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100 Out of Office Message Templates

October 26, 2026 · 3 min read · By the DollarWise team
100 Out of Office Message Templates
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Out-of-office messages are read at the worst possible moment — someone needs you, and you are not there. A good one does three things fast: says when you are back, says who can help instead, and sets expectations about replies. This pack gives you one hundred messages in four tones — formal, friendly, funny, and minimal — so you can match the message to your workplace instead of copying the same stiff template everyone else uses.

What’s inside this resource

The four tones exist because workplaces differ: a law firm wants formal, a startup wants friendly, a team that knows you well tolerates funny, and a busy inbox wants minimal. Each tone covers the same five situations — holiday, sick leave, conference, busy period, and limited access — so you always have a fitting option.

The resource (sample)

  1. Thank you for your email. I am out of the office until [date] with limited access to email. For urgent matters, please contact [name] at [email]. I will respond on my return.
  2. Hi! I am away until [date] and will catch up on emails when I am back. Need help sooner? [Name] at [email] has you covered.
  3. I am currently out of office, probably somewhere with worse Wi-Fi than yours. Back on [date] — [name] can help until then.
  4. Away until [date]. Contact [name] at [email] for urgent items. Replies resume on return.
  5. Thanks for writing! I am on holiday until [date] and offline on purpose. For anything urgent, [name] is your person.

How to use this resource

  1. Always include your return date and one named contact — a message without either just creates a second email.
  2. Match the tone to your workplace, not your mood — funny is only funny where it is welcome.
  3. Set the message to turn off automatically on your return date so it never lies.
  4. For long absences, say whether you will reply to old emails or only new ones.
  5. Keep it short: nobody reads a long auto-reply, and long ones look unprofessional.

A resource is only useful when it gets used — pick one item today, use it as written, and adapt it from experience rather than from theory.

Frequently asked questions

Should I say where I am going?

Only if it is relevant and safe. “On annual leave” is enough; exact locations and dates are information you do not need to broadcast.

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How long should an out-of-office message be?

Three to five lines. Return date, alternate contact, and reply expectation — everything else is noise.

What if I check email while away?

Say so honestly: “limited access” means you may reply slowly. Do not promise a full reply if you will not give one.

Download the 100 Out of Office Message Templates

#email#templates#workplace
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Written by the DollarWise team

We turn confusing money topics into plain-English guides for beginners. Every article is written to be actionable on day one — no jargon, no hype, no sales pitch.

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