How long should a cover letter be? (And what to actually put in it)

The standard answer is one page. That's technically correct and practically useless, because the real constraint isn't a page limit — it's a hiring manager's attention span. Most cover letters are read for under thirty seconds. The question isn't whether yours fits on one page. It's whether the first two sentences are specific enough to make someone keep reading.

The right length is three to four short paragraphs

A cover letter that's working has three components: why this role, why you, and what happens next. Three focused paragraphs — plus a one-sentence closing — cover that. Four short paragraphs is the ceiling. Beyond that, you're adding words, not value.

The word count target is roughly 200 to 300 words. That's half a page, not a full one. "One page" became the standard because it's a natural document boundary, not because anyone needs four hundred words to make their case.

What each paragraph should do

Opening paragraph (2–3 sentences): Name the role, then give one specific reason you want it that couldn't apply to any other job. Not "I've always been passionate about marketing." Something like: "I've spent three years building attribution models for e-commerce brands, and this role's focus on incrementality testing is where I want to go next." If you can cut your opening and replace it with someone else's, rewrite it.

Middle paragraph (3–5 sentences): Pick one or two experiences that map directly to the role's core challenges. Don't summarize your resume — the hiring manager has it. Connect a specific thing you did to a specific thing the role needs. Include a real number or outcome if you have one. This is the paragraph where most cover letters fail: they list skills instead of demonstrating fit.

Second middle paragraph (optional, 2–3 sentences): If there's something important that doesn't fit elsewhere — a career transition, a gap, a relocation — this is where to address it briefly and directly. One sentence on the fact, one sentence on why it doesn't affect your ability to do this job. Don't over-explain.

Closing (1–2 sentences): Confirm your interest, invite a conversation. "I'd welcome the chance to talk through how my experience with [specific thing] maps to what you're building." Then stop. No "I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience." No flowery sign-offs.

Sentences to cut every time

• "I am excited to apply for this position."
• "I believe my skills and experience make me an ideal candidate."
• Any sentence about the company's culture that you could have written without visiting their website.
• "Please find my resume attached."
• The last paragraph that starts "Thank you for your time and consideration."

These sentences exist in nearly every cover letter, which means they register as noise. Cutting them makes the letter shorter and better simultaneously.

When a cover letter actually matters

Some roles and companies read cover letters carefully; many don't. If the application explicitly asks for one, write a real one — it's a test of whether you can communicate clearly, not just a formality. If the field is blank and optional, a strong cover letter can still separate you from candidates whose resumes look similar.

When cover letters matter most: career transitions (where your resume needs context), senior roles (where they're a writing and thinking sample), and small companies (where a personality comes through in the prose). When they matter least: highly technical roles where the portfolio speaks louder, and large companies with ATS-heavy pipelines where the letter may not be read at all.

Write as if it will be read. Keep it short enough to get read. Those two constraints, held together, produce the right cover letter.