Standard Screenplay Format: Margins, Font and Indents
Industry standard screenplays must be formatted in 12pt Courier font with specific margin offsets from the paper's left edge:
- Left Page Margin: 1.5 inches (provides physical space for three-hole brad binding).
- Right Page Margin: 1.0 inch.
- Top & Bottom Margins: 1.0 inch (yielding approximately 54–55 lines per page).
- Character Heading Indent: 3.7 inches from the left edge (centered block).
- Dialogue Block Indent: 2.5 inches from the left edge (right margin at 6.0 inches).
- Parenthetical Indent: 3.1 inches from the left edge.
Screenplay Formatting Rules for Each Script Element
| Script Element | Left Margin Offset | Right Boundary | Casing / Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scene Heading (Slugline) | 1.5 inches | 7.5 inches | ALL CAPS (e.g. INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT) |
| Action Paragraph | 1.5 inches | 7.5 inches | Sentence case, active present tense |
| Character Name | 3.7 inches | 7.5 inches | ALL CAPS centered over dialogue |
| Parenthetical | 3.1 inches | 5.5 inches | Lowercase inside parentheses (whispering) |
| Dialogue Block | 2.5 inches | 6.0 inches | Sentence case (never justified) |
| Transition | 6.0 inches | 7.5 inches | ALL CAPS right-aligned (CUT TO:) |
Screenplay Format Example: A Properly Formatted Page
EXT. HIGHWAY 285 - NIGHT
Telephone poles blur beneath headlights. The desert wind WHISTLES through open window vents.
Inside the cab of a beat-up Ford pickup, MOSS grips the wheel. His knuckles are white with tension.
MOSS
(under his breath)
Just five more miles to the interstate. Don't look back.
A set of high beams appears in the rearview mirror. Accelerating fast.
CUT TO:
Screenplay Format FAQ: Common Script Formatting Questions
Many feature screenplays fall around 90–120 pages, depending on genre, pacing, and production needs. Treat this as a common range, not a hard rule; the story and intended format determine the appropriate length.
A conventional spec screenplay uses 12-point Courier or a compatible monospaced screenplay font. Monospaced characters help maintain consistent page layout and rough page-to-screen-time expectations.
Start with INT. for an interior or EXT. for an exterior, name the location, then add the time of day, such as INT. MOTEL ROOM — NIGHT. Keep the heading concise and in uppercase.
A spec screenplay is written to communicate the story clearly without production-heavy camera instructions. A shooting script is prepared for production and may include scene numbers, locked pages, and other planning details.
(O.S.) stands for Off-Screen: The character is physically in the scene's location (such as yelling from the next room), but not visible to the camera. (V.O.) stands for Voice-Over: The character is not physically present in the room; their voice comes from narration, telephone calls, or internal monologue.
Always left-aligned (ragged right). Never justify screenplay text, as justifying creates uneven letter-spacing that disrupts the monospaced Courier timing.
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