full page, or about 250 to 400 words in three or four short paragraphs. That is the length hiring managers expect, and running onto a second page is the fastest way to lose them. Indeed puts the sweet spot at 250 to 400 words, and the trend keeps moving shorter, not longer.
This guide gives you the exact word count, page count, and paragraph structure, the right length for your specific situation (internship, senior role, government, grad school, career change), and a simple way to cut a letter that runs too long.
How long should a cover letter be?
The short answer is one page, never more. Aim for half to a full page of text, which works out to roughly 250 to 400 words across three or four paragraphs. Shorter usually beats longer. A hiring manager working through dozens of applications rewards a letter that makes its case quickly and respects their time.
Think of one page as a hard ceiling, not a target. If you can make your case in 250 focused words, do it. The goal is not to fill the page, it is to give the reader a reason to turn to your resume. Coursera's career team makes the same point: a long letter that just retells your resume is weaker than a short one that speaks to the specific job.
Cover letter length in words, pages, and paragraphs
It helps to see the target broken into its three measurements. Hit all three and your letter will look and read the way a hiring manager expects.
Word count: 250 to 400 words
This is the range most career sources agree on, Indeed included. Under about 200 words and you probably have not made a real case. Over 400 and you are asking too much of the reader. If a posting sets its own limit, follow it exactly.
