When you are trying to squeeze that last bullet point onto a single page, it is tempting to just drag the margins all the way to the edge of the paper. Don't do it.

Resume margins exist for a reason. They create "white space" that gives the recruiter's eyes a rest and makes the document readable. If your text runs edge-to-edge, your resume looks like a wall of text, and the recruiter will skip it.

In this guide
  1. The standard resume margin size
  2. How small can resume margins be?
  3. Alignment and spacing rules

The standard resume margin size

The standard margin size for a professional resume is 1 inch on all four sides (top, bottom, left, and right). This is the default setting in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

If you have 5-7 years of experience or less, a 1-inch margin is perfect. It frames the content nicely and ensures that if the recruiter prints your resume, none of the text gets cut off by the printer.

How small can resume margins be?

If you have 10+ years of experience and are struggling to fit everything onto one or two pages, you can reduce your margins. But there is a hard limit.

The absolute minimum margin size for a resume is 0.5 inches.

If you go smaller than half an inch:

  • The text will look cramped and overwhelming.
  • ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) parsers might misread the text closest to the edge.
  • Physical printers will cut off the first and last letters of your sentences.

If your margins are already at 0.5 inches and your resume still spills over, you do not need smaller margins. You need to edit your content. Cut older jobs, remove irrelevant bullet points, or transition to a two-page resume.

Alignment and spacing rules

Margins are only half the battle. To make your resume truly readable, follow these spacing rules:

  • Left alignment: Always align your main text to the left. Do not use "Justified" text alignment. Justified text creates weird, uneven gaps between words that are distracting to read.
  • Line spacing: Keep your line spacing at 1.0 or 1.15. Anything larger (like 1.5) wastes valuable space.
  • Section spacing: Leave a slightly larger gap (like 6pt or 8pt spacing) between different sections (e.g., between Experience and Education) to clearly separate them.