Cover Letter Format: Structure, Length, and Layout

A cover letter's format is the part you can get right with zero guesswork. The structure is standard. Recruiters expect it. Follow it, and you free up your energy for the actual argument. Here's the format, top to bottom, with what goes in each part and how long it should run.

Want the bigger picture on content? Our guide on how to write a cover letter covers the argument itself.

How long should a cover letter be?

Keep it to one page, three to four short paragraphs. Most strong cover letters land between 250 and 400 words. Shorter and well-aimed beats long and padded every time. A hiring manager reading dozens of these will skim, so white space and brevity are features, not weaknesses.

The header

At the top, include your contact details and, ideally, the date and the company's. A clean version looks like this:

> Your Name > Your email | Your phone | City, State > > Date > > Hiring Manager's Name > Company Name

Submitting through an online form instead of a standalone document? Drop the formal addresses and lead straight with the greeting. Match the format to how it's being sent.

The greeting

Address a real person whenever you can. "Dear Ms. Rivera" beats "Dear Hiring Manager," and a few minutes on LinkedIn or the company site often turns up the name. Can't find it? "Dear Hiring Manager" is a safe, professional fallback. Skip "To Whom It May Concern." It reads as dated and impersonal.

The body

Three parts, each a short paragraph:

• Opening. One or two sentences that name the role and give a specific reason to read on. Our guide to how to start a cover letter covers this in depth.
• The fit. The core of the letter. Connect your experience to the two or three things the job most needs, and back at least one with a concrete result.
• The why. A few sentences on why this company and role specifically, so it never reads as a mass send.

The close

End with a short, confident sign-off and a light call to action, then a standard valediction:

> I would welcome the chance to discuss how I can help your team. Thank you for your time and consideration. > > Sincerely, > Your Name

"Sincerely," "Best regards," and "Thank you" all work. Keep it warm and brief.

Formatting details that matter

• Font and spacing. Use the same font as your resume, 10.5 to 12 point, with normal margins. Consistency between the two documents looks deliberate.
• File type. Submit a PDF unless the application asks for something else, so your layout survives.
• File name. Name it clearly, like Jordan-Lee-Cover-Letter.pdf. A file called `coverletterfinal_v3.pdf` looks careless.
• No typos. Read it out loud and have someone else check it. One sloppy error undercuts an otherwise strong letter.

Put the format to work

With the structure handled, the only hard part left is the substance. For models you can adapt, see our cover letter examples. To make sure your fit paragraph hits what the role actually wants, run your resume and the posting through our free resume match checker.

Want the format and a tailored first draft done for you? generate a cover letter with Resumello. It produces a clean, properly structured letter built from your real experience and a specific job description, ready for you to edit.