Draft your press release above and keep it inside the length journalists actually read.
Press Release Length Standards
| Element | Target |
|---|---|
| Total length | 400–600 words |
| Headline | Under 100 characters (65–80 ideal) |
| Lead paragraph | 25–40 words |
| Boilerplate (about section) | ~100 words |
| Quotes | 1–2, each under 50 words |
Guidelines reviewed as of July 2026.
One Page or It Doesn't Get Read
Journalists receive hundreds of releases a day and triage them in seconds. The standard 400–600 words exists because it fits on one page and forces the inverted pyramid: everything essential — who, what, when, where, why — in the first paragraph, supporting detail below, boilerplate at the bottom. If the news cannot survive that compression, it is not ready to send.
Structure Tips
- Headline under 100 characters: wire services and email clients truncate longer ones; state the news, skip the hype.
- The lead is the release. Assume nothing after paragraph one gets read and write accordingly.
- Quotes add voice, not facts — put data in the body and opinion in the quote.
- End with boilerplate + contact. A release without a reachable media contact is a dead end.
Can a press release be longer for big announcements?
Financial and regulatory releases sometimes must be longer, but even then the first 400 words should stand alone — everything past page one is reference material, not story.
Does the boilerplate count toward the ideal length?
Yes — the 400–600 word target includes your headline, body, quotes, and the ~100-word boilerplate. If the release runs long, the boilerplate is the first place to trim; journalists read it last, if at all.
👉 Turning the news into content? Check ideal blog post length