“Best Regards” appears in your sent folder more times than you can count. The phrase works, but it lacks personality and blends into the sea of identical emails your recipients receive daily.
Your email closing creates the final impression. This small detail shapes how people remember your message and influences their response. Most professionals stick to overused phrases that sound mechanical and forgettable.
These alternatives will help your emails leave a stronger, more memorable mark.
What to Say Instead of “Best Regards” (20 Cool Ideas)
Here’s your toolkit of creative, professional, and memorable email closings that will give your correspondence the personality it deserves.
1. With Appreciation
This one carries genuine warmth without sounding overly formal. It works beautifully when someone has helped you, shared information, or simply taken time to read your message. The word “appreciation” feels more personal than “regards” because it suggests you actually value what the other person brings to the table.
Use this when you want to acknowledge someone’s effort or expertise. It’s professional enough for your boss but warm enough for a colleague who just solved your problem. The beauty lies in its simplicity – two words that pack an emotional punch without being too effusive.
2. Looking Forward to Your Thoughts
Perfect for emails where you’re genuinely seeking input or feedback. This sign-off does double duty: it’s polite, but it also creates a subtle expectation for a response. You’re not being pushy, just indicating that you value their opinion and are eager to hear back.
This works especially well in collaborative situations or when you’re presenting ideas to a team. It signals openness and invites dialogue rather than just delivering information and walking away.
3. Thanks Again
Simple, direct, and surprisingly effective. Even if you haven’t said thanks earlier in the email, this phrase implies gratitude for something – their time, their attention, their upcoming response. It’s casual enough for everyday use but professional enough for most business situations.
What makes this work is its brevity. You’re not over-explaining or being overly grateful. You’re just acknowledging that interaction with this person has value.
4. Until Next Time
This creates a sense of continuity and suggests that your professional relationship extends beyond this single email exchange. It’s particularly effective with people you communicate with regularly – team members, clients, or business partners.
The phrase carries an optimistic assumption that there will be a “next time,” which can help strengthen ongoing relationships. It’s friendly without being too casual, and it leaves the door open for future conversations.
5. Warmly
One word, but it packs a punch. “Warmly” conveys genuine friendliness and approachability. It’s perfect for building rapport with new contacts or maintaining good relationships with existing ones. This sign-off works particularly well in industries where relationships matter more than rigid formality.
Use this when you want to come across as personable and genuine. It’s professional enough for most business contexts but adds a human touch that “Best Regards” simply can’t match.
6. Here to Help
This three-word phrase positions you as a resource and ally. It’s especially powerful in customer service contexts, but it works in any situation where you want to emphasize your willingness to support others. The phrase suggests availability and competence without being boastful.
What’s brilliant about this sign-off is that it reinforces your professional brand as someone who’s solution-oriented and collaborative. It can turn a simple email exchange into the foundation for a stronger working relationship.
7. Stay in Touch
Casual but purposeful, this phrase works when you want to maintain connections with people you don’t email regularly. It’s perfect for networking situations, after conferences, or when reaching out to old colleagues. The phrase suggests mutual benefit and ongoing relationship potential.
This sign-off is particularly effective because it puts the ball in both courts – you’re not demanding they contact you, but you’re making it clear that you’d welcome future communication.
8. Cheers to Your Success
This brings positive energy and shows that you’re genuinely invested in the other person’s achievements. It works wonderfully in congratulatory emails, but it’s also effective as a general sign-off when you want to convey optimism and support.
The phrase has just enough personality to stand out without seeming unprofessional. It’s memorable, upbeat, and creates good feelings associated with your correspondence.
9. Happy to Connect
Particularly effective for networking emails, introductions, or first-time communications. This phrase communicates enthusiasm about the relationship while remaining appropriately professional. It suggests that you view email exchanges as opportunities rather than obligations.
Use this when you want to emphasize the human connection aspect of your communication. It works especially well in industries where relationships drive business success.
10. Excited for What’s Next
Perfect for project-based communications or when you’re discussing future plans. This sign-off conveys enthusiasm and forward momentum. It’s particularly effective in creative industries or when working on innovative projects where energy and optimism matter.
