Seemingly small details can have a make-or-break impact on your resume’s likelihood of landing an interview. We’ve all been tempted to adjust margins to fit words on, say, a term paper. But adjusting resume margins can have a real impact on the impression a resume makes. If needed, however, setting your resume margins is one of the most straightforward formatting steps and one of the easiest ways to make a favorable first impression.
Why do resume margins matter?
Your resume should immediately look as professional, polished, and streamlines as the person it represents.
While resume readability is enhanced through a combination of layout and formatting, don’t underestimate the importance of optimal margins. Less is more when it comes to dense blocks of text. Allow white space on the page for balance and proportion.
Think of resume document margins as the frame surrounding a photograph or artwork: focusing the attention where it belongs. By containing and showcasing the text, but not detracting from it, the margin space makes the content easier to read and more inviting.
There are also practical concerns with resume margins, specifically printability and scanability.
The 1-inch resume margin is standard
The standard—and best—margin size for a resume is one inch on all sides. This is the default margin setting for the most commonly used word processing apps, Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
There’s nothing arbitrary about one inch being the standard margin configuration for documents across the board. It’s universally suitable for the readability of text on the page. In conjunction with default font settings, the one-inch margin setting restricts the number of characters on a single line of text to about 90. It’s also a failsafe to ensure nothing ends up outside the printable area of the page by mistake. With printing resumes, properly set resume margins ensure no text is inadvertently cut off.
ATS software likes 1-inch margins
Digital resumes require proper margins as well. Automated ATS ( applicant tracking systems) software have a much easier time scanning resumes with a clean 1-inch margin. If the software can’t scan your document, it might be automatically rejected before a human gets to see it.
If you need to adjust your default resume margin settings from inches to centimeters, use these equivalents: 2.54 cm. = 1 in. and 1.27 cm. = .5 in.
Can the one-inch rule be broken?
The one-inch rule of thumb for resume margins on all sides is just that: a recommended guideline. In certain circumstances, there may be limited leeway. If your resume’s content and formatting are up to snuff, but after rigorous editing and tweaks to fonts and line spacing it doesn’t quite fit on one page, it’s probably fine to shrink one or more of the margin spaces.
Fine-tune your margin settings incrementally, one at a time. Start with the top margin where your resume header appears. (All of your margin settings don’t need to match, as long as they are reasonably balanced.) You might find that 0.8 inches are enough to make a difference. If not, try 0.75 in. or 0.6 in. But 0.5 inches is the smallest you can go—and preferably only at the top. This half-inch limit is a hard-and-fast rule.
Consider the next steps with your resume before changing the margins. For instance, if you plan on printing your resume, make sure the margins won’t look odd with the size of paper you’re using. And if you’re applying via an applicant tracking system that requires your resume to be in a Word or PDF format specifically, check how the finished product looks before submitting.
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How to reset margins for resume
Changing resume margins is simple. Here are the steps.
Microsoft Word
- Select “Layout” (or “Page Layout” in some Word versions) in the top menu bar.
- Click on “Margins” and check out the preset margin options.
- “Normal” is the 1 inch Default and “Narrow” is 0.5 inches all around.
- “Moderate” and “Wide” offer left and right margin variations.
- “Custom” lets you set each margin to your own specifications.
Google Docs
- Click “File” in the top left menu bar
- Select “Page Setup” from the drop-down menu (near the bottom)
- “Margins” appears in the window that opens to the right.
- Enter the margin setting you want in each box for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right.
- Click “OK” (preceded by “Set as Default” if you always want these margin settings).
Resume.io
With the Resume.io builder, the right margins are set for you, no selecting or resetting is required. Instead of spending extra time changing margins, you can look through our extensive library of resume templates and choose the one that best meets your needs.
Simply browse our collection from four style categories: Modern, Creative, Simple, and Professional. Pick your favorite, download it, and insert your own text. It’s that easy.
When is it not okay to downsize resume margins?
If you’re considering reducing your margins from the one-inch standard, assess your motivations. Narrower margins are never a good idea for the sake of squeezing content into a space that’s not designed to accommodate it. The crowded, cluttered result will be a reading turn-off.
There’s a good chance you’re trying to sneak in information that may not be relevant to the job posting or otherwise doesn’t belong on your resume. If word bloat is the real problem, then tinkering with your resume margins is an ill-advised solution. All that effort you put into winning the hiring manager’s attention will backfire.
For some job seekers, depending on the profession and experience level, a two-page resume is just fine. While there is never an excuse for overblown language or irrelevant details, sometimes a succinctly written single page just doesn’t do justice to your accomplishments. Go ahead and take more space if you need it. The same guidelines for crafting a successful resume still apply, from writing to design and formatting decisions, including resume margins.
A well-designed resume is about more than margins
The right resume margin size will take you far towards an eye-pleasing end product that hiring managers won’t overlook. However, it’s only one part of the design equation that adds up to an irresistible resume.
Resume layout. Strive for a resume layout that looks orderly and well-organized, with each section following logically into the next. Incorporate an attractive header and bullet points to break up text-dense sections.
Resume fonts. Choose one of the many professional and modern font options and select the right size based on the style; for some fonts, 12 points could be too large or 10 points too small. Getting it right may take some trial and error. Strive for a font comparable to the look and character-per-line count of Times New Roman, between 10 and 12 points.
Our caution about shrinking your resume margins also applies to tiny font sizes. Don’t reduce the font size in order to cram excess information onto the page. The risk of deterring readers is not worth it. Instead, go back to the drawing board and edit your work. If necessary, take two pages instead of one.
Text alignment. Your resume text should be aligned to the left, not justified (“flush” left and right). It may sometimes be acceptable to center a heading or title, but use discretion.
Line and paragraph spacing. This goes hand in hand with margin size when it comes to balancing white space on your resume page. Leverage line and paragraph spacing to provide vital breathing room between lines of text, as well as above and below sections, paragraphs, and headings. Don’t just rely on the default setting, but make adjustments and refine them as needed, checking your finished document to ensure consistency throughout.
Creative touches. Be cautious when adding extra color or design elements to your resume. While these can be eye-catching, they can also be distracting, so they’re best used sparingly.
Key takeaways
Resume margins are critically important to your resume document’s overall appearance, as well as its readability and printability. The standard resume margin width of one inch—the default setting in most word processing software—is the best choice for practical and aesthetic reasons.
It’s easy to change your resume margins, and generally acceptable to do so as long as they are never narrower than 0.5 inches. But, do this carefully. Avoid changing your margins just to squeeze too much information onto the page.
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