Screenplay Margins — Exact Measurements for Every Element
Standard screenplay margins explained: 1.5" left margin, 1" top/right/bottom, and the exact indent for dialogue, character names, parentheticals, and transitions.
Correct screenplay margins are the foundation of industry format. Every measurement exists to keep the timing rule — one page ≈ one minute — consistent across every script in the world. Here are the exact numbers and what each one is for.
Page-Level Margins
| Margin | Size |
|---|---|
| Left | 1.5" (3.81 cm) |
| Right | 1.0" (2.54 cm) |
| Top | 1.0" (2.54 cm) |
| Bottom | 1.0" (2.54 cm) |
Why Is the Left Margin Wider?
The extra half-inch on the left leaves room for binding and hole-punching — scripts are physically fastened on the left side. The asymmetry is deliberate: text is never punched through, and the page stays readable when printed and bound.
Page Numbers
- Placed in the top right corner, followed by a period:
2. - 0.5" from the top of the page, flush with the 1" right margin
- The title page is not numbered; page 1 is the first page of your script — and it usually doesn't show a number either
Element Indents (From the Left Edge of the Page)
| Element | Indent from page edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scene heading | 1.5" | Flush with left margin |
| Action | 1.5" | Same as scene heading |
| Character cue | 3.7" | ALL CAPS, on its own line |
| Parenthetical | 3.1" | Width ≈ 2" |
| Dialogue | 2.5" | Width ≈ 3.5" (ends ≈ 1" from right edge) |
| Transition | 6.0" (or right-aligned) | CUT TO: |
The Full Layout, Visualized
1.5" 2.5" 3.1" 3.7" 6.0"
| | | | |
INT. COFFEE SHOP — DAY
Rain streaks the windows. MARA VOSS (30) slides
into a corner booth, shaking out her umbrella.
MARA
(to the waiter)
Coffee. Black. And keep it coming.
CUT TO:A Worked Example
INT. COFFEE SHOP — DAY
Rain streaks the windows. MARA VOSS (30) slides into a
corner booth, shaking out her umbrella. She keeps one
eye on the door.
MARA
(to the waiter)
Coffee. Black.
WAITER
(O.S.)
Kitchen's closed.
MARA
The coffee machine isn't.Line Spacing
- Single spacing within dialogue and action blocks
- One blank line between elements (scene heading → action, action → dialogue)
- Two blank lines before a scene heading (optional, but improves scanning)
A standard page holds 55–61 lines of Courier 12pt. That density is what makes the page-per-minute estimate work.
Setting Up Margins in Word and Google Docs
- Set the font to Courier (or Courier New), 12 pt — non-negotiable, see Screenplay Font
- Set page margins to 1.5" left, 1" right, 1" top, 1" bottom
- Create paragraph styles for each element (action, character, dialogue, parenthetical) using the indents in the table above
- Add a right-aligned header with the page number
You'll redo this setup every time you start a new document — which is exactly why most writers eventually move to software that handles it.
Never think about margins again. Scripta formats every element to industry-standard measurements automatically — dialogue width, parenthetical indents, page numbers, everything. Write your screenplay free →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do screenplay margins really matter?
Yes. A script that deviates from standard margins reads at a different speed, breaks the page-per-minute estimate, and signals inexperience to professional readers. Margins are the cheapest credibility you'll ever buy.
What are screenplay margins in centimeters?
Left: 3.81 cm. Right, top, bottom: 2.54 cm each. Dialogue starts 6.35 cm from the page edge; character cues at 9.4 cm.
Can I just use 1" margins everywhere?
You can, but your script will run longer than its true screen time and look subtly "off" to experienced readers. The 1.5" left margin also exists for binding — see above.
How wide is the dialogue column?
About 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) — roughly 35 characters per line. That constraint is intentional: it forces dialogue to sound like speech, not prose.
Related Pages
- Screenplay Font — why Courier is mandatory
- How Long Is a Screenplay? — how margins drive page counts
- Formatting Dialogue — the dialogue block in detail
- Scene Headings — writing the line that starts every scene
Screenplay Format
The complete guide to industry-standard screenplay format — margins, fonts, sluglines, dialogue, transitions, montages, flashbacks, and Fountain syntax, with examples for every element.
What Font Are Screenplays Written In?
Screenplays use Courier 12pt — Courier Final Draft, Courier New, or Courier Prime. Here's why monospace matters, which variant to pick, and what never to use.