How to End an Email — 50+ Professional Sign-Offs
Quick Reference — Email Sign-Offs by Formality
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Email Sign-Offs by Formality Level
The right email closing depends on who you are writing to and why. Here are 50+ sign-offs organized from most formal to most casual.
Formal
Executives, legal, government
- Sincerely,
- Respectfully,
- Yours faithfully,
- Yours sincerely,
- With gratitude,
- Respectfully yours,
Professional
Clients, managers, colleagues
- Best regards,
- Kind regards,
- Thank you,
- Many thanks,
- With appreciation,
- Warm regards,
Casual
Teammates, friendly contacts
- Best,
- Thanks,
- Cheers,
- Talk soon,
- All the best,
- Take care,
Avoid
Never use in professional emails
- Love,
- XOXO
- Sent from my iPhone
- Thx
- Later,
- Peace out,
Best Email Closings by Situation
Emailing Your Boss or Manager
Best closings:
Example
Hi Sarah, I have completed the Q1 report and attached it for your review. Please let me know if any changes are needed before the Friday deadline. Best regards, James
Emailing a Client
Best closings:
Example
Dear Ms. Chen, Thank you for the opportunity to present our proposal. I have attached the revised pricing as discussed. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. Kind regards, Alex Rivera
Emailing a Professor
Best closings:
Example
Dear Professor Williams, I am writing to request a meeting to discuss my thesis proposal. I am available Tuesday or Thursday afternoon if either works for your schedule. Sincerely, Emma Johnson MA English Literature, Student ID: 20261234
Emailing a Colleague
Best closings:
Example
Hi Tom, Great work on the presentation today! I have shared the updated slides in the team drive. Let me know if you need anything else before the client call tomorrow. Cheers, Maria
Good vs Bad Email Endings
Closing a Request Email
...so yeah can you get that done?
thx
Sent from my iPhone
Could you please have this completed by end of day Thursday? Let me know if you need any additional context.
Thank you,
Sarah Mitchell
Closing a Follow-Up Email
Just checking in on this AGAIN. Please respond ASAP!!!
Thanks!!!
I wanted to follow up on my email from Tuesday. I understand you may be busy, so please let me know if a different timeline works better.
Best regards,
David Park
Closing a Job Application Email
Hope to hear from you soon! I really really want this job.
Cheers!
Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience aligns with the role. I am available at your convenience for an interview.
Sincerely,
Rachel Torres
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Related Email Writing Resources
Complete Guide to Email Closings
How you end an email matters more than most people realize. Research shows that emails with a professional closing receive higher response rates than those that end abruptly. Your sign-off is the last impression you leave, and in professional settings, it can influence how your message is received, how quickly you get a reply, and how others perceive your attention to detail.
Professional Email Sign-Offs Ranked
Not all sign-offs are created equal. Some work in every situation, while others should be reserved for specific contexts. Here is a ranked list of the most commonly used professional email closings, from safest to most situational:
Universal Safe Choices
- Best regards - The gold standard. Works in virtually every professional email, from first contact to ongoing correspondence.
- Kind regards - Slightly warmer than "Best regards." Ideal for client communication and cross-cultural emails.
- Thank you - Perfect when someone has done something for you or you are making a request. Simple and universally understood.
- Sincerely - The most formal option. Best for cover letters, legal correspondence, and first-time outreach to executives.
- Best - A relaxed but still professional option. Works well for internal emails and people you correspond with regularly.
Situational Choices
- Warm regards - Adds a personal touch. Good for relationship-building emails where you want to be friendly but professional.
- Many thanks - More emphatic than a plain "Thank you." Use after someone has gone above and beyond.
- Respectfully - Shows deference. Appropriate for professors, government officials, and senior leadership you have not met.
- Looking forward to hearing from you - Works as a closing line before your sign-off when you genuinely expect a reply.
- Cheers - Common in British, Australian, and some American workplaces. Avoid in formal or first-contact emails.
Email Closings to Avoid
Certain email sign-offs can undermine your professionalism, create awkwardness, or simply confuse the recipient. Here are closings you should never use in a work email and why:
| Closing | Why to Avoid It | Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Love, | Too intimate for any professional context | Warm regards, or Best, |
| XOXO | Entirely inappropriate in business email | Best regards, |
| Sent from my iPhone | Not a real sign-off - signals you did not care enough to write a proper closing | Thank you, [Your Name] |
| Thx or Thanx | Looks lazy and unprofessional | Thanks, or Thank you, |
| Later / Peace / Cya | Too casual, reads like a text message | Talk soon, or Best, |
| Yours truly, | Sounds overly sentimental in modern business English | Sincerely, or Best regards, |
| No closing at all | Feels abrupt and can come across as rude | Any professional sign-off |
“Thank You” Variations and When to Use Each
“Thank you” is one of the most versatile email closings, but the specific variation you choose sends a different signal. Here is when to use each:
- “Thank you,” - The standard. Use when someone has fulfilled a request or when you are asking for something.
- “Thank you for your time,” - Use after meetings, interviews, or when someone reviewed your work.
- “Thank you in advance,” - Politely assumes the person will help. Best for straightforward requests to colleagues.
