How long should a cover letter be in the UK? One A4 page, and around 250 to 400 words. That is roughly three to four short paragraphs. Recruiters often read quickly, so a tight page that answers the job advert beats a long one.
This page is part of our guide to writing a cover letter in the UK.
The short answer: one page, 250 to 400 words
- Pages: one A4 page, never more.
- Words: about 250 to 400. Under 250 can look thin. Over 400 usually means you are repeating your CV.
- Paragraphs: three to four.
- Email: if you paste the letter into the email body, aim for the shorter end (about 200 to 300 words).
UK university careers services such as Prospects give the same guidance: one page, tailored to the job.
Sources: Prospects
Word count by paragraph
| Paragraph | What it does | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Role, where you saw it, why you fit | about 50 |
| 2 | Your strongest evidence | about 150 to 200 |
| 3 | Why this employer | about 50 to 100 |
| 4 | Thanks and next step | about 40 |
Not sure how to open? See how to start a cover letter. For the ending, see how to close and sign off a cover letter.
How to keep it to one page
- Use a clear font at size 11 or 12 with normal margins. See how to choose a cover letter font.
- Cut anything already on your CV.
- Keep one or two strong examples instead of five weak ones.
- Delete filler such as “I am writing to express my interest”.
- Read it aloud and remove any sentence that does not help the employer.
What if the employer sets a limit?
Always follow the advert. If it says “500 words” or “one page”, stick to it. If the application form has a character limit, write for that limit first, then check it still sounds natural.
Graduate schemes and short forms
Some graduate schemes replace the cover letter with short motivation questions. Keep answers focused and use the same evidence rules. See our Graduate Scheme hub for deadlines and application steps.
FAQ
Is half a page enough? Yes, especially when sending by email. What matters is that you cover the role, your evidence and why this employer.
Is a two-page cover letter ever OK? In the UK, rarely. Some academic or senior roles ask for more, but for graduate and entry-level jobs keep to one page.
How many words is one page? About 350 to 400 words at size 11 or 12 with normal spacing.
Does length change for an internship? No. See how to write an internship cover letter.
Struggling to fit everything in? Try our AI cover letter generator for a first draft, then edit it down.
