18+ Thank-You Letter Examples & Templates

Even in the advent of electronic mail, letters continue to be one of the most efficient means of communication to parties from both the online and offline community. A common example of these handwritten or typewritten documents includes the thank-you letter.

As a convenient way of expressing our gratitude toward others, thank-you letters play an important role in various settings. But for the letter to serve its intended purpose, it must be written clearly and concisely for a recipient to grasp.

Elements of a Thank-You Letter

A thank-you letter is no different from an average letter. But if you’re sending a letter to a client or manager, you may want to take note of the essential components that every formal letter should have.

1. The Heading: This part of the document contains the recipient’s address and the date of when the letter is sent. With casual and friendly letters, however, the address is no longer necessary, especially if you plan to deliver the letter in person.
2. Salutation or Greetings: Many thank-you letters begin with the greeting Dear followed by the name of the person you are writing to. This may include the receiver’s title and first or last name, with a comma written at the very end. In most cases, this type of letter is written with a casual greeting.
3. The Body: The information you wish to communicate to another individual or entity can be found in the body of the letter. This is where you can express your words of gratitude toward a specific audience in a short and straightforward manner. In fact, a few paragraphs will be enough to make your message clear.
4. The Closing: The closing section marks the end your letter. A thank-you letter may have the words Sincerely, Your friend, Love, Very truly yours, among others. