Should a Cover Letter Be Double Spaced? Formatting Guide (2026)
TL;DR: A cover letter should not be double spaced. Standard professional business letters use single spacing (1.0) or 1.15 line spacing, with one blank line between paragraphs, 1-inch margins, and a 10–12pt font. Keeping the letter to one page keeps it readable for the hiring team.
Key Takeaways
- Never double space the body of your cover letter. Use single (1.0) or 1.15 line spacing.
- Put one blank line between your contact header, date, salutation, each body paragraph, and your sign-off.
- Double spacing usually pushes a focused 300-word letter onto two pages, which works against the one-page standard.
- Use 1-inch margins where possible and never go narrower than 0.5 inches.
- Choose a clean 10–12pt font such as Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond.
- If you spill onto page two, tighten line spacing slightly or cut wordy sentences rather than shrinking margins to unreadable sizes.
Introduction
Plenty of job seekers wonder whether a cover letter should be double spaced because they remember double spacing from school essays. For a job application, the answer is no. Double spacing is an academic convention, and applying it to a cover letter adds length without adding value. Understanding the right spacing, margins, and layout helps your letter look polished and stay on one page, which is what most readers expect.
This guide explains the standard spacing rules, compares line spacing options, shows you how to set them in Word and Google Docs, and covers common layout problems such as spillover onto a second page.
Should a Cover Letter Be Double Spaced? The Direct Answer
Cover letter spacing: A professional cover letter uses single line spacing (1.0) or 1.15 spacing, with a full blank line between paragraphs and no indented first lines. Double spacing is not standard for job application letters.
Why Double Spacing Is Not the Standard
The Short Answer: Keep It Single or 1.15
Standard business correspondence is single spaced. Format guides such as the Purdue Online Writing Lab’s guidance on basic business letters describe single-spaced text with a blank line separating paragraphs and address blocks. Cover letters follow the same convention because they are a form of business letter.
The confusion usually comes from academic writing. APA and MLA papers ask for double spacing so instructors have room for handwritten comments. Hiring managers do not annotate your letter that way, so the extra space serves no purpose for them.
Why Double Spacing Damages Your Application
Double spacing makes the page look sparse. Instead of a tight, purposeful letter, the reader sees a document that seems padded. It also forces most cover letters onto two pages. A typical focused letter of 300 words can run to two pages at 2.0 spacing, and a second page is an easy reason for a skimming reader to stop.
This matters most for early-career applicants and career changers, who need every paragraph to clearly connect their background to the role. Crowded, double-spaced text hides that connection.
When 1.15 Spacing Is the Better Choice
Many people find single spacing (1.0) slightly dense on screens. Setting line spacing to 1.15 gives text more breathing room without adding much height. It is a common modern default in word processors and reads comfortably on laptops and phones.
To set this in most editors, choose a line spacing of “Multiple 1.15.” The result is a balanced vertical rhythm: lines are easy to track, and paragraphs stay visually separate.
Cover Letter Spacing Rules: Lines, Paragraphs, and Margins
Line Spacing vs. Paragraph Spacing
Line spacing is the space between lines inside a single paragraph. For cover letters, use 1.0 to 1.15.
Paragraph spacing is the space between paragraphs. Use one full blank line, or the equivalent “space after paragraph” setting of about 6–8pt.
Use block format: align everything to the left margin and skip indenting the first line of each paragraph. Block format is clean, modern, and easy to scan.
Word processors offer two approaches:
- Manual blank lines, which work but can make later edits fiddly.
- A “space after paragraph” setting (6–8pt), which keeps spacing consistent automatically.
The second approach is usually the better choice.
Margin Standards
- Standard: 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins on all four sides.
- Acceptable adjustment: 0.75 inches if needed to keep the letter on one page.
- Minimum: 0.5 inches. Anything narrower can clip when printed or look cramped on mobile PDF viewers.
Vertical Spacing Between Key Sections
A typical layout runs in this order, with one blank line between each block:
- Contact information
- Date
- Employer name and address
- Salutation
- Body paragraphs (hook, evidence, and call to action)
- Closing (“Sincerely,”)
- Space for a signature (about 3 blank lines for a printed letter, or 1 blank line for a digital one)
- Your typed full name
Line Spacing Comparison: 1.0 vs. 1.15 vs. 1.5 vs. 2.0
| Spacing Option | Typical Word Capacity on 1 Page | Visual Readability | When to Use | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single (1.0) | 350–450 words | Compact; can feel dense | Detailed roles where you need the room | Good, especially if you need space |
| 1.15 | 250–350 words | Clean and comfortable on screens | Most cover letters | Best default choice |
| 1.5 | 180–250 words | Loose; uses more height | Rarely; only for very short letters | Usually avoid |
| Double (2.0) | Roughly 150–250 words | Sparse; looks padded | Academic papers only | Avoid for job applications |
Word capacity varies with font size and margins, so treat these figures as estimates.
Adjusting Line Spacing in Word and Google Docs
Google Docs:
- Select your text.
- Go to Format > Line & paragraph spacing.
- Choose 1.15.
- Go to Format > Line & paragraph spacing > Add space after paragraph.
Microsoft Word:
- Select your text on the Home tab.
- Open the Line and Paragraph Spacing tool and choose Line Spacing Options.
- Set Line spacing to Multiple at 1.15.
- Set Spacing After to 6pt.
Exporting cleanly to PDF: Save as PDF once you are satisfied with the layout. A PDF locks in your spacing so it does not reflow across different devices or screen resolutions. Check the exported file on both a laptop and a phone before sending.
