Free .docx downloads · No account, no watermark
Cover Letter Templates for Word
Sixteen cover letter templates as straight .docx downloads — open in Microsoft Word, fill in the [bracketed] prompts, save a PDF, done. The business-letter bones are pre-built (letterhead, date, recipient block, salutation, closing) so the file works the moment it opens: no macros, no add-ins, no template-gallery installs. Works with Word 2010 onward, Microsoft 365, Word for Mac, and the free Word for the web.
The library, .docx-first
Sixteen designs, downloaded in seconds.
Simple, professional, and modern collections — the button on each card downloads that design as a Word file. Rather work in the cloud? Every card also has the one-click Google Docs copy.
Why the .docx
When the Word file is the right tool.
Cloud drafting is convenient, but there are solid reasons the downloaded Word file is still the professional default:
- Portals ask for it. Plenty of application systems and staffing agencies specifically request an editable .docx — recruiters reformat candidate documents for their clients. Having your letter natively in Word means never doing a lossy conversion under deadline.
- It works offline. The file is yours, on your machine — editable on a flight, at a career fair, anywhere the Wi-Fi isn’t. No sign-in, no sync state, no expiring share links.
- Print control. Handing letters over in person — career fairs, walk-in applications, interviews — Word’s print preview and margin handling give you exactly what the paper will show.
- One file, every ecosystem. The same .docx opens in Word, LibreOffice, Pages, and Google Docs. It’s the most portable format an application document can have.
The habit that ties it together: keep the filled-in .docx as your master, export a fresh PDF per application, and let the Word file be the single source of truth.
Download to send
Four steps in Word.
- Click Download Word on a template and open the
.docx. - Replace every [bracketed] prompt — the formatting is done; only the words need you.
- Save the master, then File → Save As → PDF for the copy you submit.
- Pair it with a matching resume so the packet shares one design language.
Word questions
Word cover letter FAQ
How do I edit these cover letter templates in Word?
Download the .docx, open it, and replace every [bracketed] prompt with your details — recipient, role, company, and your two or three featured results. The letterhead, spacing, and any color elements are already built; you shouldn't need to touch the formatting at all. When you're done, save a copy as PDF (File → Save As → PDF) for the version you actually submit.
Which versions of Word do these work with?
Any Word that opens .docx files — Word 2010 onward, Microsoft 365, Word for Mac, and the free Word for the web at office.com. If a very old installation opens the file in Compatibility Mode, the letter still edits fine. No macros, no plugins, no template gallery installation — each file is a plain document you open and type into.
Do I need to buy Microsoft Word to use these?
No. Word for the web at office.com is free with a Microsoft account and handles these templates comfortably — upload the .docx to OneDrive and edit in the browser. LibreOffice also opens them well if you prefer non-Microsoft software entirely. And every template on this page has a Google Docs version one click away if that's your ecosystem.
Will the fonts look right on my computer?
The templates use widely distributed fonts, and Word substitutes gracefully when a specific font isn't installed — the letter stays clean and one page. The layout-critical elements (margins, spacing, color blocks) are font-independent. As always, the PDF you export is the ground truth: check it once before submitting and what you see is what every recruiter sees.
Should I send the Word file or a PDF?
PDF, unless the employer explicitly asks for Word. A PDF renders identically everywhere and can't be accidentally edited in transit. The times you'll need the .docx: application portals that request editable files, and recruiters who reformat candidate documents for their clients — both common enough that keeping your final letter in Word format, exporting PDFs per application, is the right habit.
Microsoft Word cover letter templates · Updated July 2026
Other roads
Different format, different need.
Prefer the cloud
Google Docs Cover Letter Templates
The same sixteen designs as one-click Drive copies — autosave, sharing, edit anywhere.
Browse by need
All Cover Letter Templates
The full library organized by style, situation, and role — 34 templates, all as Word downloads.
The other half
Resume Templates
50+ role-specific categories, every one also a free .docx download.