Quick Fix: Set all four margins (top, bottom, left, right) to exactly 1 inch. Single-space the text and left-align all paragraphs. Skip paragraph indents. Use a clean, professional font such as Arial or Times New Roman at 11–12 points.
One-inch margins remain the industry standard for cover letters as of 2026, ensuring readability and professional presentation.
What’s happening with cover letter margins in 2026?
Stick with 1-inch margins—they’re still the gold standard.
Cover letters in 2026 follow a clean, single-spaced format with consistent margins. Most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and hiring managers expect one-inch margins because they create a balanced visual field. This prevents content from getting clipped when printed or looking overwhelming on screen. Try squeezing margins down to 0.7 inches, and your text might get cut off. Go too wide, and you’ll waste precious space that could showcase your value. A well-structured cover letter finds that sweet spot between white space and dense, compelling copy.
According to Indeed Career Advice, 82% of hiring managers prefer standard 1-inch margins for readability and consistency.
How do I set the margins correctly?
Set all four margins to exactly 1 inch in your word processor.
Here’s how to do it in the most common programs as of 2026:
- Open your document in Microsoft Word 365 (Version 2409 or later), Google Docs, or LibreOffice Writer.
- Set the margins:
- In Word 365: Head to Layout → Margins → Normal. Prefer more control? Choose Custom Margins and enter Top: 1", Bottom: 1", Left: 1", Right: 1".
- In Google Docs: Go to File → Page setup → Margins, then set every value to 1 inch.
- In LibreOffice: Navigate to Format → Page → Page → Margins and input 1 inch for all four sides.
- Format the body text:
- Choose between Arial 11pt or Times New Roman 12pt—both are safe bets.
- Use single spacing (Ctrl + 1 in Word; 1.0 line spacing in Docs).
- Skip paragraph indents and stick to left alignment only.
- Structure the sections with a single blank line between each:
- Header (your contact info + date)
- Salutation (e.g., “Dear Ms. Lee,”)
- Opening paragraph
- Middle paragraph (skills/experience)
- Closing paragraph (call to action)
- Complimentary close (e.g., “Sincerely,”)
- Add the date in U.S. format: Month Day, Year (e.g., June 5, 2026). Skip abbreviations like “Jun” or “5th.”
My cover letter still isn’t working—what now?
Export as a PDF with preserved 1-inch margins to fix ATS parsing issues.
- ATS Compatibility Check:
If your cover letter isn’t playing nice with an online application system, export it as a PDF. Use Adobe Acrobat’s File → Save As → PDF with “Standard” settings to keep those margins intact.
- Font Fallback:
Some older systems struggle with certain fonts. Switch to Calibri 11pt or Georgia 12pt—both are widely supported as of 2026. Steer clear of anything fancy like Comic Sans or Papyrus.
- Export Troubleshooting:
If margins shift when you upload, save the file in .docx first, then export to PDF. A surprising number of ATS platforms still prefer native Word documents for parsing.
How can I prevent margin problems in the future?
Use a template and set margins before you start writing.
- Use a built-in template from your word processor’s library (Word’s “Modern Cover Letter” template enforces 1-inch margins by default).
- Avoid manual overrides—don’t tweak margins after pasting content. Set them before you begin typing.
- Preview in print mode (Ctrl + P) to confirm nothing gets cut off. Zoom to 100% and check the edges.
- Check industry norms: Finance and law roles love classic formats (1-inch margins, serif fonts). Tech and creative fields might bend the rules slightly but still prefer clean layouts.
- Update your style guide every year or two. As of 2026, the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC) suggests reviewing formatting standards regularly due to ATS algorithm updates.
