CV length UK
How long should a CV be in the UK?
Two A4 pages for most people. One page is fine for school leavers, students and many graduates. Three pages only suits some senior, academic or medical roles with a lot of relevant evidence.
In real CV layouts, that is roughly up to 300–360 words for one page and 700–840 words for two at a readable font size. Relevance matters more than hitting a number.
By career stage
CV length for your situation.
| You are | Pages | Words | Focus on |
|---|---|---|---|
| School leaver or student | 1 page | about 250–350 | Education, part-time work, volunteering and skills with an example for each. |
| Graduate or early career | 1–2 pages | about 300–700 | Degree, projects and placements first; one page if your work history is short. |
| Most experienced applicants | 2 pages | about 500–800 | Recent roles in detail; older roles summarised in a line or two. |
| Senior roles with long histories | 2, sometimes 3 pages | up to about 1,000 | Only where the extra page is relevant evidence, not a longer list of duties. |
| Academic and some medical roles | Longer, as the employer asks | varies | Publications, research or clinical detail in the format the application requests. |
Prospects recommends no more than two A4 pages for most CVs while noting that one size doesn't fit all, and that three pages might be needed for high-level roles. Always follow any limit in the job advert.
Our measurements
How many words fit on a page?
Word-count advice varies a lot, so we measured it. We printed fictional CVs of increasing length to A4 in three standard CV designs and counted the words from each PDF.
Method: Fictional CVs with one to fourteen roles (four bullet points each) printed to A4 PDF in each WorkCV design at its standard print size, then counted with PDF.js. Measured 29 September 2026. Your numbers will vary with font, spacing and how many short lines (dates, headings) your CV has.
| Design | Fits on 1 page | Fits on 2 pages | Third page from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | up to ~292 words | up to ~838 words | ~903 words |
| Modern | up to ~363 words | up to ~771 words | ~839 words |
| Compact | up to ~292 words | up to ~699 words | ~770 words |
Check your CV
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Too long?
Six ways to cut a CV to two pages.
- 1
Summarise older roles
Prospects suggests summarising detail from more than ten years ago. Keep the title, employer and dates, and cut the bullets.
- 2
Keep each role short
The National Careers Service suggests describing what you did in each role in about two to three lines. Cut repeated duties and keep the detail for recent, relevant jobs.
- 3
Remove personal details
Leave out age, date of birth, marital status, nationality and a photo. UK guidance says not to include them.
- 4
Drop "References available on request"
Employers ask for referees when they need them. The line takes space and adds nothing.
- 5
Merge thin sections
Short hobby, language or IT sections can become one line in Skills or Additional information.
- 6
Tighten, don't shrink
Cut words before shrinking the font or margins. Very small text and cramped margins make a CV harder to read, especially on screen.
Sources
What UK guidance says.
- Prospects: keep most CVs to no more than two A4 pages; three may suit high-level roles; summarise detail from more than ten years ago.
- National Careers Service: be clear and to the point, describe each role in about two to three lines, and leave out age, date of birth, marital status and nationality.
Guidance reviewed 29 September 2026.
FAQ
CV length questions.
Is a one-page CV acceptable in the UK?+
Yes, especially for school leavers, students and graduates with little work history. Two pages is the usual length for experienced applicants, so don't cut relevant evidence just to fit one page.
Can a UK CV be three pages?+
Sometimes. Prospects says a three-page CV might be needed for high-level roles with extensive experience, and academic CVs are often longer. For most applicants, a third page means some older or less relevant detail can be summarised.
How many words should a two-page CV be?+
In our measurements of real CV layouts, a third page started at about 770–903 words, depending on the design. Around 500–800 words is a practical target for two pages at a readable font size.
Does CV length matter for applicant tracking systems?+
Length alone is not usually the issue. What matters is that the file can be read (a text-based PDF or Word file) and that your CV clearly evidences what the advert asks for. Follow any length or format limits the application gives.
How far back should a CV go?+
Give the most detail to recent, relevant roles. Summarise older jobs, for example those from more than ten years ago, in a line with the title, employer and dates, unless they are directly relevant to the job.
How long should a CV personal statement and cover letter be?+
A personal statement is usually three to five lines. A cover letter should fit on one A4 page, typically three to five short paragraphs.
See your page count as you write.
WorkCV's editor shows a live preview of every A4 page and warns you if your CV runs past two pages, with a one-click Compact design. Build and preview free; pay £7.99 once to download your CV and a matching cover letter as PDF and Word.