Perfect Out-of-Office Message Templates For Every Situation

Stepping away from work can be necessary. But without the right message in place, your absence can affect how others view your responsiveness.

A short delay in communication is all it takes for a deal to stall or a customer to feel overlooked. In many cases, people don’t know what to do next if they don’t hear back from you.

Your out-of-office message should help you stay present even when you’re not available.

In this article, we’ll walk through when to use an out-of-office message, what to include, and how to make it work for different situations. You’ll also find more examples below, as well as how an SMS platform can keep conversations moving by sending instant automated text replies.

10 Best Out-of-Office Message Examples

A well-written out-of-office message needs to be informative and suited to your specific situation. Below are ten professional examples you can use or adjust based on your needs.

1. Standard Professional

“I appreciate your message. I’m currently away from the office and scheduled to return on [insert date]. Please note that I won’t be available by email during this time.”

If your matter requires urgent assistance, please contact [name] at [email]. I’ll respond as soon as I can upon my return.”

2. Paid Time Off (PTO) or Vacation

“I’m currently out of the office on PTO and will return on [insert date]. I won’t be checking emails during this time.

For immediate support, please reach out to [name] at [email]. I appreciate your understanding.”

3. Sick Leave

“I’m currently away due to medical leave and expect to return on [insert date]. I won’t be monitoring this inbox during my time away.

For urgent concerns, contact [name] at [email].”

4. Maternity or Paternity Leave

“Thank you for your message. I’m currently on [maternity/paternity] leave until [insert date].

During my absence, please reach out to [name] at [email] for any assistance.”

5. Business Travel or Conference

“I’m currently out of the office attending a [work event name] and will return on [insert date]. I’ll have limited email access during this time.

For anything time-sensitive, contact [name] at [email].”

6. Holiday Break or Company Closure

“Our office will be closed for the holidays from [start date] through [end date]. I will not be checking my email during this time.

If you need help before then, please contact [name] at [email]. I’ll follow up with you when I return on [insert date].”

7. Parental Leave with No Inbox Monitoring

“I’m currently on extended parental leave and will not be checking my email during this time. I will return on [insert date].

Please reach out to [name] at [email] for support during my absence.”

8. Short-Term Absence (One Day or Less)

“I’m out of the office today and will return on [insert date]. I’ll get back to your message as soon as I’m back.

If your request is urgent, please contact [name] at [email].”

9. Client-Facing Role with Coverage

“I’m currently out of the office and will return on [insert date]. In the meantime, [name] is available to assist you at [email].

Thank you for your patience—I’ll respond once I’m back.”

10. Flexible Availability (Remote or Part-Time)

“I’m currently working a reduced schedule and may take longer than usual to respond.
If you need immediate assistance, contact [name] at [email].

I appreciate your understanding and will get back to you as soon as I can.”

When Should You Use an Out-of-Office Reply?

When running a business, you rely on consistent communication to build trust. When you or your team members are away, the absence of a reply can cause misaligned expectations and frustration.

An out-of-office message is an automatic reply that you set up when you’re unavailable to respond to emails for an extended period.

Your inbox is a critical point of contact for clients, partners, vendors, or internal teams trying to reach you. That’s why knowing when to use an out-of-office reply is essential to keeping your professional relationships intact.

Below are the common scenarios where setting an out-of-office reply is appropriate and expected.

PTO or Holidays

When you’re taking time off for vacation or personal reasons, it’s helpful to let people know you’re away from the office, when you’ll be back, and who they can contact in the meantime. It avoids delays and helps others plan around your absence.

Sick Days or Medical Leave

If you’re unwell and unable to check emails, a short reply lets people know you’re unavailable and when you expect to return. It keeps things professional and ensures no one is left waiting for a response.

Business Travel or Work Retreats

When attending conferences, company retreats, or off-site meetings, your availability is likely limited. Setting a brief out-of-office reply lets clients and coworkers know there may be delayed responses, and offers a backup contact if needed.

Maternity or Paternity Leave

For extended leave, you can set a message that includes your return date and the person handling your responsibilities during that time. It helps maintain clear communication for your clients and your team, especially if you’re stepping away for several weeks or more.

Temporary Client Unavailability

Sometimes you’re still working, but not available for client communication due to internal deadlines, focused project work, or limited hours. A temporary auto-reply helps manage expectations while still maintaining a professional tone.

