The short answer is one page at most. Here is the word count to aim for, how length changes by situation, what hiring managers say, and a sample letter you can adapt.

Last updated: 17 October 2026

The Short Answer

A cover letter should be no more than one page, usually 250 to 400 words in three or four short paragraphs. If you are sending it as the body of an email, aim for about half a page. Senior, academic, and some specialist roles can justify more, but most job seekers should treat one page as a hard limit. If an employer gives its own instructions, follow those instead.

Key Takeaways

  • One page is the standard. University careers services in the UK consistently advise one A4 page, and some add that spilling onto a second page means you are writing too much (Queen's University Belfast; University of St Andrews; University of Dundee).
  • The usual word range is 250 to 400. Widely repeated guidance puts the ideal at half a page to one page, or roughly 250 to 400 words (Entrepreneur; Adobe).
  • Readers are quick. In a survey of 625 US hiring managers by Resume Genius, 36 percent spent under 30 seconds on a cover letter (Metaintro, reporting Resume Genius).
  • Short beats long. In a Novoresume survey of HR professionals, 49 percent preferred a cover letter of half a page (Novoresume). Both are surveys by firms that sell CV tools, so treat them as indicative.
  • Quality still matters more than word count. A focused 350-word letter that matches the job beats a longer one full of filler.

How Long Should a Cover Letter Be in Different Situations?

  1. A standard job application
    • Length: one page, 250 to 400 words, three or four paragraphs.
    • Source: the University of Salford advises one A4 page with three or four paragraphs for most roles (University of Salford).
  2. An email cover letter
    • Length: about half a page. Our suggestion is 150 to 250 words.
    • Why: the University of St Andrews says you can use the email itself as the cover letter and attach your CV, or write a brief email and attach a separate letter. If you attach one, don't repeat its content in the email (University of St Andrews).
  3. Graduate, internship, or no-experience applications
    • Length: half a page to one page. Focus on education, projects, volunteering, and skills, not on a long work history.
  4. Experienced professionals
    • Length: still one page. Adobe notes that a 500-word letter may not be too long for someone with many years of experience, but one page remains the usual ceiling (Adobe).
  5. Senior and academic roles
    • Length: academic positions may require around two A4 pages, and senior roles can run longer, according to Salford's careers service (University of Salford). Check the advert, and don't pad.
  6. Applications with a word limit or text box
    • Length: follow the stated limit exactly. Adobe notes employers may request a single page, a restricted word count, or a PDF.
  7. Nigerian application letters
    • Length: one page maximum. A Zikoko guide explains that Nigerian employers still request application letters for many opportunities, and says that a letter running past one page risks not being finished (Zikoko).

Cover Letter or Application Letter: Is There a Difference?

In Nigeria, the two terms are often used interchangeably, though some writers draw a distinction. Zikoko describes a cover letter as usually accompanying a CV to highlight a few key experiences, while an application letter is a more complete formal introduction (Zikoko). In practice, both should be short, tailored, and professional, and both should stay within one page. If an advert asks for an "application letter", write a one-page letter and attach your CV.

Why Shorter Usually Wins

There are three practical reasons. First, readers are busy and scan quickly: in the Resume Genius survey above, more than a third of hiring managers gave a cover letter under 30 seconds. Second, a short letter forces you to select your best evidence, which is the whole point. Third, a letter that runs over a page tends to repeat your CV. Queen's University Belfast's careers guidance says to read your letter aloud and delete anything unnecessary or irrelevant (Queen's University Belfast).

Do Hiring Managers Even Read Cover Letters?

The evidence is mixed, which is why length matters. The Resume Genius survey of 625 US hiring managers found that 83 percent read cover letters always or frequently, 94 percent said a letter influences who they interview, and 72 percent expect one even when it is listed as optional (Metaintro; Crown Staffing). On the other hand, Novoresume's own HR survey found about 60 percent of HR professionals read them, while 29.7 percent said cover letters aren't helpful at all in their decisions (Novoresume). These are US-heavy surveys by vendors, not Nigerian data. A fair reading is that a hiring manager at the decision stage is more likely to read yours than a screener at the first pass, so write for the person who owns the job.

A Simple Word Budget (Our Suggestion)

This breakdown is a practical guide, not a research finding.

  • Opening, 40 to 60 words: the role you are applying for, where you saw it, and your strongest relevant credential.
  • Body paragraph one, 100 to 150 words: match your skills to the job. Give one or two specific results.
  • Body paragraph two, 60 to 100 words: why this employer, and what you would bring.
  • Closing, 30 to 50 words: thank the reader, mention your attached CV, and invite a conversation.

The total lands between 230 and 360 words, inside the usual range.

