How Many Words in a Cover Letter? (With Real Examples)

Aim for 250–400 words. Below about 250 it's hard to make a case, and above 400 you're heading for a second page. If the application form states a limit, that limit wins.

That's a range I'd defend, not a law. Here's what each length looks like and where I'd go.

Why length matters before anyone reads a word

Length is the first thing a reader sees. A page that's half empty looks like a form field filled in, and a page that runs onto a second sheet looks like a letter nobody edited.

A single-spaced page of plain 12pt Times New Roman with 1-inch margins holds about 500 words (the words-per-page guide has the full breakdown by font and spacing). A letter has a contact block, a date, a greeting and paragraph breaks, so it holds less. That's why 250 words fills about half a page and 400 words fills most of it.

Do recruiters read the whole thing?

You'll often read that recruiters spend a few seconds on an application. The best-known number is from a 2018 Ladders eye-tracking study, which measured about 7.4 seconds on a resume. That study is about resumes, not cover letters.

My own experience from the screening side is different: when I read applications, I read most cover letters in full. So I wouldn't write for a reader who skims, and I wouldn't write for one who reads everything either. A tight letter works for both: the skimmer gets the point in the first lines, and the careful reader finds nothing padded.

Target word count by role type

These are my suggested ranges, not an industry standard. The reasoning is in the last column.

If the posting says "no more than X words", follow it exactly. Most portals simply block you: the field rejects input, or the Submit button stays disabled until you're under the limit.

What 200, 350 and 500 words look like

At 200 words you have an opening, one achievement with a number, one sentence on why this company, and a close. You're making one point. I wrote cover letters for most of my applications, and mine were under 200 words, so I won't tell you short can't work. What a short letter can't do is also explain a career change or show research on the company. Use 200 when the resume carries the argument.

At 350 words there's room for this structure:

1. An opening of 40–50 words naming the role and one specific thing about the company.
2. An achievements block of 150–180 words: two accomplishments, each with a number.
3. A paragraph of 60–80 words on why this company, based on something you actually looked up.
4. A close of 40–50 words that doesn't summarize what you just said.

Here's a skeleton with placeholders, so you can see how little it takes:

Dear Hiring manager,

I'm applying for the Role position. One specific thing about the company's product or work that you looked at, and why it matters to you.

In my current job I achievement with a number: what changed, from what to what, in how long. I also second achievement with a number.

One sentence on what you'd want to work on at this company, tied to the observation in the opening.

I'm available for a call this week or next.

Name

It has no "I am excited to apply" and no restated resume summary. The skeleton is 82 words with the brackets left empty, so filling it in with real detail is how you reach 250–300.

At 500 words, the letter usually has an opening that could be one sentence, a paragraph of background that belongs in the resume, three achievements where one strong one would do, and a closing that repeats everything. Cut it to 350. The how to reduce word count guide covers the techniques, and converting passive sentences to active ones shortens most drafts on its own.

Tailor it, then cut it

I tailored the letter for each job, and that's the advice I'd keep even if I dropped every word-count number here. A generic 300-word letter loses to a specific 250-word one. The company-specific paragraph is the part most applicants skip, and it's the one that can't be copied between applications.

On ATS: I'm not aware of any length penalty, but the system does match against the posting, so use the exact job title and the key skills from the ad. The ATS keyword guide explains how that matching works.

Trimming a long draft

If you've written 600 words and need to get to 400:

1. Delete every sentence that starts with "I am" or "I have" and rewrite it around the action. "I have 5 years of experience" becomes "5 years building distributed systems".
2. Drop the opener "I am writing to express my interest in the Role position". Start with the specific reason instead.
3. Paste the draft into the Word Counter and watch the number as you cut. I built the tool so your text stays in your browser's memory and never goes to a server, which is what you want for an unsent application.
4. If the text came from Word or a PDF, run it through Fix Spaces first. It strips double spaces and non-breaking spaces so the count and the layout don't carry leftovers.

The method from the essay word count guide works here too: cut 10% by removing adverbs and repeated phrases, then read it again.

Follow-up emails

A follow-up after applying is a different animal: 50–100 words is plenty. One sentence of context ("I applied for Role on date"), one sentence of something new that's relevant, and one clear ask.

Before you send

• Word count is between 250 and 400, or within the form's stated limit.
• The opening names the specific role and a specific reason for applying.
• At least one achievement has a number (a percentage, an amount, a time saved).
• One paragraph shows you looked at this company.
• The letter fits on one page at your chosen font and size.