How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

A cover letter should be long enough to explain your relevance and motivation without repeating the CV. The employer's word, character or page limit takes priority.

For a conventional letter, a concise page is a useful working limit. Treat that as an editing guide rather than a rule that overrides a requested supporting statement.

Decide what the letter must accomplish

Identify the role, select a small number of relevant examples and explain genuine interest. If the letter also needs to clarify a career transition, give that explanation focused space.

Do not add a paragraph for every job you have held. The CV contains the fuller chronology; the letter should help interpret the most relevant evidence.

Give each paragraph one purpose

A short opening introduces the opportunity and fit. The middle develops evidence and motivation. The close expresses interest in the next step and includes any requested practical information.

If two paragraphs make the same point, combine them. If a paragraph contains several unrelated ideas, decide which one actually matters to the vacancy.

Cut repetition before changing the font

Remove generic praise, repeated claims and lengthy introductions. Replace several sentences of abstract ambition with one specific reason for interest. Shorten examples by keeping the context, your contribution and the relevant outcome.

Do not squeeze a long letter onto one page using tiny text or narrow spacing. That solves the page count while making the reading experience worse.

Match the application channel

An email introduction may be shorter than a formal attachment. An online field may have a character limit. A supporting statement may require a more detailed response to several criteria.

Read the request carefully and use its terminology. Do not send a short generic cover letter when the employer asks for structured evidence against specific requirements.

Check whether every sentence earns its place

Ask what the reader learns from each sentence. Keep relevant context and remove material that adds little. Read aloud to identify awkward phrasing and overly long sentences.

Compare the final letter with the CV for consistency. If you need help making a draft concise, explore cover letter writing support and provide the actual application instructions.