You may already know that your emails are important. Even though email may seem like a casual form of communication, your emails make an impact.
Most importantly, how you sign off from your emails makes a difference.
Whether you're applying for a job, selling a product, writing to your boss, or sending a quick note to a coworker—your email sign off is important. It may be the last thing that the recipient reads in your email. Also, your email sign off can identify your personality and who you are.
For more detailed discussion on how to write a professional email, read:
This post, however, is focused on closing a professional email. I'll cover two important points. First, I'll discuss the importance of using an email signature template as part of your professional email sign off. Secondly, I'll give you a giant list of email sign offs you can put to immediate use and quickly explain when each is the best strategic fit.
1. Use a Professional Email Signature Template
One of the best things you can do to make your email closings memorable is to include a signature template.
Sure, you can (and should) type in a personalized closing each time you send an email. But with a typed-in closing it's all too easy to forget to include important information (such as your phone number). With a professional email signature template, you'll never have that to worry about. All your contact information is included in the email signature and most email systems can be set up to include your email signature template automatically.
Plus, professional email signature templates are attractive. They can be set up quickly to reflect your unique business branding, including your logo and color scheme. They help your business emails to look better and more professional.
For example, which closing stands out as better?
Example 1. Without a Professional Email Signature Template
Example 2. With a Professional Email Signature Template
If you're like most people, you'll probably agree that the second email closing is more eye-catching. It also contains more information about the sender, such as the email address and links to their social media accounts.
The popular Email Signature Template Pack is used in the example above. It's easy to work with and customize quickly. Professional email signature templates are easy to find and use.
Discover a wide variety of great email signature templates on Envato Elements. Or, dive into more great email signature template options in this curated selection:
So, we've discussed the importance of email signature templates. Now, let's take a closer look at the best email sign off phrase you should type in above your email signature.
2. A Giant List of the Best Email Sign Offs
So, we've already established that an email signature template beneath your name is a great way to make a memorable and professional impression. But what should the last line before your name say?
The answer varies depending on your situation. There are literally hundreds of ways to close an email, but not all of them are professional or appropriate for every situation. Email closings can be divided into three categories:
- Formal. Use this type of email closing in a business email to someone who has authority over you or to someone you don't know very well. Many corporate cultures favor the formal email sign off.
- Semi-formal. Use this type of email sign off in a less formal business situation and with those you know well. Some businesses foster a less formal environment and these email closings work well there.
- Casual. In most cases, you'll reserve casual email closing for personal acquaintances, although they are sometimes used in marketing emails or more creative businesses.
Make sure to match your email closing to the tone and style of the email you're sending. You wouldn't want to add a casual email sign off to a formal email, or vice versa.
If you're not sure whether a formal or semi-formal tone is appropriate for the business you are in, look for clues in the emails you receive. If most of them have formal closings, you are probably safer to adopt a formal closing for your own emails. If you're still not sure, though, it's safer to stay on the formal side.
30 Best Email Sign Offs (Formal and Semi-Formal)
In the list below, I've included 30 of the most popular business email sign offs with a few suggestions about when to use each one:
- All the Best (Formal). This formal email closing is a safe way to end many different types of emails.
- Always (Semi-Formal). This semi-formal email closing is sort of vague and leads itself to the question: "Always what?"
- Anxiously Awaiting Your Response (Semi-Formal). This closing would only be appropriate in certain situations. For example, you could use it if you just sent out a proposal.
- Best (Semi-Formal). A good, general purpose email closing that could be used for many different business and personal situations.
- Best Regards (Semi-Formal). This semi-formal email closing is slightly more formal than the single word "Best" email closing.
- Best Wishes (Formal). A great formal email closing to use to foster good will. Who wouldn't want someone's best wishes?
- Cheers (Semi-Formal). This British-sounding email closing may sound fake to some readers, especially if you're not British.
- Cordially (Formal). This is a formal email closing that has fallen out of common use. For that reason, it sounds somewhat old-fashioned.
- Emphatically (Semi-Formal). This semi-formal email closing could be used for certain emails, especially if you feel strongly about the content.
- Good Luck (Semi-Formal). This email sign off is like "Best Wishes" and can help foster good will.
- Have a Great Day (Semi-Formal). Another positive semi-formal email closing. I know I like to receive this email closing and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
- Hopefully Yours (Semi-Formal). A semi-formal email sign off that sounds somewhat old-fashioned.
- Hope to Hear from You Soon (Semi-Formal). This could be a good way to close an email, but only if you really want to hear back from the recipient.
- Kind Regards (Formal). This formal email closing is safe to use for a wide variety of business situations.