Full Formatting Checklist: Font Size, Margins, and Word Count
What Size Font Should a Cover Letter Be?
- Body text: 10–12pt. Use the upper end for traditional serif fonts such as Times New Roman, and about 10–11pt for larger sans-serif fonts such as Calibri or Arial.
- Your name: 14–16pt at the top.
- Contact details: around 10pt.
- Consistency: use the same body size throughout.
Going below 10pt hurts legibility, especially in the document previews that Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruiters use. Shrinking the font to squeeze in text is a mistake; edit the content instead.
Selecting Clean, ATS-Friendly Fonts
- Modern sans-serif: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Lato.
- Traditional serif: Georgia, Garamond, Times New Roman.
Match your cover letter font to your CV. Visual consistency across your application documents makes your package look deliberate.
Cover Letter Length: Should It Be One Page?
Yes. A cover letter should almost always fit on one page, typically 250–400 words across three to four paragraphs. A rough allocation:
- Opening (about 50 words): the role you are applying for and your strongest hook.
- Evidence (150–200 words): specific achievements and skills that match the job listing.
- Alignment and next steps (50–75 words): why this company and a clear call to action.
If your letter runs onto page two, the fix is editing for concision. Cutting repeated points is more effective than adjusting formatting. For more on length, see How Long Should Cover Letters Be in 2026? Ideal Word Count & Format Guide.
Fixing Layout Issues: Formatting Traps and AI Pitfalls
The Dreaded Two-Page Spillover
Often just two or three sentences spill onto page two. Try these fixes in order:
- Trim the content first. Remove filler such as “I am writing to express my enthusiasm…”, generic buzzwords, and repeated examples.
- Reduce margins from 1.0 to 0.8 inches.
- Tighten line spacing from 1.15 to 1.05.
- Reduce paragraph spacing from 8pt to 4pt.
Start with content edits. A tighter letter reads better than a cramped one.
Cleaning Up ChatGPT and AI Cover Letter Spacing Quirks
AI-generated drafts often carry formatting problems: extra blank lines between bullet points, leftover Markdown symbols, and uneven indentation. Pasting raw text directly into Google Docs can also bring in mismatched fonts and odd line heights.
Paste as plain text using Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+V (Mac), then apply your document’s spacing settings uniformly. For a step-by-step workflow, see How to Write a ChatGPT Cover Letter in 2026: Prompts, Pitfalls, and Proven Workflows.
How Believele Can Help
Writing a cover letter that is focused, well formatted, and tailored to a specific job can feel like a lot to manage at once. Many job seekers end up sending generic letters that are too long or padded out with filler, and that works against them.
Believele is an AI job-application coach for job seekers: it analyses a job listing and helps tailor the CV and cover letter to it, rather than mass-applying. Instead of producing bloated, generic copy, the aim is to keep your letter focused on the requirements in the role you actually want, which naturally makes it easier to fit on a single page.
If you want to stop mass-applying and put more care into each application, you can Try Believele or compare plans on the pricing page.
Tailor before you format: A letter written for one specific listing rarely needs shrinking. Start with the job requirements, then check the layout. See pricing for the plans available.
Templates and Community Guidance
Cover Letter Template in Google Docs
A minimalist template works best:
- Set margins to 1 inch and body text to 11pt in a clean sans-serif font.
- Set line spacing to 1.15 and “space after paragraph” to 6pt.
- Place your name and contact details at the top, left-aligned.
- Add the date, employer details, and salutation, each separated by one blank line.
- Write three or four body paragraphs in block format.
- Close with “Sincerely,” followed by your typed name.
Avoid multi-column layouts and text boxes. They can confuse ATS parsing and make page flow unpredictable.
Before sending, export the letter to PDF and check it on both desktop and mobile. Confirm it fits on one page and that the spacing looks the way you intended.
What Career Communities Get Right
Advice on subreddits such as r/jobs and r/resumes tends to agree on a few points:
- Nobody enjoys reading a two-page cover letter.
- Double spacing looks dated in a job application.
- Tight, specific tailoring beats long, generic prose.
Career changers and international students should take this to heart. Concise, targeted writing demonstrates clear communication, which is a skill hiring teams value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should a cover letter be double spaced?
No. Cover letters should use single spacing (1.0) or 1.15 line spacing, with one blank line between paragraphs. Double spacing is an academic convention that usually pushes a standard cover letter onto two pages.
Do you double space between paragraphs in a cover letter?
You should not double space the lines inside a paragraph, but you should leave one full blank line between paragraphs. This keeps the letter readable in block format.
What size font should a cover letter be?
Use 10–12pt for body text, with your name at 14–16pt. Do not shrink the font below 10pt just to fit more on one page.
Should a cover letter be one page?
Yes. Aim for 250–400 words across three to four concise paragraphs so the letter fits on one page.
How do you fix a cover letter that spills onto a second page?
Trim wordy phrases first. If needed, reduce margins to 0.75 or 0.5 inches, set line spacing to 1.05 or 1.1, and reduce paragraph spacing before you consider shrinking the font.
What line spacing should I use for a ChatGPT cover letter?
Paste the text as plain text, set line spacing to 1.15, add about 6pt after each paragraph, and check that the content fits on one page.
Sources
- Purdue Online Writing Lab: Basic Business Letters — standard single-spaced business letter format.
- CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor): Cover Letter Guidelines — government guidance on cover letter content and presentation.