What is a cover sheet?
A fax cover sheet is the first page of a fax. It tells the recipient who the fax is from, who it is for, and what it is about. Much like the front of an envelope.
A typical cover sheet includes the sender's name, the recipient's name, a subject line, the number of pages, and a short message.
Why do you need one?
When a fax arrives at an office, several people may share the same fax machine. A cover sheet helps staff identify who the fax is for and route it to the right person or department.
Cover sheets are especially important when sending faxes to:
- Government offices and public agencies
- Hospitals, clinics, and medical offices
- Courts and legal departments
- Insurance companies
- Large companies with shared fax lines
Without a cover sheet, your fax may be delayed or delivered to the wrong person.
What goes on a cover sheet?
A standard fax cover sheet typically includes:
- Sender information: your name, company, phone number, and email
- Recipient information: the recipient's name and company
- Subject: a brief description of what the fax is about
- Message: a short note or instructions (optional)
- Urgency: normal, urgent, or confidential
- Page count: so the recipient knows if any pages are missing
All fields are optional. Include as much or as little as needed.
When is a cover sheet required?
Some organisations specifically ask for a cover sheet. If you are sending a fax to a government agency, hospital, or court, check their instructions. They may require specific information on the cover sheet such as a reference number or department name.
Even when not required, a cover sheet is good practice. It makes your fax look professional and helps ensure it reaches the right person.
How unofax makes it easy
unofax includes a built-in cover sheet that you can add to any fax, for free. When you send a fax on unofax, simply tick "Add cover sheet" and fill in the details you need:
- Sender name, company, phone, fax, and email
- Recipient name and company
- Subject and message
- Urgency level (normal, urgent, confidential, or for review)
All fields are optional. Fill in only what you need. The cover sheet is added as the first page of your fax automatically. The date, recipient fax number, and page count are included for you.
The cover sheet is always free of charge, regardless of the destination country.
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