When a business letter spills onto a second page, the new page doesn't carry the letterhead. It needs its own identifying header, placed at the top, so that any reader who picks up page two in isolation knows exactly what they're holding. Getting this header right is a mark of professional polish. Getting it wrong, or skipping it entirely, leaves a document that looks unfinished.
What a second-page header contains
A second-page header identifies three things: the recipient's name, the date of the letter, and the page number. That's it. Nothing else belongs there. The header exists to reconnect the page to the letter, not to repeat the sender's branding or add new information.
The three elements appear in this order:
- The recipient's name, exactly as it appears on the inside address of page one
- The date of the letter, in the same format used on page one
- The page number
Some writers add a reference line or subject line after the page number if the letter carries one. That's acceptable in practice, but keep it short. The header is a navigation aid, not a summary.
Two formats: block and horizontal
There are two widely accepted layouts for the second-page header. Both are correct. Your choice should match the overall style of the letter.
Block format (stacked)
Each element sits on its own line, flush left, in the same position as the left margin of the rest of the letter. This is the most common format and matches the conventions described in guides to writing a business letter date line in block format. A typical stacked header looks like this:
Ms. Andrea Bloom
8 October 2026
Page 2
Leave one blank line between the header and the body text that follows.
Horizontal format (inline)
All three elements appear on a single line, separated by spaces or tab stops, stretching across the full width of the page. The recipient's name sits at the left margin, the date centres across the page, and the page number sits at the right margin. This format suits modified block style letters and looks cleaner when you have a short recipient name and a compact date.
Ms. Andrea Bloom 8 October 2026 Page 2
Again, leave one blank line between this line and the continuation of the body.
Placement and spacing rules
Position the header one inch (2.5 cm) from the top of the page. This mirrors the top margin of page one and gives the document a consistent feel throughout. Don't push the header down to save space, and don't crowd it against the first line of text.
Page one ends mid-sentence only when absolutely unavoidable. Ideally, the page break falls at a paragraph boundary. If a break does split a sentence, carry at least two lines of the interrupted paragraph onto the new page. A second page with only a closing sentence, a complimentary close, and a signature looks sloppy regardless of how tidy the header is. Aim for at least three lines of body text before the close.
Never use a page break that leaves a heading or sub-heading at the very bottom of page one with no text beneath it. Move the heading to the top of page two instead.
Numbering beyond page two
For letters running to three or more pages, increment the page number on each header. The format stays the same: recipient name, date, page number. "Page 3" follows "Page 2" in exactly the same position. Some style guides prefer the format "3 of 4" to show the total page count. Either is acceptable; the choice is yours as long as you're consistent.
Long letters that justify three or more pages are rare in modern correspondence. If your letter is running past two pages, check whether some of the content belongs in an attachment instead, referenced with a proper enclosure line on the first page.
Common mistakes to avoid
Writers make the same errors on second-page headers. The most frequent is using the header as a letterhead substitute, adding a logo, company name, or address block. The second page is not branded stationery. It's plain paper with a plain header.
A second mistake: using "p. 2" or "2" alone, without the recipient name or date. A loose page with only a page number tells a reader almost nothing. The recipient name and date are what tie the page to the specific letter.
A third mistake is changing the recipient's name format between page one and the header. If page one addresses "Ms. Andrea Bloom," the header reads "Ms. Andrea Bloom," not "Andrea Bloom," "A. Bloom," or "Bloom." Consistency here isn't pedantry. It's professionalism.
Finally, don't confuse the second-page header with a continuation page header in a different sense. Some organisations use the term "continuation page" to describe the format as a whole. The components and logic are the same, but the label varies by house style.
When a second-page header isn't needed
If the letter fits comfortably on one page, no second-page header exists. Full stop. Don't add one to create visual structure or balance the page. That's padding, and it shows.
Some very short overflow situations, where only a signature and a closing phrase spill to a new page, call for a different solution entirely: tighten the body text so everything fits on one page. Adjusting margins, trimming wordier sentences, or cutting one redundant paragraph usually solves the problem. A second page that exists only for a sign-off is not a real second page; it's a formatting failure waiting for a fix.