Company-Wide Closures

If you’re closed for holidays, retreats, or other events, every team member should set an out-of-office message. It keeps clients and partners informed and avoids missed communication during the break.

Flexible or Part-Time Schedules

If your availability shifts due to time zones or part-time work, you can set an auto-reply that explains when people can expect to hear back from you.

You may also include alternative contact options for urgent matters or offer a way to reach you via email or phone if necessary.

How Early Should You Set Out-of-Office Messages?

It’s best to set your out-of-office reply right before your absence begins.

For planned time off, such as a vacation or parental leave, you can prepare your message a few days in advance, but schedule it to activate on your start date. It avoids sending replies too early and confusing people who are still expecting you to respond.

If you know the exact time you’ll stop checking emails, like the end date of your last working day, you can set the message to go live at that point. This makes sure you don’t miss any incoming emails without an automatic reply in place.

For unexpected situations like sick days, set your reply as soon as you know you won’t be available. Even a short message helps keep things clear for those trying to reach you.

The key is timing it close enough to your absence so it’s relevant, but early enough to save time and avoid any gaps in communication. Once you’re back, make sure to click save and turn the reply off right away so people know you’re available again.

How to Write a Professional Out-of-Office Message

Your goal is to let people know you’re unavailable, give them a date range, and guide them on what to do next. Here’s how to write one that does the job well:

Essential Elements to Include

Each out-of-office message should cover the basics. Keeping these elements in place makes sure your message is complete and easy to understand.

Greeting

Start with a short, polite opening that feels professional and not forced. A simple thank you or acknowledgment of the message is enough to set the right tone.

Reason for Absence (Optional)

You can choose to share why you’re away, but it’s not required. If you do include a reason, keep it brief and general. You need to focus on the impact on the sender, not on personal details.

Return Date

Always include the date you plan to return. This is one of the most essential information in your message. It lets the sender decide whether to wait for your reply or move forward with someone else.

Alternate Contact Person(s)

If someone else is available to help while you’re gone, you need to list their name, email, and phone number. It gives the sender the next step and helps provide alternative contacts.

Response Timeframe (If Any)

If you’ll be working remotely or checking your inbox while away, mention that you’ll respond to emails occasionally. If you won’t be checking email at all, you have to let people know what kind of response times they can anticipate.

Sign-Off

Remember to close your message with a short, professional sign-off. Use your name and title to keep it consistent with the rest of your business communication. You can also include your company name or department if needed.

You can also use sign-offs like best regards, kind regards, or warm regards, depending on your preference.

Tone and Style Considerations

An out-of-office message should reflect your professional tone. While the structure stays the same, the wording can shift slightly depending on your role and the audience you serve.

If you work in a relaxed environment or have a close relationship with your clients or colleagues, a slightly more friendly language is pleasing. Even then, the message should still sound respectful.

You also need to think about the type of communication your contacts expect from you. If you usually speak in clear communication, keep that consistent.

If you’re in marketing, creative services, or a more personal-facing role, you might use a warmer or friendlier tone. Either way, keep the message professional and focused on the information that matters most.

Advanced Tips for Out-of-Office Replies

Beyond the basics, there are a few key choices that can make your out-of-office message more effective. These tips help you handle various scenarios while keeping your message appropriate for your audience.

Should You Include Your Return Date?

Including your return date sets expectations and helps others plan their communication around your schedule. 

If you’re unsure of the exact return date, it’s better to give a general timeframe than to leave it out entirely. Without this information, people may follow up too soon or avoid confusion by assuming you’re ignoring their message.

What to Do if You Don’t Want to Share Why You’re Out

You’re not required to explain your absence. If the reason is personal or simply unrelated to your work relationships, you can focus on your availability instead.

A professional tone and precise return date are enough. The message should answer when you’ll be back and who to contact in your absence.

When to Mention Emergency Contact Options

You only need to include an emergency contact if there’s a real need for it. This applies in roles where your work is critical to daily operations, client accounts, or project timelines.

If someone else can step in to handle time-sensitive matters, you need to provide their name and contact details. 

How SMS Fills the Gaps in Out-of-Office Communication

While email auto-replies are a standard part of stepping away from work, they might not be enough in fast-moving, client-facing environments. Customers expect quick responses, and delays can leave them wondering if their message was received or if help is coming at all.

