You’ve probably stared at your screen for three minutes straight, cursor blinking right after the word "Thanks." It feels silly. You just wrote a 200-word email about a Q3 budget shift, yet the hardest part is the last two words. Most of us default to "Best" because it’s safe. It’s the beige paint of the corporate world. But honestly? It’s also kinda cold. If you’re trying to build a real relationship, friendly email sign offs are the secret sauce that makes you seem like a human being instead of a ticket-processing robot.
The digital era has nuked our ability to read social cues. In person, you have a smile or a wave. In an email, you have a string of characters. If you end a helpful message with "Sincerely," you sound like you’re writing from a Victorian boarding school. If you end it with nothing, you’re the jerk who didn't say goodbye. We’re stuck in this weird middle ground where "Cheers" feels too British for an American office, and "Warmly" feels a bit like a hug from someone you don’t actually want to hug.
The Psychology of the Last Impression
Psychologists talk about the "recency effect." Basically, people remember the end of an experience more vividly than the middle. Your email signature isn't just a formality; it's the lingering taste you leave in someone's mouth. If you’ve been helpful and collaborative throughout the body of the message, but you close with a stiff, formal sign-off, you’ve effectively hit a sour note right at the finish line.
Dr. Andrew Coleman, a professor of psychology, has noted how social cues are easily misinterpreted in text-based communication. Without facial expressions, the "friendly" part of friendly email sign offs has to do a lot of heavy lifting. It bridges the gap between professional distance and genuine human connection.
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Think about the last time you got an email that ended with "Talk soon!" It feels different than "I look forward to our next correspondence." One sounds like a person you’d grab coffee with. The other sounds like a legal summons.
Why "Best" is Actually the Worst
We use "Best" because we're afraid. We don't want to overstep. We don't want to be "too much." But "Best" is short for "Best regards," which is already a watered-down version of "With my highest regards." By the time you get to just "Best," you’ve stripped away all the warmth. It’s efficient, sure. But it’s also remarkably lazy. It says, "I am ending this interaction now with the minimum required effort."
If you want to actually be friendly, you have to be specific.
Mastering the Art of the Casual Close
Let’s get into the weeds of what actually works. You don’t need a thesaurus. You need a vibe check.
"Take care" is a classic for a reason. It’s genuinely kind. It implies that you value the person’s well-being outside of whatever task you’re hounding them about. However, use it carefully. If you say "Take care" to someone who just missed a deadline, it can sound slightly passive-aggressive. Context matters.
Then there’s "Have a great rest of your [Day]." This is the workhorse of friendly email sign offs. It’s hard to mess up. "Have a great Tuesday" shows you at least know what day it is. It’s grounded in time and space. It’s a small nudge that says, "I recognize we are both living through this specific week together."
The "Thanks" Variation
Most of us use "Thanks" as a sign-off even when we haven't asked for anything.
"Here is the file you wanted. Thanks."
Wait. Thanks for what? Thanks for asking for the file? It’s a reflex.
If you want to level up, try:
- "Thanks for your help with this."
- "Thanks for the quick turnaround!"
- "Many thanks." (This one feels slightly more formal but still soft).
A study by the email app Boomerang found that emails ending with some variation of "thank you" had significantly higher response rates than those with other closings. Gratitude is a massive lever. It’s hard to be mad at someone who is thanking you, even if they’re asking you to do something annoying.
Navigating the "Warmly" Minefield
"Warmly" is polarizing. Some people love it because it feels like a literal blanket. Others find it incredibly creepy in a professional setting.
If you’re emailing a close colleague you’ve known for three years? "Warmly" is great.
If you’re emailing a stranger to pitch a software service? "Warmly" feels like you’re standing too close to them in an elevator.
The rule of thumb here is simple: Match the energy. If they are formal, stay formal. If they use an emoji, feel free to drop a "Best" and add a smiley face. Mirroring is a powerful tool in negotiation and relationship building. It works for sign-offs too.
