A fax cover sheet lists who the fax is for (name and fax number), who it is from, the date, the total number of pages including the cover sheet, a subject or reference number, and a short message. You can fill one in for free with our fax cover sheet generator and save it as a PDF.
A cover sheet is the first page of a fax. It tells whoever picks the pages off the machine who they are for and what they are about. In offices where one fax number serves a whole department, that page often decides whether your fax reaches the right desk.
Do I need a fax cover sheet?
Not always. Many recipients accept a fax without one. But a cover sheet is a good idea when:
- the fax goes to a large office, a hospital, an insurer or a government agency,
- your letter or form gives you a case, claim or reference number,
- you send several documents at once,
- the instructions you received ask for one.
If the office sent you its own cover sheet or form, use that one.
What should a fax cover sheet include?
| Field | What to write |
|---|---|
| To | Name of the person or department, and the organization |
| Fax number | The recipient's fax number |
| Attention | Optional: a department, unit or team |
| From | Your name and, if relevant, your organization |
| Phone or fax | How the recipient can reach you if pages are missing |
| Date | The day you send the fax |
| Pages | Total number of pages, including the cover sheet |
| Re / Reference | Subject, plus any case, claim or account number |
| Message | One to three sentences on what is attached and what you need |
Sample messages you can copy
To a doctor's office
"Attached is the signed records release form for [patient name, date of birth]. Please send the records to the fax number above. Thank you."
To an insurance company
"Attached are the documents requested for claim number [number]: the itemized bill and the referral letter, 4 pages in total. Please contact me at [phone] if anything is missing."
To a government office
"Response to your letter dated [date], reference [number]. Attached: the completed form and the requested documents."
For more on faxing medical offices and insurers, see How to fax your doctor or insurance company.
What about the confidentiality notice?
Many cover sheets include a short note like "This fax is intended only for the named recipient. If you received it in error, please notify the sender and destroy all copies." It asks a wrong recipient to do the right thing, but it can't stop anyone from reading a misdialed fax. The real protection is checking the fax number before you send.
Keep sensitive details off the cover sheet itself. It's the page most likely to be seen by people walking past the machine. Put them in the attached document instead.
How do I make a cover sheet for free?
- Open the free fax cover sheet generator.
- Fill in the recipient, sender, date, page count, reference and message. You can also mark the fax as Confidential, Urgent or Private & Confidential.
- Check the live preview, then click Print / Save as PDF.
- Combine the cover sheet with your document into one PDF, for example with Preview on a Mac or any PDF tool.
- Upload the combined PDF at sendfaxfast.com and send it.
Does the cover sheet count as a page?
Yes. The cover sheet is faxed like any other page, so count it. This can matter for the price: a 5-page document plus a cover sheet is 6 pages, which is a long fax instead of a short one.
| Fax type | Pages | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Short fax | 1–5 | $2.49 |
| Long fax | 6–20 | $3.49 |
| XL fax | 21–40 | $4.99 |
| XL Fax Plus | 41–100 | from $6.24 |
Prices per fax as of October 2026, the same for the US & Canada (+1), Australia (+61), New Zealand (+64), and 39 more supported countries. XL Fax Plus costs $4.99 plus $1.25 for each started 10 pages beyond 40. Maximum 100 pages per fax. Single faxes need no account and no subscription.
Faxing from ChatGPT, Claude or Grok? Your AI assistant can help you write the message for the cover sheet, and with AI fax credits it can send the fax for you too.
Common cover sheet mistakes
- Wrong page count. The recipient can't tell if pages are missing.
- No reference number. Your fax may sit in a pile until someone finds the right file.
- No way to reach you. Add a phone number or email address.
- Too much text. Keep the message short; the details belong in the document.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fax cover sheet required?
Not always. It's optional for most recipients, but it helps your fax reach the right person, especially at large offices. If the recipient asks for one, include it.
Where can I get a free fax cover sheet?
Use the free cover sheet generator at sendfaxfast.com/fax-cover.php. Fill in the fields, check the preview and save it as a PDF.
Do I count the cover sheet in the number of pages?
Yes. Write the total number of pages including the cover sheet. It is also counted as a page for the fax price.
Should I put personal information on the cover sheet?
Keep it to what the recipient needs to route the fax, such as a name and a reference number. Put sensitive details in the attached document.
Does a confidentiality notice protect my fax?
No. It only asks a wrong recipient to notify you and destroy the copy. The best protection is to double-check the fax number before sending.