How to Choose the Best Font and Font Size for Cover Letters

When you are writing a cover letter, it's important to use a font—or type style—that is clear and easy to read. Consider that hiring managers have to review dozens, if not hundreds, of applicants for a position. They may immediately pass over a cover letter and resume that isn’t instantly legible.

Note

Be sure to make your font large enough so that the reader doesn't have to squint to read your letter, but not so large that your letter doesn't fit well on the page.

Keep it Professional

When it comes to choosing a font to use in your cover letter, your best bet is to keep it simple and professional. You want your words and message to stand out, not your font choice.

Note

Avoid using unprofessional novelty-style fonts such as Comic Sans, handwriting, or script-style fonts.

Ideally, the font used in the cover letter will be both the same size and style as the one used in your resume, to help you present a cohesive package.

Review these tips for determining the right font for your cover letter, as well as what size it should be, and which styles are and are not appropriate to use in a cover letter.

Choose One Simple Font

Using a simple font will ensure that your cover letter is easy to read. Basic fonts like Arial, Courier New, Calibri, Verdana, and Times New Roman work the best. Most word processing and email programs will default to a professional and easily readable choice.

Note

Limit yourself to one font in your cover letter; it's best not to mix several fonts in one document.

There is no need to use different styles in a cover letter. Avoid underlining or italicizing, and use boldface text only when emphasizing quantifiable achievements that need to “pop” on the page.

Pick an Appropriate Font Size

Depending on how much content you have in your letter, select a 10- or 12-point font size.

It's best if you can format your cover letter so it fits on one page, with margins that are no larger than 1” and no smaller than .7”.

If your letter includes a heading with your name and contacts information, you may choose to make this font slightly larger.

How to Make Your Font Selection

When you are using Microsoft Word, you can select a template for your letter or start from scratch with a new document. If you're using a different word processing program, the process is similar.

• Select a font from the list at the top of your document before you start writing your letter, or:
• Type your cover letter.
• Highlight the content of your letter.
• Either select the font from the pop-up window or select the font from the list at the top of the document.
• Select the font size you want to use the same way.
• Proofread your cover letter.
• Print your cover letter, even if you are going to upload it online, to make sure that it is formatted, properly spaced, and looks the way you want it to.

Include Plenty of White Space

Regardless of the font size, you select, there needs to be space at the top of the letter and between each paragraph and each section of your cover letter. Here's how to space your cover letter.

You may need to try a couple of different sizes to make sure that your cover letter fits on a single page, and you have enough white space in between paragraphs. Review these formatting tips to be sure your letter will make the best impression.

Sending Email Cover Letters

The information above applies primarily to instances where you are sending a traditional cover letter by snail mail or when you are sending a formal cover letter as a Word or PDF attachment to an email message.

Copying and pasting a cover letter into the body of an email message may change the formatting, making it difficult to read for an employer who may have a different computer system.

The safest thing to do when you are copying and pasting your cover letter into an email is to remove the formatting and reformat it as plain text. Send a copy to yourself before you send it to an employer to double-check that it reads correctly.

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