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Standard Screenplay Margins, Indents, Fonts and Spacing

Margins

Screenplay margins are calculated from the edge of a standard 8.5″ x 11″ (Letter) page.

  • Left Margin: 1.5 inches. This leaves extra room on the left side for binding or hole-punching.
  • Right Margin: 1.0 inch (or a ragged right edge between 1.0 and 1.25 inches).
  • Top Margin: 1.0 inch to the first line of text.
  • Bottom Margin: 1.0 inch from the last line of text.

Element Indentations (From Left Edge)

While the overall page margins are set, individual script elements require specific horizontal indents:

  • Scene Headings & Action: Start exactly at the 1.5-inch left margin.
  • Character Names: Indented to 3.7 inches (or roughly 2.2 inches from the left margin).
  • Parentheticals: Indented to 3.1 inches (or roughly 1.6 inches from the left margin).
  • Dialogue: Indented to 2.5 inches (or exactly 1.0 inch from the left margin).
  • Transitions: Indented to 6.0 inches (or right-aligned at the 1.0-inch right margin).

Line Spacing Rules

  • Text Lines: All text blocks (dialogue, action paragraphs) must be single-spaced.
  • Element Breaks: A single blank line (double-space) always separates scene headings, action paragraphs, and character dialogue blocks.
  • Action Paragraphs: Keep action blocks under 4 to 5 lines maximum to maintain white space on the page.

Font and Page Constraints

  • Font: Courier or Courier Prime only. No other fonts are acceptable.
  • Font Size: Exactly 12-point.
  • Pitch: Exactly 10 pitch (10 characters per horizontal inch).

Format for a Professional Title Page

A professional spec script title page must be completely blank except for the title, author information, and contact details. It uses standard Courier 12-point font, single-spacing, and no decorative graphics.

Layout and Placement

All text is vertically distributed on a standard 8.5″ x 11″ page using the following line-count guide:

  • Top Margin: 2.0 to 2.5 inches of empty space from the top edge.
  • The Title: Centered horizontally on line 22. Write it in ALL CAPS. It can be bolded, but do not underline or italicize it.
  • The “By” Line: Centered horizontally on line 24 or 25. Write “by” or “written by” in lowercase letters.
  • The Author(s): Centered horizontally on line 27 or 28. List your name or names.
  • Contact Information: Placed at the bottom left or bottom right corner (lines 50–54). Single-space this block.

Information to Include

Keep the page minimal. Include only the bare essentials required by industry professionals:

  • Title (ALL CAPS)
  • By line and Writer’s Name
  • Source Material (Only if it is an adaptation, e.g., “Based on the novel by…”)
  • Contact Details: A single email address and phone number is standard.
  • Representation: If you have a manager or agent, put their contact details in the bottom corner instead of your own.

Things to Leave Off (Crucial for Spec Scripts)

Including the wrong information immediately marks you as an amateur to script readers:

  • No Date or Draft Numbers: Dates and draft colors (e.g., “White Draft”) are only for production scripts. Spec scripts should look timeless.
  • No Copyright or WGA Numbers: Do not write “Copyright ©” or “WGA Registered” on the page. It is legally redundant and signals a lack of industry experience.
  • No Logline or Synopsis: Keep the summary of your movie out of the script file.
  • No Images: Never include concept art, logos, or illustrations.