- Looking forward to [Blank] (Semi-Formal). In this semi-formal greeting, you fill in the blank with what you are looking forward to.
- Regards (Semi-Formal). Although this email sign off is generally thought of as semi-formal, it is more formal than many email endings.
- Respectfully (Formal). This is a great formal email closing for email to your boss, teacher, or someone else in authority.
- See You Soon (Semi-Formal). Use this semi-formal way to close your email if you expect to see the recipient soon.
- Sincerely (Semi-Formal). This safe semi-formal email closing borders on formal. It will work for many different situations.
- Sincerely Yours (Formal). This is the classic letter closing/email closing that many of us learned in school.
- Take Care (Semi-Formal). A quick confession—this used to be my favorite email closing until a colleague found it annoying.
- Thanks in Advance (Semi-Formal). This semi-formal email closing could be seen as manipulative by some. Don't overdo it.
- Thanks for Your Consideration (Semi-Formal). The Thanks family of semi-formal email sign offs can be quite effective, but only if you are actually thankful.
- Thoughtfully Yours (Semi-Formal). You could possibly use this email closing in a response to another email, especially if your opinion differs from the original sender's opinion.
- Warmly (Semi-Formal). This is a rather vague, but safe way to close an email.
- Your Friend (Semi-Formal). Use this for a business colleague, but only if it's true. Nobody wants a fake friend.
- Your Prompt Response Is Appreciated. Use this only for situations when you need an answer from the recipient right away.
- Yours (Semi-Formal). By limiting this closing to a single word, as opposed to Yours Truly, the closing becomes semi-formal.
- Yours Faithfully (Formal). This formal email closing sounds a little dated and old-fashioned.
- Yours Truly (Formal). This is another classic way to close a formal letter or email. Use it for more formal business communications.
As you've probably noticed, there are far more semi-formal email closings than formal ones. Also, semi-formal email closings allow for more variation and personal expression.
The right email sign off can play to your strengths by reflecting your personality. If you want to portray yourself as being friendly, try a positive email closing, such as "Have a nice day". To come across as creative, avoid common closings in favor of something clever or inspiring.
For even more details on how to write an email closing as well as more email closing examples, read:
Bonus: Quirky Email Sign Offs
So, you want your email to really stand out and you don't care what anyone thinks. Maybe you enjoy sounding different, you have a unique personal brand, or you want to be thought of as eccentric. Or, perhaps you're in a creative field and have more leeway.
A quirky email sign off can definitely help you to stand out—although not always in a good way. Unless you're adventurous or just don't care what others think, you'll probably want to reserve the quirky email closing for casual, personal emails.
5 Creative Email Sign Offs (Fun, Funny, Clever, & More)
If you're interested in using a unique, casual email closing it's not as hard to do as you might think. Here's how you can build your own unique and quirky email closing:
- Use a movie quote. This is a fun type of email sign off. From the infamous Star Wars line "May the force be with you" to the phrase "Show me the money" from Jerry Maguire, many movies have quotable lines that can double as a memorable email closing.
- Use a quote from literature or philosophy. Attribute the source. For example, here's a quote from literature that could work—Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started." Who knows? You may inspire a discussion or at least encourage someone to read.
- Turn a traditional closing upside down. This is a clever type of sign off for emails and can come across in the right context as witty or funny. For example, instead of "Take Care" you could end your email with "Could Care Less". Or, instead of "Have a Great Day" you could sign off with "Have a Day".
- Cop an attitude. You know how teens roll their eyes when they don't like what they're being told? Grab some teen attitude by using common teen expressions like "Whatever" and "So What" to close your emails.
- Tell a joke. Humor can also make your email closings stand out. When adding a humorous closing, keep your audience in mind. Remember that different people find different things funny.
The key to a quirky email closing is to do something unexpected and outside of the norm. Be creative with your email sign off. Be different and your email sign off will probably come across as quirky or unique. Take the examples above as inspiration to make some of your own great sign off lines.
Make the Right Impression With Your Email Closings
Your email sign off leaves an impression on whoever receives your email.
Don't wait until just before you send your email to try to come up with a professional sign off. Instead, use this giant list of email sign offs to find the best closing for your needs. Remember, different email sign offs fit various situations best.
Whether you're sending an email to a coworker or a message to go out to your email list, the right sign off can help motivate recipients to action and make your email messages more memorable.
And for professional business emails, don't forget to include a signature template to give your email a more professional look and feel. A signature template can insure that your business information is always included with your email and that your branding is consistent.
How do you sign off on your business, marketing, or personal emails? Share some of your favorite email closings in the comments below.
