How to Format a Screenplay: The Complete Guide
Quick answer: Screenplay formatting uses 12-point Courier font with specific margins for each element: scene headings, action, character names, dialogue, parentheticals, and transitions. One correctly formatted page equals roughly one minute of screen time. Free Screenwriter handles all formatting automatically.
In This Guide
Why Screenplay Formatting Matters
Formatting is not a style choice — it is a communication system. Every professional in the film industry reads scripts formatted the same way. Scene headings tell the production team where to shoot. Action lines describe what the audience sees. Dialogue formatting tells actors where their lines are. When your script deviates from standard formatting, you signal that you are an amateur before anyone reads a word of your story. Readers at agencies and production companies process hundreds of scripts. Incorrect formatting is the fastest way to get your screenplay rejected. The good news: formatting rules are straightforward, and modern screenwriting software like Free Screenwriter handles them automatically. Learn the rules so you understand why they exist, then let the software enforce them.
The Core Elements of a Screenplay
Every screenplay contains six primary elements. Scene headings (slug lines) open each scene with INT. or EXT., the location, and the time of day — for example, INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT. Action lines describe what the camera sees: physical movement, visual details, and what characters do (not what they think). Character names appear in ALL CAPS centered above their dialogue, with a 3.7-inch left margin. Dialogue sits beneath the character name at a 2.5-inch left margin with a roughly 3.5-inch right margin. Parentheticals — brief acting directions like (whispering) — go between the character name and the dialogue, used sparingly. Transitions like CUT TO: and FADE OUT sit flush right. Modern scripts rarely use transitions except for FADE IN at the beginning and FADE OUT at the end.
Margins, Font, and Page Setup
Screenplay format uses 12-point Courier or Courier New — a monospaced font where every character occupies the same width. This is what makes the one-page-per-minute rule possible. Page margins are 1.5 inches on the left (to account for brads in physical scripts) and 1 inch on the right, top, and bottom. Action runs from the left margin to the right margin. Dialogue is indented to sit roughly centered on the page. Scene headings are left-aligned and capitalized. Page numbers appear in the top-right corner starting on page two. The title page is separate and includes the title centered, "written by" and the author name below, and contact information in the lower-right corner.
Scene Headings and Action Lines
Scene headings always start with INT. (interior) or EXT. (exterior), followed by the location and time of day, separated by hyphens. INT./EXT. is used for scenes that move between inside and outside. Keep locations consistent — if you call it SARAH'S APARTMENT in scene one, do not switch to SARAH'S PLACE in scene twelve. Action lines are written in present tense. Describe only what the audience can see and hear. "John is nervous" is directing; "John's hands tremble as he reaches for the glass" is screenwriting. Keep action paragraphs to four lines maximum. White space makes scripts readable. A dense block of action signals a writer who does not understand that screenplays are read quickly and need to flow visually down the page.
Dialogue, Parentheticals, and Transitions
Character names appear in ALL CAPS the first time in action and every time above dialogue. Dialogue should sound like natural speech — contractions, fragments, interruptions. An em dash (--) indicates interrupted dialogue. Ellipses (...) indicate trailing off. Parentheticals are a last resort. If the dialogue clearly implies the tone, skip the parenthetical. "(angrily)" before an angry line is redundant. Use parentheticals only when the delivery contradicts what the words suggest — a character saying "I'm fine" while clearly breaking down. For dual dialogue (two characters speaking simultaneously), the character names and dialogue blocks appear side by side. Most screenwriting software handles this formatting automatically.
Common Formatting Mistakes
The most common mistake is camera directions. Writers insert CLOSE ON, PAN TO, and ANGLE ON throughout their scripts. This is the director's job. Describe what matters visually and trust the director to frame it. Second: walls of text. If your action paragraph exceeds four lines, break it up. Readers skim action blocks — dense paragraphs get skipped. Third: over-parenthetical dialogue. Let your dialogue carry its own tone. Fourth: inconsistent scene headings. DAY, NIGHT, DUSK, DAWN, CONTINUOUS, MOMENTS LATER — pick consistent terms and stick with them. Fifth: numbering scenes. Do not number scenes in a spec script. Scene numbers are added during production. Free Screenwriter prevents most of these mistakes by enforcing proper formatting as you write.
Frequently Asked Questions
What font do screenplays use?
12-point Courier or Courier New. This monospaced font ensures each page equals approximately one minute of screen time. Never use Times New Roman, Arial, or any other font in a screenplay.
How long should a screenplay be?
Feature screenplays typically run 90 to 120 pages. Comedies often land closer to 90-100 pages, dramas around 100-115, and action films sometimes reach 120. One page equals roughly one minute of screen time.
Do I need screenwriting software to format correctly?
You can format a screenplay manually in any word processor, but it is tedious and error-prone. Screenwriting software like Free Screenwriter automatically applies correct margins, font, and element formatting as you type, letting you focus on writing instead of spacing.
What is the difference between spec format and shooting format?
Spec format is what you write — no scene numbers, minimal camera directions, focused on story. Shooting format adds scene numbers, camera angles, and production notes. Always write in spec format unless a production has hired you and specifically requests shooting format.
Start Writing Free
Industry-standard formatting, AI script coverage, and story structure tools — all free, forever. No credit card required.
Start Writing — Free