Is Cover Letter Double Spaced? Single vs Double Spacing, Margins, Font and Layout for Email, Upload or Print

The short answer to is cover letter double spaced is no. A standard cover letter is single spaced, with one blank line between paragraphs. Double spacing is for essays, manuscripts and some academic papers, and it makes a one-page letter run onto two pages.

That said, the real answer has a few layers: what “single spaced” means in practice, how margins and font size fit in, and what changes when you send the letter by email, upload it to a job portal or print it. This article walks through each, with a sample layout you can copy.

Is cover letter double spaced or single spaced?

Single spaced. If you search the question “is cover letter double spaced”, you will find that nearly all career advice describes a cover letter as a business letter, and business letters are single spaced.

The exception is when the person receiving it tells you otherwise. A few universities, scholarship panels and government applications give formatting rules. If the instructions say double space, do it. If they say nothing, go single.

One more point that causes confusion: “single spaced” does not mean cramped. It means the lines inside each paragraph sit close together, and you add a blank line between paragraphs. That gives the page room to breathe without wasting space.

Why is single spacing the standard?

Three reasons, and they all come back to the reader.

• Length. A good letter is around 250 to 350 words. Single spaced, that fits on one page with room for your header and signature. Double spaced, it spills onto a second page. See how long a cover letter usually is.
• Convention. Business letters have followed the same block layout for a long time. Hiring managers expect it, so it looks professional without drawing attention.
• Skim reading. Short, tight paragraphs with white space between them are easy to scan. Double spacing makes every paragraph look long.

Double spacing exists for editors and graders who want to write notes between the lines. A hiring manager has no need to mark up your letter.

How much space goes between paragraphs?

One blank line. In Word or Google Docs, that is the same as pressing Enter twice, or setting the paragraph spacing “after” to 10 or 12 points. Use one method and stay consistent.

Here is how the spacing usually works from top to bottom of the page.

Part of the letter	Spacing
Your name and contact details	Single spaced, each on its own line
Date	One blank line above and below
Employer’s name and address	Single spaced, one blank line below
Greeting (“Dear Ms. Alvarez,”)	One blank line below
Body paragraphs	Single spaced inside, one blank line between
Closing (“Sincerely,”)	One blank line above
Signature space and typed name	Three or four blank lines for a handwritten signature in print, or one in digital

If you are not sure how to end the letter, read how to sign off a letter of application.

What margins and font should you use?

Margins of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) on every side are the usual default. You can go down to about 0.75 inch if you need a little extra room, but do not squeeze below that. Tight margins look crowded and make the reader’s eye work harder.

For the font, pick one that reads cleanly on a screen and in print.

• Size: 11 or 12 point for the body. Some fonts look small at 10 point.
• Typeface: Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, Georgia or Garamond are all common and safe.
• One font only. Match the font on your resume, so the two documents look like a pair.
• Alignment: left aligned is easiest to read. Full justification can create odd gaps between words.

The Purdue Online Writing Lab has job search writing pages that show the standard business letter layout if you want to compare.

How do you keep the letter to one page?

Cutting words works better than shrinking the font. If the letter runs over, try these steps in order.

1. Delete the weakest sentence in each paragraph. Usually it is the one that repeats your resume.
2. Shorten the opening. Cut “I am writing to apply for…” and start with the job title and your strongest match.
3. Trim to three or four short paragraphs. Introduction, one or two proof paragraphs and a closing.
4. Reduce paragraph spacing slightly, for example from 12 to 8 points after. This is a small adjustment, not a trick.
5. Adjust margins last, not below 0.75 inch.

If you still do not fit, the letter probably has too much in it. A tailored letter does not need to cover everything. For help deciding what to leave out, see the difference between a cover letter and a resume.

Email, upload or print: does the spacing change?

Whether is cover letter double spaced or not, the principle stays the same, but the details change with the delivery method.

How you send it	Spacing and layout	Tips
Printed letter	Full business letter: header, date, address, greeting, body, closing, signature. Single spaced with blank lines between blocks.	Use plain white paper and sign above your typed name.
PDF or Word upload	Same as print. Keep the layout simple.	Save as PDF unless the portal asks for Word. Name the file clearly, such as “Alvarez-Cover-Letter.pdf”.
Email body	No header block or date needed. Short paragraphs with one blank line between them.	Put the job title in the subject line. Plain text is fine. Avoid fancy fonts and colors.
Online form text box	Plain text only, with blank lines between paragraphs.	Paste into a text editor first to remove odd formatting.

With email, the question “is cover letter double spaced” hardly applies. Email software already adds space between paragraphs. If your message looks like a wall of text, add a blank line between paragraphs and keep each one to two or three sentences.

Some employers ask for the letter inside the email body, some ask for an attachment, and some want both. In that case, follow what the posting says. If it says nothing, putting a short version in the email body and attaching the full letter is a safe choice.

Check how it looks before you send

Open the file on a different device or in a different program. Fonts and spacing sometimes shift. A PDF protects the layout; a Word file may change on the reader’s computer.

