An email sign off is your final signature at the bottom of an email. Using the right email sign off projects a level of respect & courtesy to the email recipient. However, using the wrong email sign off can be disrespectful or insulting.
There are dozens & dozens of different ways to end an email. The phrases “best regards”, “sincerely”, and “yours truly” are amongst the most popular sign offs. In this post, we’ll bring you 50+ different email sign offs that you can use.
We’ll also break down the difference in business email sign offs & give you a free list of various professional email sign offs you can take.
What Is An Email Sign Off?
An email sign-off is the phrase or statement that marks the conclusion of an email message. It is also called an email signature by some writers.
The most common email sign-off use in a variety of contexts is “best regards.” If you have ever emailed for business, school, or fun, chances are you’ve seen this exact sign off!
Email sign-offs are used by a wide range of people for a wide range of purposes. Professions & fields such as executives, educators, healthcare workers, artists, and even students all utilize email sign-offs. The hard part is choosing the right sign off for your specific situation.
Why Are Email Sign Offs Important?
Email sign-offs are important because they convey professionalism, show respect, and provide closure. A well-chosen email sign-off shows respect for the recipient and helps to establish a positive impression.
Picking the right email sign off is also important because it creates a certain tone for your email. It can prevent the recipient from misinterpreting your tone or message. Choosing the right email sign off helps to convey your intentions clearly.
50 Email Sign Off Examples
Here are the 50 email sign offs that you can use to wrap up your emails.
- Best regards. A versatile and professional choice suitable for most formal and semi-formal business emails.
- Sincerely. Ideal for formal business correspondence, such as job applications and cover letters.
- Yours truly. Classic and formal, often used in legal or official documents.
- Yours sincerely. A slightly warmer variation of “sincerely” suitable for business emails and letters.
- Kind regards. Polite and friendly, commonly used in professional emails.
- Warm regards. Conveys a bit more warmth and personal connection than “kind regards,” good for friendly work-related emails.
- With gratitude. Expresses appreciation and is fitting for emails where you’re thanking someone.
- Cheers. Informal and friendly, often used among colleagues or acquaintances.
- Best. Casual and commonly used in quick, friendly emails or with close contacts.
- Regards. A simple and widely accepted sign-off for most business emails.
- Cordially. Adds a touch of formality and politeness.
- Yours faithfully. Traditional for formal business letters, especially when you don’t know the recipient’s name.
- Take care. Warm and friendly, suitable for emails to friends or colleagues.
- All the best. A friendly and casual sign-off appropriate for most situations.
- In appreciation. Indicates gratitude and is great for thank-you emails.
- With appreciation. A more formal way to express gratitude.
- Yours faithfully. Traditional in British English for formal letters.
- Fondly. Indicates affection and is suitable for informal emails to friends or close colleagues.
- Yours. Simple and personal, used in both formal and informal emails.
- Respectfully. Formal and respectful, often used in professional communication.
- With respect. A slightly warmer way to convey respect in a professional context.
- Yours cordially. A formal sign-off with a touch of warmth.
- Yours truly. Classic and formal, suitable for a wide range of business emails.
- Many thanks. Expresses gratitude and is fitting for emails of appreciation.
- Yours in friendship. Warm and personal, appropriate for friendly emails.
- Yours in solidarity. Used when expressing support or unity with the recipient.
- In appreciation. Indicates gratitude and is great for thank-you emails.
- Until next time. Ideal for ending emails with the expectation of future contact.
- Be well. A warm and friendly sign-off, often used in personal emails.
- With warmest wishes. Friendly and heartfelt, suitable for personal correspondence.
- Yours in thanks. Expresses gratitude and appreciation.
- Yours in service. Suitable for formal business correspondence, especially in service-oriented roles.
- Warmest regards. Expresses warmth and is appropriate for friendly business emails.
- With best wishes. Conveys good wishes and is often used in personal emails.
- With kind regards. A polite and friendly sign-off for professional emails.
- Yours with appreciation. Formal and appreciative.
- Ever so sincerely. Very formal and polite, suitable for business correspondence.
- Yours in appreciation. Expresses gratitude formally.
- Yours as always. Indicates a consistent and ongoing relationship.
- Yours for now. Suitable for casual, temporary, or transitional situations.
- In friendship and gratitude. Expresses warmth and appreciation, ideal for personal emails.
- In sincere appreciation. A formal way to convey heartfelt thanks.
- Wishing you the best. Suitable for well-wishing and positive sentiments.
- Yours with thanks. Formal and appreciative.
- Warmest thoughts. Conveys warmth and good wishes, appropriate for personal emails.
- With kindest regards. A friendly and polite sign-off.
- In respect and appreciation. Suitable for formal emails where respect and gratitude are emphasized.
- Until we speak again. Suggests future communication and is ideal for maintaining connections.
- Sending good vibes. Informal and friendly, suitable for casual emails.
- With heartfelt thanks. Formal and deeply appreciative.
What Is The Best Way To End A Business Email?
The best way to end a business email largely depends on the specific context and the relationship between the sender and the recipient. You need to ask yourself some questions before choosing the best professional email sign off.
- Am I emailing an intern?
- Am I emailing my boss?
- Am I emailing a potential customer?
“Best regards” is the best and most widely accepted business email sign-off is. This expression coveys the appropriate level of politeness and professionalism regardless of the business contact you’re emailing.
There are other business email sign offs you can choose including “respectfully”, “thank you”, or “sincerely”. All of these can work & convey a similar message and respectful tone to the recipient.
Just remember that business emails differ from emails from friends & family. Emails with friends are typically more relaxed, informal, and may even have some jokes or friendly banter. Using overly casual or inappropriate language can give the impression of unprofessionalism or rudeness.
What Should You Consider Before Picking Your Email Sign Off?
Below are the 3 main things that you should consider before picking your email sign off.
- Nature of the Relationship. Think about your relationship with the recipient. You should not speak to all people the same way.
- Context Matters. Take into account the purpose and context of the email (i.e. job application, client meeting, friendly catch-up).
- Cultural Sensitivity. Consider the cultural norms and practices of the person you are emailing. You do not want to accidentally offend someone.
What Should You Not Do When Ending An Email?
Closing an email inappropriately can leave a negative impression. Here are some of the worst ways to close an email.
- Not using an email sign off.
- Use of overly familiar or casual language.
- Use of inappropriate jokes.
- Use of abbreviated sign-offs like “K” or “Thx”.
- Use of overly long sign offs that can be distracting.
Remember, the tone and style of your email sign-off should align with the overall tone of your message and the nature of your relationship with the person receiving the email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, email sign-offs can influence professional communication by conveying respect, professionalism, and the tone of the message.
No, there isn’t a universally “best” way to end an email, as the choice of sign-off depends on factors such as the context, your relationship with the recipient, and cultural norms.
The Bottom Line
No you should be an expert on how to end an email. In some cases, email sign offs are just as important as the email itself! Remember, in order to pick the best email sign off you’ll need to consider context and your relationship with the receiver. The best sign off for business emails, academic emails, and friendly emails will all be different! And don’t for get to use our own review grammar software to proofread your email in seconds.
