Business letter closings are crucial for making a good impression, and so knowing what to write is necessary. Just like with personal letters to a close friend, the closing phrase should make a positive impression on the recipient and be a proper closing. The wrong closing could run the risk of seeming too informal for a professional letter or note, regardless of whether you are corresponding with business emails or physical letters.
Continue reading for a list of five tips to remember when closing a letter and five tips about what to avoid. Following these tips are 50 of the best letter closings, starting with the most formal and ending with the most informal closings.
5 Tips for a Good Letter Closing
- Determine what details the reader needs to know, such as contact information like your phone number and email address.
- Make sure the closing reflects the tone of the letter and your relationship (or lack of) with the recipient.
- Keep it succinct.
- Remember to note that there are enclosures, if there are enclosures.
- Include your full name (first and last name with no nicknames or abbreviations).
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not leaving a closing at all (yes, this happens).
- Being too familiar or in any way affectionate.
- Use a closing that doesn’t match the tone of your letter.
- Making formatting or grammatical errors.
- Overlooking the importance of leaving your contact information.
50 Best Business Letter Endings
1. Respectfully
This ending, which is maybe the most formal, is the best way to show someone the highest respect. You may even make use of it to reinforce to the receiver that you respect them. Lawyers and other professionals often sign their letters to their clients with this professional closing to emphasize that they are writing their clients from a position of service.
2. Best Regards
“Best regards” is a good way to strike a professional tone in a variety of situations, regardless of your knowledge of the recipient. It is very common in professional settings. It is also the safest choice if you are unsure of how to close your message and you want to be respectful.
3. Appreciatively
This is a suitable option when someone wants to show appreciation for the reader’s time and the chance to collaborate.
4. Best
This is a succinct, upbeat conclusion. Although some people might find this closure to be a little too direct, most others think it’s excellent for use as a business letter conclusion because it shows both goodwill and confidence. Many bankers, other people in finance, and lawyers use this closing salutation.
5. Cordially
This closing fulfills the demand for something a little more intimate if you want to give your closing more of a personal touch. You may have spoken on the phone or in person during an interview, exchanged correspondence, or met at a gathering.
6. Regards
“Regards” is a neutral formal closing. It is neither overly formal nor intimate. If you have spoken with or met the recipient, it can be seen as cold and distant, so in that case, consider offering a little bit friendlier or warmer tone.
7. Sincerely
This is a robust and trustworthy business letter closure. No matter how formal you need to be with the reader, you can’t go wrong if you’re honest. Use it to give your message or email more credibility.
8. With Thanks
Closing your letter using “With thanks” is appropriate for coworkers you haven’t met or don’t frequently collaborate with, other business owners, or clients.
9. With Respect
Select this closing for a professional conclusion if the letter is to a supervisor or someone you don’t know well.
10. Respectfully Yours
Once you have some understanding about the individual you are writing to, this closing is acceptable. This familiarity may have been gained through speaking on the phone or in person during an interview, exchanging a few emails, or meeting at a networking gathering.
11. In Appreciation
When you are writing to someone you know well, you may use this closing, but only if it makes sense given the letter’s content.
12. Thank You for Your Consideration
This closing focuses your “thank you” on what they did or said that you are particularly grateful for. For example, you could have spoken with a recruiter, the HR department, or an interviewer who gave you their time.
13. Yours Cordially
Once you have some knowledge about the person you are writing to, this closing is appropriate. You could have spoken on the phone or in person during an interview, exchanged a few emails, or met at a networking gathering.
14. Your Help is Greatly Appreciated
Did you receive assistance in a work-related setting? Tell them you appreciate all they’ve done. Everyone seeks attention and admiration. Sharing these encouraging words with your recipient demonstrates how much you value them.
15. With Sincere Thanks
This formal thank you letter closing conveys your sincere gratitude to the recipient. There are no restrictions on how often you can express gratitude.
16. With Gratitude
This straightforward message expresses your gratitude to the recipient for their time. Always start with gratitude, especially when approaching someone in a formal, business-like setting.
17. With Thanks and Appreciation
Your letter may close with additional words of gratitude. Simply saying “thank you” is not sufficient in every situation. Sometimes you need to express even more appreciation, and doing so requires repetition, movement, and words.
18. Thank You for Your Time
When you thank a prospective employer for taking the time to invite you for an interview in a follow-up letter, you are also thanking them for all the preparation they did to determine the pool of candidates (including you). This closing lets them know that you value their time.
Less Formal Business Letter Closings
19. With Anticipation
This could be the best course of action if the primary goal of your message were to develop a plan or schedule an appointment. However, you should ensure using this closing doesn’t imply you are rushing the recipient.
20. With Appreciation
On the scale of thankfulness, “appreciation” is one or two levels higher than the word “thanks.”
21. Kind Regards
Although the phrase “Kind regards” doesn’t particularly convey gratitude, it is a means to show respect and warmth.
22. Thanks Again
You can use this good concluding line when writing to your professional connections, such as essential stakeholders and managers. It is especially appropriate if you’ve thanked the recipient in the body of your letter.
23. Sincerely Yours
This is one of the most straightforward and practical letter closings to employ in a professional business situation. It’s an excellent way to end a cover letter or an inquiry and is suitable in almost all cases. However, it is usually considered less formal and a bit more personal than “Sincerely.”
