How to End a Letter (With 20 Closing Examples)

Updated July 31, 2023

Whether you’re writing a thank-you letter, business letter or a letter of recommendation, it is important to end with a professional closing. Writing a good ending to your letter can leave your reader with a positive impression and provide important information about the next steps for following up.

In this article, we explain how to successfully end a letter with tips and examples.

Why letter endings are important

Ending a letter clearly and professionally is important as it is the last thing your audience will read. It sets the tone for future correspondence, allows for next steps or instruction and helps build rapport with your reader.

Depending on how you decide to end your letter, it might also provide important information the audience needs like your first and last name, job title, phone number, company and more. Elements of a letter ending include a concluding paragraph, sign off and your signature.

Tips for ending your letter

A good letter ending is professional, respectful and clear. When considering how you should end your letter, you should take the following into account:

What you want the reader to do next

It is common practice to end your letter with next steps, instructions or follow-up information. Consider your ideal outcome in terms of what actions you’d like the reader to take after reading your letter. Include these at the end of your letter. Even if you’ve explained something in detail in the body of your letter, it can be helpful to quickly recap the main ideas at the end.

Example: “To recap, please follow up with the finance team at your convenience to go over our new budget and begin planning for next quarter.”

How you want the reader to feel

Taking the time to think about how you want the audience to feel after reading your letter can help you form a letter closing. For example, if you want the reader to have a sense of urgency, you might include words like “immediately” or “as quickly as possible” in your letter ending. If you want them to feel calm and supported, you might end your letter with something like this:

Example: “Thank you for taking time to read my note—I know it is a lot of information, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all about the new process.”

What information the reader needs

You should be sure to include all contact information, dates, times and other instructions the reader needs as you end your letter. You might include some of this in your concluding paragraph or your signature if they will need your email, phone number or job title.

Example:

All the best,

Juan Cortez
j.cortez@email.com
Product Marketing Manager, Cloud Clearwater

Appropriate ways to sign off

You should select a closing phrase that is suitable for your audience. For example, if you are writing to a client or colleague you should select a professional closing phrase like “Sincerely,” or “Thank you.”

20 examples of letter closing phrases

Here are several examples of ways you can close your next letter. Consider your audience and select a closing that fits well depending on their relationship with you:

Most popular ways to close a letter

The closing phrases listed below are the most popular and recommended. They can be used in any situation, formal or casual.

1. Sincerely

This professional sign-off is always appropriate, especially in a formal business letter or email. It relays the sincerity in which you hope the message is received.

2. Kind regards

This sing-off is slightly more personable while remaining professional. This leaves the reader thinking that you are wishing them well. This closing phrase is recommended for check-in, update or follow-up emails or letters.

3. Thank you for your time

This is another popular and encouraged close as it expresses gratitude for taking the time to read your message. This sign-off is recommended for emails or letters in which you are asking for a favor, or hoping to be considered for something such as in a letter of interest or cover letter.

Related: How To Write a Thank-You Email

4. Hope to talk soon

This closing phrase is appropriate for all situations and urges follow-up communication. This is a great closing phrase to use when you’re hoping for a response from the reader.

5. With appreciation

This sign-off can be used to express gratitude for taking the time to look over your correspondence. It is recommended to be used for cover letters and letters of interest.

Professional closings

These closings are appropriate for new contacts, managers or other important stakeholders you don’t speak with often:

Thank you,
Regards,
Respectfully,
Cordially,
With gratitude,
Best regards,
In sympathy,

Casual closings

These closing phrases are appropriate for friends, close colleagues or stakeholders you communicate with regularly.

Best,
All the best,
Thanks,
Talk soon,
Best wishes,
Warmly,
Have a good day/evening/weekend,
Many thanks

Closings to avoid in professional letters

The following are examples of closings you should avoid in a professional setting. While you might use these in personal letters, you should consider something more professional when writing a business letter.

Yours,
Cheers,
XOXO
With love,
Yours truly,
Love,
Always,

How to format your letter closing

After choosing your closing phrase, follow with a comma, 2-4 lines of space and your letter signature. Your signature should include your first and last name with a few pieces of information depending on what your reader needs. Examples of information you might include with your signature are your email, job title, company name, phone number, work address, company logo or a short quote that represents you or your work.

Many companies have premade signatures that include approved information. If so, use this and alter it if needed.

Here are two templates of signatures you can reference:

Handwritten letter

Kind regards,
(Handwritten signature)
[Your name]
[Email address]
[Phone number]

Electronic letter or email

Thank you,
[Your name]
[Email address]
[Company website]
(Company logo)

Frequently asked questions

What can I say other than "best regards"?

"Best regards" is a neutral, formal close that illustrates appreciation in a professional manner. If you're seeking an alternative remark which has the same effect, you could use the following examples:

Respectfully
All the best
Thanks in advance
Looking forward to hearing from you
Thank you for your time

How do you end a letter of complaint?

People may compose complaint letters to communicate and resolve issues. It's best to maintain politeness and formality while adhering to professional practice when writing a complaint letter. Commonly used salutations when ending a letter of complaint include Yours sincerely or Sincerely. If you're responding to a complaint, you may choose to use a complimentary close to demonstrate sincerity, such as Sincerest apologies or Best regards.

What is an example of a complimentary close?

A complimentary close is a polite and courteous sign-off used when ending a letter. Complimentary closes are often used to demonstrate respect, friendliness and appreciation to a recipient in a professional manner. Examples of complimentary closes include:

Sincerely
Cordially
Yours truly
With gratitude
Best regards

Why put your name at the end of a letter?

It's important to sign off a letter with your name at the end as this enables the recipient to know who it came from. It also establishes a professional tone and maintains formality. If you know the recipient, it's acceptable to sign off with just your first name. If you're not acquainted with the recipient, it's advised that you use your first and last name to close the correspondence.

How do you end a letter with empathy?

People often use empathetic responses when writing a letter of condolence. They may compose these letters when the recipient has or is experiencing a difficult time. To ensure you correspond appropriately with thoughtfulness and concern, you can use the following empathetic closes:

My sincere sympathy
Deepest condolences
My thoughts are with you

How do you end an informal letter professionally?

There are many scenarios where someone may write an informal letter in the workplace. For instance, if you're praising or congratulating a team member, welcoming new employees or inviting a colleague to an informal meeting. While informal letters often carry a casual tone, it's still important to maintain professionalism. Here are a few ways you can close an informal letter while being professional:

Warmly
Many thanks
Stay well
Kindest regards
Best wishes