1. Match your resume
Use the same fonts, accent color, and header layout as your resume. Recruiters should immediately see they belong together.
Cover Letter Guide
Cover Letter Design — What Actually Matters
Design isn't decoration. The right design makes your letter easier to scan, feel premium, and match the brand of your resume. Here's how to think about it.
2. Generous whitespace beats clever layout
Margins of 0.7–1 inch, single-line spacing within paragraphs, and a blank line between them. Density signals stress; whitespace signals confidence.
3. One color accent, one font family
Resist the urge to add multiple colors or fonts. Pick one accent (your primary brand color) and one font with two weights (regular + bold).
4. Save as PDF, every time
Word documents reformat across machines. PDFs preserve your design exactly as you intended — and most ATS systems handle them perfectly.
Ready to write yours?
Use the AI generator to draft a tailored cover letter in 30 seconds.
Generate free