Breaking the Rules: When to Go Rogue
Sometimes the best friendly email sign offs aren't sign-offs at all. They’re "microsignatures."
I once worked with a creative director who ended every single email with "Onward." It wasn't "friendly" in the traditional sense, but it was incredibly personal. It became his brand. You knew exactly who was talking to you.
You can try things like:
- "Happy Friday!" (But only on Fridays, obviously. Don't be that person on a Monday).
- "Hope you get some downtime this weekend."
- "Enjoy the sun!" (If you know they're in a place where the weather is actually good).
These work because they aren't canned. They require you to think for two seconds about the recipient. That’s the "expert" secret—friendliness is just another word for "I noticed you."
The Emoji Debate
Can you use emojis in friendly email sign offs? Yes.
Should you? It depends.
In 2026, the professional world is way more relaxed than it was a decade ago. A simple "Thanks! 🚀" or "Have a good one! ☀️" is perfectly acceptable in 90% of Slack-integrated workplaces. However, if you’re emailing a government agency, a law firm, or a medical professional you don't know well, leave the rocket ships at home.
When Friendliness Goes Wrong
There is a cliff. You don't want to fall off it.
"Cheers" is the most dangerous sign-off in the American lexicon. If you aren't British, Australian, or someone who spent a decade in London, "Cheers" can often come across as pretentious. It feels like you're trying a bit too hard to be the "cool traveler" type.
Similarly, avoid "Peace" or "Later." This isn't high school. You’re still a professional. There is a line between "friendly" and "dismissive." Your sign-off should never make the recipient feel like you’re rushing to get away from them.
The Industry Standard Shift
Different industries have different "gravity."
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- Tech/Startups: Highly casual. "Best," "Thanks," or even just a dash and your name (- Sarah) is the norm.
- Finance/Law: Stick to "Best regards" or "Sincerely" until you’ve met them in person at least three times.
- Creative/Marketing: This is where friendly email sign offs thrive. "Best," "Cheers," and "Talk soon" are standard.
Creating Your Own Signature Style
You don't have to overthink this every single time. Pick three "modes" and stick to them.
- The Default: "Best" or "Thanks." Use this for 70% of your emails. It’s the baseline.
- The Genuine: "Take care" or "Have a great [Day]." Use this for people you actually like or want to build a bridge with.
- The Gratitude: "Thanks again for [Specific Thing]." Use this when someone has actually helped you.
By rotating these, you avoid sounding like a bot. If you send five emails to the same person in one day and all of them end with "Best," it starts to look a little weird. Switch it up. Use "Best" for the first one, and just your name for the last one.
Implementation Steps for Better Emails
Start by auditing your sent folder. Look at the last ten emails you sent. If nine of them end with "Best," you’re in a rut.
Change your default signature settings. Most people have a static signature that includes their name and title. If you want to be truly friendly, leave the sign-off out of the "automatic" signature. Force yourself to type it manually. This prevents the "Double Sign-off" error where you type "Thanks!" and your signature automatically adds "Regards," making you look like you have a split personality.
Next, consider the "Last Sentence Pivot." Instead of relying solely on the sign-off, make the last sentence of your email do the friendly work.
Instead of:
"Please let me know your thoughts. Best, Mark."
Try:
"Really looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Best, Mark."
The difference is subtle, but the impact is real. One is a demand for feedback; the other is shared excitement.
Lastly, pay attention to how people you admire sign their emails. Influence is a two-way street. If a CEO you respect uses "Best," see how it feels when you receive it. If a mentor uses "Cheers," see if you can pull it off without feeling like an imposter.
Email is the primary way we show up in the world of work. The way you leave a conversation is just as important as how you start it. Stop being a "Best" person and start being a human. Your inbox—and your professional relationships—will thank you for it.
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Try this tomorrow: Pick one person you usually send a "formal" email to and swap your usual closing for "Have a great rest of your week." See if the tone of their reply changes. It usually does. Simple human connection doesn't require a revolution; it just requires a slightly better way to say goodbye.