Text messages are immediate, and they’re read quickly. When someone gets a timely text in response, it reassures them that their message matters, even if the person they contacted isn’t available at the moment.

Using email with SMS allows you to cover more ground. It gives you a second channel to follow up, redirect urgent needs, or even move leads forward without manual effort.

You’re no longer limited to one reply as you’re offering a communication experience that feels responsive and attentive, even while you’re away.

How Textellent Keeps Your Business Responsive

Email auto-replies are helpful, but they’re limited to the inbox. SMS expands your reach and ensures every message matters when you’re away. 

If you’re on vacation, out sick, or just off the clock, Textellent’s intelligent automation keeps your customers informed, engaged, and taken care of.

No One Feels Ignored

Textellent’s automated response works instantly. If someone fills out a form, sends a keyword-based inquiry, or triggers a message through your website, Textellent replies with a custom SMS right away. It ensures that no message sits unanswered and no customer feels overlooked.

Where Textellent stands out is what happens after that first reply. If the contact doesn’t respond, Textellent’s Speed-to-Lead system automatically follows up. 

These messages are part of a sequence designed to keep the conversation alive and personal, even without a human behind the screen.

Keep Conversations Going

Rather than ending things after one message, Textellent connects that initial reply to a full drip campaign. If the customer doesn’t engage right away, the system sends well-timed follow-ups to check in, share relevant info, or redirect them to support.

This is a valuable advantage if you have limited support hours or small teams. You stay present in the customer’s journey, even while you’re offline. Every touchpoint feels intentional, and the risk of cold leads or dropped requests is reduced.

Set Up That Works With Your Workflow

You don’t need to build a complex system to make Textellent work for your business. Once your account is created, setup is simple:

• Connect your tools with Chrome extensions, Zapier, or API integrations
• Segment your audience using interaction history or tags
• Write personalized messages tailored to how and when people reach you
• Schedule replies and follow-ups based on customer actions
• Track engagement with in-depth performance reports

It’s a complete system that works in the background, so your business always looks responsive and professional.

Out-of-Office Messaging, Upgraded

Textellent doesn’t replace your autoresponder email but rather complements and improves it. Using SMS to deliver quick, meaningful responses keeps your brand connected where customers are most active.

Let Textellent Handle Your Out-of-Office Replies

Going out of office shouldn’t mean going out of reach. While standard email auto-replies offer basic updates, they often leave customers hanging when timing matters most.

Textellent gives your business a smarter way to stay connected with fast, personalized SMS responses that engage, reassure, and follow up when you can’t.

With Textellent, every inquiry gets an immediate response. If a lead is unresponsive, Textellent’s Speed-to-Lead system automatically follows up with thoughtful, well-timed texts.

If you’re away for the day or on extended leave, Textellent helps you send timely replies, trigger drip campaigns, and segment messages based on customer actions.

Ready to make your out-of-office replies smarter, faster, and more human? Let Textellent keep your business responsive even when you’re off the clock.

Sign up for a free trial or book a demo and see how effortless it is to stay connected!

FAQs About Out-of-Office Message

What is the best out-of-office message?

The best out-of-office message is short, informative, and sets expectations clearly. It should mention when you’ll be away, whether your office email will be monitored, and who to contact in your absence.

Here’s an example:

“Thank you for your message. I’m currently out of the office and will return on [date]. I have limited access to my inbox and will not be checking regularly. For urgent issues, please contact [colleague’s name at email] or reach me by email or phone if necessary.”

What message should you leave when out of office?

Your message should include a clear subject line, state your return date, and offer an alternate contact. You don’t need to include personal details and focus on what the sender needs to know to move forward and maintain effective communication.

How do you write a good OOO message?

To write a good out-of-office (OOO) message, you can follow these steps:

1. Greet the sender politely
2. State that you’re out of the office
3. Include your return date
4. Add a backup contact if needed
5. End with a courteous sign-off

You can also note if you’ll be checking emails intermittently, and avoid using overly informal language that may not suit professional settings.

What is a good auto-response message?

A good auto-response message communicates your unavailability and what the sender should do next. Let them know if you’re away for the holiday season, on leave, or simply unavailable. 

A warm sign-off, like happy holidays, can also be included during festive times. You need to mention whom they can contact and acknowledge any inconvenience caused.