- “Thanks so much,” - Warmer and more personal. Use with people you have an established relationship with.
- “Many thanks,” - More emphatic. Use when someone has done something extra or gone out of their way.
- “Thanks again,” - Use in follow-up emails to reinforce gratitude after someone has already helped.
- “With thanks,” - A slightly more formal variation. Works well in British English contexts.
- “I appreciate your help,” - Use as a closing line before your sign-off when you want to be specific about gratitude.
“Best Regards” vs “Kind Regards”
These two sign-offs are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences. “Best regards” is the more neutral and universally accepted option - it works for any professional email regardless of your relationship with the recipient. “Kind regards” carries a slightly warmer, more personal tone and is particularly common in British English and international business communication.
In practice, either is safe for most situations. If you are emailing someone for the first time and want to stay neutral, go with “Best regards.” If you want to convey a bit more warmth - for instance, in a client relationship email or a thank-you note - “Kind regards” is the better choice. Both are far better than no sign-off at all, which 8% of professionals still omit according to email communication studies.
Email Closing Phrases for Different Industries
While the core rules of email closings are universal, certain industries have their own conventions:
Corporate and Finance
Lean formal. “Best regards” and “Sincerely” dominate. Avoid casual closings even in internal emails until you have established rapport.
Common: Best regards, Sincerely, Thank you
Tech and Startups
More relaxed culture. “Best,” “Thanks,” and “Cheers” are common even in client-facing emails. First names are standard from the start.
Common: Best, Thanks, Cheers, Talk soon
Legal and Government
Highly formal. “Respectfully,” “Sincerely,” and “Yours faithfully” are expected. Casual sign-offs can be seen as disrespectful.
Common: Respectfully, Sincerely, Yours faithfully
Creative and Media
Flexible and personality-driven. “All the best,” “Warmly,” and even “Onward,” are accepted. Authenticity is valued over formality.
Common: All the best, Warmly, Thanks so much
British vs American Email Closing Conventions
There are notable differences in how British and American professionals end emails. In British English, “Kind regards” and “Yours faithfully” (when you do not know the recipient’s name) are standard. “Cheers” is widely accepted in casual professional settings. In American English, “Best regards,” “Thank you,” and “Best” are the most common professional closings. “Yours faithfully” is rarely used in American emails and can sound old-fashioned.
When emailing internationally, “Best regards” and “Kind regards” are your safest options - they are understood and respected in both British and American English, as well as in most non-native English speaking countries. If you are unsure of the recipient’s cultural expectations, these two closings will never be wrong.
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Write Perfect Emails FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Email Sign-Offs
How do you end a professional email?
End a professional email with a closing line that summarizes next steps or expresses gratitude, followed by a sign-off like "Best regards," "Kind regards," or "Thank you," and your full name. Include your title and contact details in your email signature. The key is matching the formality of your closing to the relationship and context.
What is the best email sign-off for work?
"Best regards" is the safest and most widely accepted email sign-off for professional communication. It works for every recipient - from your boss to a new client - and in every context. "Kind regards" and "Thank you" are also excellent choices that are universally appropriate in the workplace.
Is "Best" a good email sign-off?
Yes, "Best" is an acceptable professional sign-off, especially for colleagues and people you email regularly. It is concise and friendly without being too casual. However, for first-time emails, clients, or executives, "Best regards" or "Kind regards" are safer choices because they sound more complete and polished.
What is the difference between "Best regards" and "Kind regards"?
"Best regards" is slightly more neutral and formal, making it the default choice for most professional emails. "Kind regards" is a bit warmer and more personal, often used in British English and in client relationship-building emails. Both are universally safe, and the difference is subtle enough that either works in most situations.
Should I use "Sincerely" to end emails?
"Sincerely" is the most formal email sign-off and is best reserved for cover letters, legal correspondence, formal complaints, and first-time outreach to senior executives or government officials. For everyday work emails, it can feel stiff. Use "Best regards" or "Kind regards" instead for routine professional communication.
Is it OK to use "Cheers" in a work email?
It depends on your workplace culture. "Cheers" is common and accepted in British, Australian, and some American tech or creative workplaces. However, it is too casual for formal emails, first-time contacts, or communication with clients who expect a traditional tone. When in doubt, stick with "Best regards."
How do you end an email to a professor?
End emails to professors with a formal sign-off like "Sincerely," "Respectfully," or "Thank you for your time." Include your full name, course name, and student ID below your sign-off. Avoid casual closings like "Thanks" or "Cheers" unless the professor has explicitly set a casual tone in their own emails.
What should I not write at the end of an email?
Avoid "Love," "XOXO," "Thx," "Later," "Peace," or leaving the default "Sent from my iPhone" as your closing. Also avoid excessive exclamation marks, ALL CAPS, or overly emotional language in your sign-off. These undermine your professionalism and can make the recipient uncomfortable or dismiss your message.
Can WriteMail.ai help me end emails professionally?
Yes. WriteMail.ai automatically selects the perfect sign-off based on your recipient, the purpose of your email, and the tone of your message. Whether you are writing to a client, boss, professor, or colleague, the AI matches the closing to the context so you never have to second-guess your email ending.
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