What to Cut if Your Letter Runs Too Long

  • Repeated CV content. Pick one or two achievements and expand them, instead of retelling your history.
  • Generic openers such as "I am writing to express my interest", unless you add something specific straight away.
  • Vague claims like "hardworking team player" with no proof.
  • Long background paragraphs about your life story.
  • Anything unrelated to the job, including old or irrelevant roles.
  • Extra pleasantries and repeated thanks.

The University of Salford adds practical advice: customise the letter for each role and company to avoid generic content, and address it to a named person where you can (University of Salford).

What If Your Letter Is Too Short?

A cover letter can also fail by being too thin. A two or three sentence note adds nothing your CV doesn't already say. Aim for at least half a page, enough to show one clear example of how you meet the job's main requirement and why you want this employer. If you have little experience, use projects, volunteering, and skills to fill the space with real evidence. Our guide to CV mistakes that cause instant rejection covers the same problem on your CV.

Formatting Tips That Help You Stay on One Page

  • Use single spacing and standard margins. Resume Genius suggests single spacing with 1-inch margins, and reducing margins to 0.5 inches if you are slightly over (Resume Genius).
  • Use a readable font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at 11 or 12 points.
  • Match your CV's font and layout so the two read as a package. The University of St Andrews makes the same point (University of St Andrews).
  • Use short paragraphs of three to five lines.
  • Check the word count in your word processor before you send.
  • Save as a PDF unless the employer asks for another format.

A Sample Cover Letter of About 200 Words

This is an illustration. Replace the details with your own true information, and don't copy it word for word.

Dear Mrs Adeyemi,

I am applying for the Customer Support Officer role advertised on your careers page. With two years of experience handling customer enquiries in a busy retail environment, I believe I can help your team resolve issues quickly and keep customers loyal.

In my current role at Sunrise Stores, I handle about 40 enquiries a day by phone and WhatsApp, and I resolve most of them on the first contact. Last year, I introduced a simple daily log of repeat complaints, which helped my supervisor fix two recurring delivery problems and reduced complaints about late orders by about a quarter. I am comfortable with Excel and CRM tools, and I write clear, polite replies under pressure.

I was drawn to your company because of its focus on fast delivery and responsive service, which matches the standard I try to keep in my own work. I would welcome the chance to bring the same discipline to your team.

My CV is attached. I would be glad to discuss how my experience fits the role, and I can be reached on [phone number] or at [email address].

Yours sincerely, [Your full name]

The company, names, and figures here are invented. Use real results you can explain.

A Word on AI-Written Cover Letters

AI tools can help you draft, but length and polish are not the point. The University of Dundee's careers guidance says that an effective cover letter is authentic and includes your own experiences and skills, and warns that AI-generated cover letters are easy to spot (University of Dundee). Surveys cited by Crown Staffing report that 74 percent of hiring managers say they can usually tell when AI wrote an application, and 80 percent are uneasy about it (Crown Staffing). Use AI to structure and trim, then add your own specifics. For the skills employers now expect, see AI skills employers now expect from every candidate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a cover letter be? No more than one page, usually 250 to 400 words in three or four short paragraphs.

How many words should a cover letter be? Aim for 250 to 400 words. Shorter is fine for an email cover letter, and a word limit set by the employer overrides this range.

How many paragraphs should a cover letter have? Three or four. Salford's careers service recommends three or four paragraphs for most roles.

Is a one-page cover letter too long? No. One page is the standard maximum. The problem is going beyond it, or filling the page without adding anything new.

Is a half-page cover letter too short? No. Half a page is within the usual range, and 49 percent of HR professionals in one vendor survey preferred it.

How long should a cover letter be for an email? About half a page. You can use the email itself as the cover letter and attach your CV, or send a brief email with a separate attached letter.

How long should a cover letter be with no experience? Half a page to one page. Focus on education, projects, volunteering, and skills, with one clear example.

Should I write a cover letter if it is optional? Usually yes. In the Resume Genius survey, 72 percent of hiring managers said they expect one even when it is optional, though some recruiters skip them, so keep it short and strong.

The Bottom Line

The right length for a cover letter is the shortest one that proves you fit the job: one page at most, about 250 to 400 words, written for a named reader, and tailored to the role. Open with a specific reason you are applying, give one or two results that match the advert, and close politely with a clear next step. Then check the format, proofread, and send it with your CV.

This article draws on the University of Salford, University of St Andrews, University of Dundee, Queen's University Belfast, Entrepreneur, Adobe, Zikoko, Resume Genius (via Metaintro and Crown Staffing), and Novoresume, current as of October 2026. Most surveys on hiring managers come from the United States and from vendors that sell CV tools, and they are used as benchmarks only. University guidance comes from UK careers services. The word budget, email length range, and sample letter are our suggestions and illustrations, not research findings. Employer instructions always take priority. This article is general information, not career advice.