How to Adjust the Space Between “Sincerely” and Your Name in scrlttr2

In a letter made with KOMA-Script’s scrlttr2 class, the space between a closing such as “Sincerely,” and the printed signature is controlled by the sigbeforevskip pseudolength. Set it with \setplength to increase or decrease the gap.

Adjust the signature gap

Put this command in the preamble, before \begin{document}:

\setplength{sigbeforevskip}{1cm}

Increase 1cm to leave more room for a handwritten signature, or use a smaller value to bring your name closer to the closing. For example, 0pt removes the extra vertical skip controlled by this pseudolength.

The value is a TeX length, so you can use units such as pt, mm, or cm. You can also use a relative length such as 2\baselineskip if you want the gap to scale with the document’s line spacing.

Complete example

This minimal example uses the scrlttr2 class and sets a one-centimetre gap before the signature. It requires a KOMA-Script installation, which is included in standard TeX distributions.

\documentclass{scrlttr2}

\setkomavar{fromname}{Alex Example}
\setkomavar{fromaddress}{10 Example Street\\Example City}
\setkomavar{signature}{Alex Example}

\setplength{sigbeforevskip}{1cm}

\begin{document}

\begin{letter}{Jordan Reader\\20 Sample Road\\Sample Town}
\opening{Dear Jordan,}

Thank you for your letter. I will be pleased to attend the meeting.

\closing{Sincerely,}
\end{letter}

\end{document}

The signature variable supplies the printed name, while sigbeforevskip sets the vertical space before it. Change only the length to tune the gap; for example, try 5mm for less space or 2cm for more. The exact appearance can also depend on the surrounding letter layout and font.

What the setting changes

sigbeforevskip adjusts the separation between the closing text and the signature block. It does not move the entire letter on the page or alter the horizontal position of the signature. If the name is too far left or right, that is a separate layout adjustment; the KOMA-Script pseudolength sigindent is relevant to signature indentation.

The example puts the setting in the preamble, so it is used throughout the document. If you are changing a letter with multiple pages or a customized template, check the compiled output: the letter class and other layout settings determine the final placement.

Common mistakes

• Changing the wrong variable: sigindent affects horizontal indentation, not the vertical gap above the name.
• Adding manual line breaks: Inserting \\ into the closing may create awkward or inconsistent spacing. Use the class’s spacing control instead.
• Expecting 0pt to remove every gap: It sets the pseudolength to zero, but normal line and paragraph layout can still affect the visible separation.
• Editing the name instead of the spacing: The signature variable controls what is printed; sigbeforevskip controls the gap before it.

For class-specific options and other letter-layout lengths, consult the KOMA-Script manual.