Business Letter Closing Examples

When you're writing a business letter or sending an email message, it's important to close your letter in a professional manner. The ideal ending for a business letter conveys your thanks and respect, without eccentricity or an overly familiar tone. Although it may seem old-fashioned, most business professionals expect written correspondence – whether via a letter or an email – to be written and formatted in a conservative manner.

Not only does this mean that you should focus on neutrality in your letter’s appearance (avoiding the use of colorful paper, brash logo designs, and artistic fonts), but it also means that you should employ a very low-key, unnuanced, and professional closing phrase. The best-case scenario is that the hiring manager, colleague, or connection won't even notice the closing.

The following are a list of letter closing examples that are appropriate for business and employment-related correspondence.

Business Letter Closing Examples

•     Sincerely
•     Sincerely yours
•     Regards
•     Best
•     Best regards
•     Kind regards
•     Yours truly
•     Most sincerely
•     Respectfully
•     Respectfully yours
•     Thank you
•     Thank you for your consideration

Military Correspondence Closings

Similar to business or employment-related correspondence, military correspondence also has set standards for the closing (also called a “valediction”) which one should present before one’s signature.

If your company conducts business with the military – or if you are applying for a job in the military – you should be aware that “Very Respectfully” (often abbreviated as “V/R”) is used in written and emailed correspondence between military members.

It is established etiquette by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force that the closing “Respectfully yours” be reserved for the President of the United States (according to U.S. Army standards, this also extends to the first lady and the President-elect).

Letters to all other dignitaries simply use the valediction, “Sincerely.”

What to Put After the Closing

Follow the closing with a comma, space, and then your name.

What Not to Use as a Business Letter Closing

Anything that you'd use in an informal communication is inappropriate for a business letter. This includes slang, text-speak, emojis, and anything off-color or casual.

If you're used to communicating mostly with friends, family, or even co-workers you've worked with for a long time, an appropriate closing for a business letter will probably feel pretty stilted at first. Don't worry about it – your colleague or business associate won't feel that way when they read your correspondence. What seems unnatural to you will feel respectful and polite to the recipient.

Formal communication is on the wane in modern life, but there are still times when it's the only correct way to reinforce a connection or convey information. If you're applying for a job, looking for a recommendation, or expanding your network, err on the side of formality.

Remember, you're hoping the person who receives your letter has no memory of your closing at all. The last thing you want is a hiring manager going into an HR meeting with your cover letter in hand, asking the team if they want to meet with "Mr. Kindest Personal Regards."

Examples of Inappropriate Business Letter Closings

• Cheers
• Cordially
• Hopefully
• Later
• Thanks!
• TTYL/TTFN
• Warmly

A Note About Email Business Letters

It might be tempting to leave out the closing when you're communicating by email, but don't give in to that temptation. Although no-closing emails are perfectly fine for everyday communication with your friends and teammates, they'll seem brusque – or worse, unprofessional – to people you don't know as well.

You should also use a business letter closing when you're corresponding with someone professionally about an important issue, whether it's a new project or a job opportunity.

When You Don't Need a Closing

How do you know for sure whether or not to use a closing? One good test is to ask yourself whether this email is more akin to an instant message/text or a business letter. If you're giving your teammate a quick update on an ongoing project, a formal closing might not be necessary; if you're throwing your hat in the ring for a promotion, it definitely is required.