The phrase suggests that you’re engaged and invested in outcomes, not just going through the motions. It can help create momentum and excitement around shared initiatives.
11. In Partnership
This phrase emphasizes collaboration and shared goals. It’s excellent for situations where you’re working together toward common objectives – whether that’s completing a project, solving a problem, or building something new. The word “partnership” elevates the relationship beyond simple client-vendor or colleague interactions.
What makes this effective is that it subtly reframes your relationship as equals working together, which can lead to more productive and respectful communication patterns.
12. With Gratitude and Best Wishes
Sometimes you need something a bit more substantial than a simple phrase. This combination acknowledges what someone has done for you while also expressing hope for their future success. It’s formal enough for important communications but personal enough to feel genuine.
This works particularly well for year-end messages, after someone has helped you significantly, or when you want to leave a lasting positive impression.
13. Onward and Upward
This brings energy and optimism to your communications. It’s perfect for motivational contexts, team communications, or situations where you want to emphasize progress and positive momentum. The phrase suggests movement and improvement, which can be infectious.
Use this when you want to leave people feeling energized and positive about whatever you’ve been discussing. It’s particularly effective in leadership communications or when rallying teams around goals.
14. Hope This Helps
Simple, humble, and practical. This sign-off works beautifully when you’ve provided information, advice, or assistance. It acknowledges that you’ve tried to be useful without being presumptuous about whether your contribution actually solved their problem.
The phrase demonstrates good intent and leaves room for follow-up if needed. It’s casual enough for everyday use but professional enough for most business situations.
15. Talk Soon
This creates an expectation for continued communication. It’s particularly effective with people you communicate with regularly – team members, close business partners, or ongoing clients. The phrase suggests that your relationship extends beyond this single email exchange.
What makes this work is its assumption of ongoing connection. You’re not just ending a conversation; you’re pausing it with the expectation that it will resume.
16. Keep Me Posted
This invites ongoing communication and shows that you’re interested in developments or outcomes. It works well when you’ve provided input or assistance and want to stay informed about results. The phrase positions you as someone who cares about follow-through.
Use this when you want to maintain involvement without being pushy. It gives the other person permission to reach out with updates while showing that you’re genuinely interested in their success.
17. Here’s to Great Things Ahead
This phrase radiates optimism and confidence. It’s perfect for situations where you’re discussing future opportunities, planning projects, or working through challenges. The tone is upbeat and forward-looking, which can help create positive momentum.
What’s effective about this sign-off is that it positions whatever you’ve been discussing as part of a larger positive trajectory. It can help frame challenges as stepping stones rather than obstacles.
18. Always Happy to Chat
This positions you as approachable and available. It’s particularly effective for consultants, service providers, or anyone who wants to emphasize accessibility. The phrase suggests that communication with you is welcome and pleasant rather than burdensome.
The word “always” might seem strong, but it conveys reliability and commitment to good communication. It can help build trust and encourage people to reach out when they need assistance.
19. Wishing You Well
Sometimes simple elegance is exactly what’s needed. This phrase conveys genuine care for the other person’s well-being without being overly personal or effusive. It works in almost any professional context and leaves people with positive feelings about your interaction.
This is particularly effective for emails that address challenges or difficulties. It shows empathy and concern while remaining appropriately professional.
20. Until Our Paths Cross Again
This creates a sense of connection and continuity that goes beyond typical business relationships. It’s particularly effective for networking situations, conference follow-ups, or communications with people you don’t interact with regularly but want to maintain good relationships with.
The phrase suggests that your professional paths are likely to intersect again, which can help keep doors open for future opportunities. It’s memorable and slightly poetic without being inappropriate for business use.
Wrapping Up
Your email sign-off might seem like a small detail, but it’s actually a powerful tool for relationship building and personal branding.
Each time you choose something more thoughtful than “Best Regards,” you’re creating a tiny moment of connection that can accumulate into stronger professional relationships.
The key is matching your sign-off to your relationship with the recipient, the tone of your message, and your industry’s communication norms. With these 20 alternatives in your toolkit, you’ll never have to default to stale, generic phrases again.