Cover letters
Everything on this site about cover letters, in one place: a free generator, a length checker, and short guides written for US, UK, Canadian and Australian applications.
A cover letter is the one page where you get to say why this job and why you, in your own words. Most are skimmed in under a minute, so length and structure matter more than people think: one page, three or four paragraphs, and the strongest point in the first two sentences.
Start with the generator if you have the job posting handy. Paste it in with three or four of your own highlights and you get a tailored draft in about a minute. Then use the word counter to keep it between 250 and 400 words, and the format guide to check the order of what you say.
Tools
AI Cover Letter Generator
Paste the job posting and your highlights and the AI drafts a tailored cover letter in under a minute. Free to use.
Open tool
Word Counter
Count words and characters as you type, plus sentences, paragraphs and reading time. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.
Open tool
Words to Pages Calculator
How many pages is 1,000 words? Pick your font, size and spacing and convert words to pages or pages to words.
Open tool
Paraphrasing Tool
Reword an essay, email or paragraph in your own words. Formal, simple, concise or academic, with the meaning kept intact.
Open toolGuides
-
How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? (2026)
One page, 250 to 400 words, three or four paragraphs. That is the whole answer. The interesting part is what to cut to get there, so here is a 512-word letter taken down to 318 with the ledger of exactly where the words went.
5 min read
-
What Goes in Each Paragraph of a Cover Letter
Most letters fail in paragraph one, where enthusiasm goes and evidence does not. Here is a paragraph-by-paragraph plan with word budgets, an annotated letter showing what each part is doing, and the opening line I would ban if I could.
6 min read
-
How Many Words Should a Resume Be? (2026 Guide)
There is no single right number. Target ranges by experience level, what the widely quoted vendor figures actually rest on, and a worked edit that cuts a 640-word resume to 480 without losing anything a hiring manager reads.
7 min read
-
Thank-You Email After an Interview (With Examples)
Four sentences sent the same evening beat four paragraphs sent on Thursday. Here is the structure I use, a full example you can steal, and what changes when you have to write to three people who were all in the same room.
6 min read
Common questions
How long should a cover letter be?
Between 250 and 400 words, on one page. Three or four paragraphs is the norm in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Recruiters read the first two sentences closely and skim the rest, so put the strongest reason you fit the role at the top.
Do I still need a cover letter in 2026?
When the application asks for one, yes, and when it is optional a short one still helps for roles where writing matters or where you are changing fields. If the form has no place for it, do not force one in.
Can I use an AI cover letter generator?
Yes, as a first draft. The generator on this site writes from the job posting and your own highlights, so the result is specific to the role. Read it once, cut anything you would not say out loud, and add one detail only you could know.
Should the cover letter repeat my resume?
No. The resume lists what you did; the cover letter explains why it matters for this job. Pick two or three points from the resume and connect them to the posting instead of listing everything again.