How long should a cover letter be?

Keep it to one page: usually three to five short paragraphs, roughly 250 to 400 words. That is long enough to make a clear case and short enough to be read in full.

A simple shape that fits on one page:

• Opening (2–3 sentences): the role you are applying for and a reason you are interested.
• Middle (1–2 paragraphs): two or three relevant examples from your work, studies or projects.
• Closing (2–3 sentences): a thank-you and a line about being available for an interview.

If your draft runs over a page, cut repeated points from your resume, remove general phrases such as "I am a hard-working team player" and keep only the examples that match the job advert. Very short letters of only two or three lines can look rushed, unless the employer asked for a brief note or the form has a small text box.

Some employers set their own word limit. If they do, follow it exactly.