When might double spacing be right?

Not often, but it can happen.

• The employer or instructor says so. A class assignment may require double spacing, 12 point Times New Roman, 1 inch margins. Follow the assignment sheet.
• A fellowship or grant application has its own style rules. These are usually printed in the application guidelines.
• An academic or research position may ask for a longer letter. Even then, the letter is typically single spaced, but check the instructions.

When a rule is given, it overrides general advice. When none is given, use the standard layout. If you are not sure, a short email to the contact person asking about the format is acceptable, though most people simply follow the usual convention.

Sample layout you can copy

Here is a text version of a one-page letter. The names are invented. Every line inside a block is single spaced, and each blank line below means one empty line.

Jordan Lee
123 Maple Street, Springfield
[email protected] | 555-0123

October 17, 2026

Ms. Maria Alvarez
Hiring Manager
Northline Supply
45 Commerce Road, Springfield

Dear Ms. Alvarez,

I am applying for the Customer Support Specialist role. For two years I have handled phone and chat requests in a busy retail setting, and I enjoy turning a frustrated customer into a repeat one.

In my current role I answer the same types of questions every day: delivery delays, returns and billing mistakes. I keep a short checklist for each, which helps me give a clear answer on the first reply.

Your posting mentions a growing support team and a focus on quick resolutions. I would bring the same habit to your team.

I would welcome a chance to talk. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jordan Lee

Notice what the layout does. There are four short body paragraphs, a blank line between them and nothing is squeezed. It fits on one page with room to spare, even at 12 point.

How do you set this up in Word or Google Docs?

1. Open a blank document and set the margins to 1 inch on all sides.
2. Choose a font and size, for example Calibri 11 or Times New Roman 12.
3. Set line spacing to single (1.0) or to 1.1 if the default feels tight.
4. Set paragraph spacing to 0 before and 10 or 12 points after. This gives you a gap between paragraphs without extra blank lines.
5. Type your header, date and address block. Use Shift + Enter for a line break inside a block if your paragraph spacing adds too much gap.
6. Write the body in three or four paragraphs.
7. Check the page count. If it goes onto a second page, cut words first.
8. Export to PDF and read it once more as the reader will see it.

What can a freelance proposal teach you about layout?

Quite a lot. When our team bids for clients on Upwork, the proposal is also a short note to a stranger, and layout matters even more. Upwork shows proposals as plain text, so there is no font choice at all. What gets read is the shape: short paragraphs, a blank line between them and the main point in the first two lines.

That is the same advice that works for a cover letter email. If you want to practice, read how to send proposals on Upwork and notice how little formatting matters compared to clarity.

BidStaff is software for Upwork freelancers and agencies. It writes proposals in the tone of your past winning proposals, attaches the best work sample and scores each job from 0 to 10 against your profile. It does not write cover letters or resumes for regular jobs. If you also freelance on the side, the features page shows how the pieces fit, and writing proposals in your own tone explains how your style carries over. The extension never submits for you; you copy the text and send it yourself.

And if you want to try the product, see the pricing page for the current plans.

Frequently asked questions

Is cover letter double spaced or single spaced in a job application?

Single spaced, with a blank line between paragraphs. Use double spacing only if the employer or instructor asks for it.

Should a cover letter be 1.5 spaced?

It is not standard. A line spacing of 1.0 to 1.15 is normal. Going to 1.5 makes the letter longer without making it better.

What font size is best for a cover letter?

11 or 12 point for the body. Pick a readable font such as Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman, and use the same one as your resume.

Should I indent paragraphs?

No. Business letters use block format with no indents. We cover it in detail in should I indent paragraphs in a cover letter.

Can a cover letter be longer than one page?

Sometimes, for academic or senior roles, but one page is the usual limit. If it goes over, cut content before you cut spacing.

Does the spacing matter if I paste the letter into an email?

Yes, but only the paragraph breaks. Keep paragraphs short, leave a blank line between them and skip the address block.

Do I need to follow a different format for a teen’s first job?

No. The same layout works. For a first-job angle, read how to write a cover letter DIY homeschool.

Where can I find more format examples?

Indeed Career Advice and CareerOneStop both publish sample letters and layout tips.

Conclusion

So, is cover letter double spaced? No. Use single spacing, one blank line between paragraphs, 1 inch margins and a readable 11 or 12 point font. Keep to one page, and follow any specific format the employer states.

Your action list:

1. Set your document to 1 inch margins and single line spacing.
2. Choose one clean font and use it on your resume too.
3. Write three or four short paragraphs, with a blank line between them.
4. Cut words, not font size, if the letter passes one page.
5. Save as PDF for uploads, and use plain short paragraphs for email.

Other related articles

• Should I indent paragraphs in a cover letter
• How long is a cover letter usually
• Do you need a cover letter for your resume
• Should your cover letter and resume match
• How to sign off a letter of application

About the Author

Muhammad Shahzad is the founder of BidStaff and Leadslancer. He runs Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team, and builds BidStaff around that daily work.