Quick answer: Resume margins should be 1 inch on all sides by default. If you need more room to fit on one page, you can reduce them to 0.75 inch, and no lower than 0.5 inch. Keep margins equal on the left and right (and ideally top and bottom). Don't go wider than 1 inch to fill space, because it makes a short resume look empty. In Word, set margins with Layout > Margins; in Google Docs, use File > Page setup.
Margins are the quiet frame around your resume. Nobody compliments good margins, but bad ones get noticed fast: text crammed to the edge of the page, or a short resume floating in a sea of white space.
Here's the right margin size, when to adjust, and how to set them in Word and Google Docs.
What Size Should Resume Margins Be?
- Standard: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all four sides
- Tighter (if needed): 0.75 inch (1.9 cm)
- Minimum: 0.5 inch (1.27 cm). Going lower looks cramped and can get cut off when printed
- Maximum: about 1 inch. Wider margins make your resume look sparse
Equal margins look best. If you change them, keep left and right the same. A common compromise is 1 inch top and bottom, 0.75 inch left and right.
When to Adjust Your Margins
Reduce margins (to 0.75 or 0.5 inch) when:
- Your resume spills a few lines onto a second page
- You have a lot of relevant experience and every line earns its place
But first, try cutting content. Remove weak bullets, older roles, and repetitive skills before shrinking margins. See how long should a resume be.
Keep 1-inch margins when:
- You have plenty of room
- You're applying in traditional fields (law, finance, government, healthcare)
- You plan to print your resume
Don't widen margins when:
- Your resume looks short. Add relevant achievements, projects, skills, or volunteer work instead. See how to write a resume with no experience
How to Set Resume Margins in Microsoft Word
- Click the Layout tab
- Click Margins
- Choose Normal (1 inch all around) or Narrow (0.5 inch all around)
- For other sizes, click Custom Margins and type your values (for example, 0.75 inch)
- Click OK
See how to make a resume in Word.
How to Set Resume Margins in Google Docs
- Click File > Page setup
- Make sure Pages (not Pageless) is selected
- Enter your top, bottom, left, and right margins
- If the units show centimeters, use 2.54 cm for 1 inch, 1.9 cm for 0.75 inch, or 1.27 cm for 0.5 inch
- Click OK (or Set as default to use them for future documents)
See how to make a resume in Google Docs.
Margins, Page Size, and Printing
- US and Canada: use Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches)
- Most other countries: use A4 (210 x 297 mm)
- For printed resumes: stick with 0.75–1 inch margins. Many printers can't print to the very edge
- Check your PDF at 100% zoom before sending to make sure nothing is cut off. See resume PDF or Word
Other Spacing Tips That Work With Margins
- Line spacing: 1.0 to 1.15
- Space between sections: 6–12 pt
- Font size: 10–12 pt for body text. See resume font size and best fonts for a resume
- Alignment: left-aligned text, with dates right-aligned using tab stops
- White space: short bullets and clear section breaks make a resume easier to skim
For the complete layout picture, see what should a resume look like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are standard resume margins?
1 inch on all sides is the standard.
Can resume margins be 0.5 inches?
Yes, but that's the minimum. Use it only if you need the space, and try cutting content first.
Should resume margins be the same on all sides?
Ideally yes, or at least equal left and right. A common variation is 1 inch top and bottom with 0.75 inch on the sides.
What margins should I use for a two-page resume?
The same margins on both pages, usually 0.75–1 inch.
Do margins affect ATS?
No. Applicant tracking systems read the text, not the margins. Margins matter for how readable your resume looks to people.
Perfect Spacing, Automatically
Our Resume Builder sets professional margins, fonts, and spacing for you, so your resume looks balanced on every screen and printer.