Are Resumes Single-spaced?

Not really—and spacing matters more than most people think. Microsoft Word starts you at 1.15 line spacing by default, which most recruiters won’t bat an eye at. Yet plenty of job seekers still default to single spacing out of pure habit. The real trick? Finding that balance where your resume doesn’t scream “I’ve got nothing here” but also doesn’t look like an impenetrable wall of text. According to Indeed, proper spacing keeps your resume from feeling either barren or overwhelming.

Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing for body text and add 2pt spacing after subheadings.

Double spacing makes resumes look empty and hurts mobile readability.

Double-spaced resumes practically shout “I’m missing something,” and they become a real headache on mobile screens, where hiring managers are already squinting at tiny text. Even in 2026, Applicant Tracking Systems still favor resumes that don’t waste vertical space. Font size sneaks into this too—anything under 10.5pt tends to pixelate on high-DPI displays. The Jobscan team analyzed thousands of top-scoring resumes and found 92% use 11–12pt font with line spacing between 1.0 and 1.15. Honestly, this is the cleanest, most ATS-friendly approach out there.

Fix spacing by selecting all text, setting line spacing to 1.0 or 1.15, adding 2pt after paragraphs, and using 1-inch margins.

1. Open your resume in Microsoft Word (365 or 2021). If you’re using Google Docs, head to Format > Line spacing > Custom spacing.
2. Select everything with Ctrl + A (Windows) or Cmd + A (Mac).
3. Right-click and choose Paragraph (Word) or go to Format > Line and paragraph spacing > Custom spacing (Docs).
4. In the Spacing section, set Line spacing to 1.0 or 1.15. Then set After to 2 pt so sections like “Work Experience” or “Education” get a little breathing room.
5. For headers or titles, bump the font size to 14–16pt and stick with Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica—simple, no-frills choices that work everywhere.
6. Head to Layout > Margins > Normal to lock in 1-inch margins. Don’t go below 0.5 inches; cramming text makes everything harder to read.

If spacing still collapses, test ATS readability, try a resume builder, or export as a clean PDF.

• Test ATS-friendliness: Paste your resume into a plain-text editor. If bullets turn into gibberish or spacing collapses, strip it down further or switch to a simpler template.
• Try a resume builder: Canva’s templates or Zety auto-adjust spacing and fonts so ATS parsers don’t choke. Canva and Zety handle the heavy lifting for you.
• Always export as PDF: Save as PDF (File > Save As > PDF) to lock in spacing everywhere. Skip image-based PDFs—ATS can’t read text trapped inside images.

Use a clean template, keep fonts simple, and review every two years to avoid spacing headaches.

Build a resume template once, then update it yearly or after major career moves. Keep your summary tight—three lines max—and use bullets spaced exactly 2pt apart. Steer clear of fancy fonts, icons, or tables; ATS parsers hate surprises. The LiveCareer team reviewed over 10,000 resumes and found those with clean spacing and simple fonts sail through ATS scans 37% more often on the first try.

Plan to review your resume every two years—or after a promotion—to make sure it still matches today’s hiring expectations. Tech folks should aim for one page; academics and government roles can stretch to two. And always keep a backup in OneDrive or Google Drive so you’re never scrambling when the next opportunity pops up.

What is the spacing for a resume?

When it comes to resume layout, here’s the deal: double spacing just creates too much empty space, making your resume look half-empty and harder to skim. Keep it tight but readable.

Should a resume be single or double spaced?

Nope—double spacing creates way too much white space, which makes your resume look empty. On top of that, it turns reading your experience into a chore for employers.

How do you adjust resume spacing in Word?

If you’re working in Microsoft Word, just select all your text, right-click, and choose "Paragraph." Then go to the indents and spacing tab and change "after" to 2 points. That’s all it takes to clean up your spacing.

What is the standard font size for a resume?

The best resume font sizes are: 11-12pt for normal text, with 14-16pt for section titles and headers. The most common resume formatting order goes: Contact information, work experience, skills, and education.

What is the best margin size for a resume?

Resume margins should be one inch on all sides. You can shrink them to 0.5 inches if you’re desperate for space, but anything smaller makes your resume look crowded and hard to read.

Is white space beneficial in a resume?

Too little white space? Your resume will feel cluttered and chaotic. White space is easy on the eyes and helps people focus. Sometimes shrinking your font or adjusting spacing beats adding another page you can’t quite fill.

How do I reduce the size of my resume?

1. Use smaller margins.
2. Try creative resume formats.
3. Shrink your font size.
4. Use bullet points liberally.
5. Consolidate your contact information.
6. Create quadrants to divide sections.
7. Reduce the size of your contact info and address.
8. Use multi-purpose lines to combine information.

Who else should review my resume?

1. Highlight a strength or skill essential to the position that’s missing from your resume.
2. Mention volunteering or extracurricular experience that relates to the job and isn’t on your resume.

What are the standard resume dimensions?

Country Dimension	United States 8.5 x 11 in	Europe 21 X 29.7 cm

Is size 10 font too small for a resume?

Not at all—10.5 font is perfectly acceptable. It’s actually the smallest size that remains readable. Use 10.5-point font if you’ve got tons of relevant experience to include. Just remember some fonts appear smaller than others, so test yours before committing.

What is the best font and size for a resume?

The gold standard is 12 points in a classic, readable font. Bump up to 14-16pt for your name and section headings. If you absolutely must squeeze everything onto one page, you can go as small as 10-point sans-serif, but that’s really the minimum.

Who can check my resume?

• Spouse
• Family member
• Friend
• Community center
• Professional resume review service
• Professor
• Career coach
• Trusted network connection

Is TopResume a legitimate service?

TopResume is a legitimate professional resume writing service. It’s not a scam, though the quality can vary depending on your career level and needs. Based on your situation, you can choose their service and still get solid results.

How do I check my resume in an ATS?

You can test how your resume performs in an ATS scan using Zipjob's free resume review tool. Their system parses your resume for skills and experience just like the software big employers use.