Resume layout guide: margins, font size, line spacing and style

A great resume layout is clean, well-organized and easy to read. Organizing your resume effectively is one of the most important ways of impressing an employer and getting your document through those pesky applicant tracking systems (ATS).

All you need to do is follow a few basic formatting rules to create a professional layout. Once you’re done reviewing the tips here, you can find even more in our resume formatting guide.

Set your margins

Resume margins should always be about 1 inch on all sides. Going above or below 1 inch will quickly make a resume look too cramped or too padded. 1-inch margins strike the right balance.

However, in the event that you’re trying to get your resume length down to one or two pages, feel free to adjust the margins on the sides to about .6 inches. Never make them smaller than that, and only do so cautiously.

Another vital consideration is line space. Line spacing should be set between single space and 1.5 spacing. Finally, every section must have a line break after the section header.

Choose a professional font

No matter how well you lay out your resume, a poor choice of font can make you look unprofessional. Limit yourself to safe, reliable font types.

Any of these fonts would be appropriate on a resume:

• Arial
• Calibri
• Cambria
• Garamond
• Georgia
• Helvetica
• Times New Roman
• Veranda

On that note, be careful about font size. Your font should be no smaller than 10 points and no larger than 12 points.

Keep the design simple

While it may be tempting to try to stand out with a complicated design, you’re much better off sticking with one of our simple resume layouts. Unless you are applying for a graphic design role, employers will mainly consider whether your resume is easy to read. They won’t care as much about your use of color or impressive design tricks.

We offer templates in a variety of styles, including creative, simple and professional, all of which are compatible with Google Docs and Microsoft Word. Peruse our library of resume templates to find the perfect resume for you!

Make an eye-catching header

Contact info is one of the most essential parts of your resume, so you’ll want to make it easy to spot. One way to do this is to set your header apart using shading and color.

There’s no need to go overboard — we still advocate for a simple design — but you do want to be noticed. Here’s an en example of a fittingly attention-grabbing header:

Organize content into easy-to-scan sections

A well-organized layout will draw the eye from section to section using clearly defined headers, all using the same line spacing and font size and type.

As for which sections to include, every resume should have:

• Contact info
• Professional summary or resume objective
• Work experience
• Skills, featuring hard/technical skills and soft skills
• Education credentials

Depending on what you have to offer, you may want to consider including additional sections like certifications, volunteering, languages, awards and professional associations.

Use bullet points effectively

Bullet points are a great way to make your document easily scannable. You can use them in the following areas:

• Four to six bullet points for each job in your work experience section
• Listing your skills in your skills section

Ultimately, use bullet points whenever you need to break up the text to highlight key points.

Be mindful of length (no more than two pages)

Unlike CVs, which list your entire professional history, resumes don’t need to be exhaustive. Instead, they should focus on the most recent (and relevant) history.

If you have fewer than five or six years of experience, your resume should be no longer than one page. After that, you can consider adding a second page if you need more space for your accomplishments.

In the end, never go longer than two pages. Prune more distant work experience or shorten your skills section — whatever you need to do (within reason) to get your resume to the appropriate length.