Should I use a different sign-off for cold emails?

Yes. Cold emails perform best with a low-pressure, human sign-off like 'Thanks,' 'Cheers,' or 'Best' followed by your name and a short signature. Avoid formal closings like 'Yours faithfully' - they read as templated. Keep it short so the CTA above stays the focus.

Are funny email sign-offs unprofessional?

It depends on audience and relationship. A playful sign-off ('Stay caffeinated,' 'Talk soon') works with warm contacts, teammates and creative industries. For first contact, clients, or formal contexts, stick to a neutral professional sign-off and save the personality for later in the relationship.

Does the email sign-off affect deliverability?

The sign-off text itself does not trigger spam filters, but the signature block can. Too many links, tracking pixels, large images, or spammy phrases in your signature can hurt inbox placement. The bigger factor is your domain reputation - a perfect sign-off still lands in spam if the sending domain is not warmed up.

How long should an email sign-off be?

The closing line plus sign-off should be one to two short lines, followed by your name and a compact signature. The entire ending should take under three seconds to read. Long, multi-line sign-offs dilute your call to action and look dated.

Last Updated: September 2026

Email Sign-Offs: 100+ Ways to End an Email

Name: MailPilot
Author: MailPilot

The right sign-off matches your tone, relationship, and intent. Here are the best professional, formal, friendly, cold-email and funny ways to end an email - and exactly when to use each.

The anatomy of a strong email ending

Every good email ending has three parts: a closing line (a final sentence that sets up the next step), a sign-off (the phrase before your name), and a signature. This page focuses on the sign-off - for the full structure and etiquette, see our guide on how to end an email.

Pick your sign-off by two questions: How well do I know this person? and What do I want to happen next? A cold prospect and a close teammate should never get the same closing.

Professional email sign-offs (safe for anyone)

Warm, neutral, and appropriate for clients, colleagues, and cold outreach. When unsure, pick one of these.

Best regards,	The default. Works for almost every business email.
Kind regards,	Slightly warmer than 'Best regards'; common in the UK/EU.
Best,	Shorter, modern, friendly-professional. Great for cold email.
All the best,	Warm and personable without being casual.
Many thanks,	When the email includes a request or ask.
Thanks in advance,	When you expect the recipient to act on your request.

Formal email sign-offs (letters, applications, legal)

Use for cover letters, official correspondence, or a first email to a senior stranger.

Sincerely,	Standard formal closing when you know the recipient's name.
Yours sincerely,	Formal British English, recipient named.
Yours faithfully,	Formal British English when you do NOT know the name ('Dear Sir/Madam').
Respectfully,	Very formal; senior officials, legal, government.
With appreciation,	Formal thank-you closings.

Friendly & warm sign-offs (existing relationships)

For teammates, warm leads, and people you already know.

Cheers,	Casual-professional; very common in tech and startups.
Talk soon,	When you expect to continue the conversation.
Looking forward to it,	After scheduling a call or meeting.
Have a great week,	Warm sign-off early in the week.
Thanks so much,	Genuine gratitude, warm tone.

Cold email & follow-up sign-offs

Short, human, low-pressure. Keep the focus on your call to action, not the sign-off.

Thanks,	Neutral, human, doesn't over-ask. A cold-email workhorse.
Best,	Professional and brief - ideal for first contact.
Appreciate your time,	Acknowledges you're asking for their attention.
No rush at all,	Follow-ups; lowers pressure and improves reply rates.
Speak soon,	Warm follow-up when a reply is likely.

Funny & creative sign-offs (warm contacts only)

Personality builds rapport with people who already know you. Avoid on first contact or formal emails.

Stay caffeinated,	Playful, casual, friendly teams.
May your inbox be light,	Self-aware, memorable.
Sent from a place of good intentions,	Warm and slightly cheeky.
Onwards and upwards,	Motivational, startup energy.
Keep it awesome,	Upbeat, creative industries.

Email sign-offs to avoid

Yours truly / VR (Very Respectfully)	Dated or military-specific; reads oddly in modern business email.
Rgds / Thx / any abbreviation	Looks lazy and can trip spam heuristics in some filters.
Love, / xoxo	Too intimate for professional contexts.
Sent from my iPhone	Not a sign-off - and it makes cold email look unconsidered. Turn it off.
No sign-off at all	Abrupt; a missing closing reads as curt, especially to new contacts.

Your sign-off can't save an email that lands in spam

Here's the part most sign-off articles miss: the perfect closing is worthless if the email never reaches the inbox. If you send cold email or outreach at volume, your domain reputation decides whether your carefully written message lands in Primary or Spam. A new or cold domain needs warmup before it can be trusted - and broken SPF, DKIM and DMARC will sink you regardless of how you sign off.

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Email Sign-Off FAQ

'Best regards' and 'Kind regards' are the safest professional sign-offs - warm but not stuffy, appropriate for clients, colleagues and strangers alike. 'Sincerely' works for formal letters and cover letters. When in doubt, 'Best regards' is almost never wrong.