24. Warmly
If you have previously met the person, “Warmly” can serve as a suitable conclusion.
25. Cordially Yours
Think of this as a good closing option for business correspondence. It works for recipients who are not frequently on your contact list as well as well-known acquaintances (in business).
26. Yours Sincerely
“Yours sincerely” is a British expression. You might think about using their version if you’re American writing to someone in the UK, but otherwise, it will sound a bit odd if you use it. Americans instead use the counterpart, “Sincerely yours.”
27. Yours Truly
Once you have some knowledge about the person you are writing to, this is appropriate. You could have spoken on the phone or in person during an interview, exchanged a few emails, or met at a networking gathering.
28. Many Thanks
The alternative to the standard “thank you” message is “many thanks.” It changes things up to prevent your letter from sounding too monotonous.
29. Deepest Thanks
Sometimes, you want to express that you are extremely grateful, and so a simple “thank you” isn’t enough. Sending your “deepest thanks” demonstrates that your gratitude is heartfelt and will be remembered. It says that the depths of your gratitude know no bounds.
30. With Greatest Appreciation
Depending on the situation, use this formal or informal letter closing appropriately.
31. Thank You
Usually more informal and friendly in tone, as opposed to “regards,” which is more formal and can be seen as cold.
32. Thank You for Your Assistance in This Matter
This closing is more formal than “Thanks” and “Thank You.” However, the writer should ensure this closing syncs with the letter’s content.
33. All My Thanks
This is another way to show you appreciate the recipient for all they have done. Everyone desires to be known and admired. Sharing these encouraging remarks with the receiver demonstrates how much you appreciate them.
34. Hope This Helps
“Hope this helps,” is a good option for email closings when the content of your letter is focused on assisting the recipient, even if they may need further assistance.
35. Hope to Talk Soon
“Hope to talk soon” is an acceptable way to end a letter if you’re looking for closing statements that imply the recipient should follow up. It hints subtly that the recipient should reply to your message and expresses your eagerness to speak with them. Make sure only to use this in less formal situations.
Additional Business Letter Closings
36. Best Wishes
Closing your letter with “Best wishes” means you wish the recipient nothing but the best in the future. It isn’t as formal as “Sincerely,” but it is still suitable as a standard letter closing appropriate for business connections.
37. Thanks
If you haven’t yet given your gratitude, it’s due, so use this.
38. Warm Regards
Warm regards should be used when you are more familiar with the recipient. If a more formal closing is appropriate, consider “Kind regards.”
39. Yours Faithfully
This closing is more common in British English, and American writers should consider the recipient before using this closing. This is an acceptable option when addressing a letter to an unidentified person about business.
40. My Warmest Wishes
This is another closing that is found more often in British English letters. Although it is also a proper closing for American business letters, it is most commonly used in holiday correspondence.
41. Faithfully
“Faithfully” is a suitable closing line because it adds a feeling of loyalty. It is often used in Christian settings such as church correspondence or at Christian schools to express the intention of faithful service.
42. With Confidence
After having a fruitful conversation with a recruiter, it is currently recommended that you express your gratitude for their time. Making the recruiter remember you in this way will increase your chances of getting hired and, as the closing implies, demonstrates confidence.
43. Fond Regards
When you know the person you’re addressing and have a close relationship with them, you can use this informal closing that is still professional.
44. All the Best
Even though it isn’t quite as formal as “Sincerely,” it is still acceptable as a formal or semi-formal letter closing appropriate for both friends and business contacts. It is a solid way to end your letter is by wishing your recipient the best. This sentence lets them know that, if this is the end of your professional relationship, you wish them nothing but the best in the future.
45. Kind Wishes
If you and the person you are writing to are close friends, you might want to end a business letter with an informal salutation like “Kind wishes.”
46. Kind Thanks
This is another example of a more informal closing that should be reserved for contacts with whom you’ve developed a close relationship.
47. Stay Well
This casual closing is still appropriate to use when speaking to someone you know well and have a close relationship with. You can also use the variation of “Stay well and safe,” or “Stay safe.”
48. Take Care
A semi-formal way to end your letter is with this sign-off. You can use it for recipients you’ve met in person at least once before, conveying your best wishes to the reader. Be careful about using this until you feel a warm connection or bond with the recipient, as they may interpret it as too informal. This closing should be limited to emails, and it not appropriate for a letter.
49. Looking Forward to Hearing from You
If you anticipate a response, don’t be hesitant to close your letter of gratitude with this succinct statement. They will be warned not to disregard this email or thank-you letter if you let them know you’re waiting for a response.
50. Warm Wishes
Similarly, this is an additional way to close the letter informally while maintaining professionalism. It also functions well to end holiday greetings, particularly on dates like Christmas and New Year’s.
Conclusion
You should consider the recipient’s relationship and the message’s content when selecting the appropriate closing. In formal settings, “Sincerely” or “With appreciation” would be preferable to endings like “Take care” or “Talk soon,” which are typically saved for closer relationships. Good options to use are “Regards” and “Thank you” if you’re unsure what to say or do not know the recipient well.
Although millions of people visit Brandon's blog each month, his path to success was not easy. Go here to read his incredible story, "From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors." If you want to send Brandon a quick message, then visit his contact page here.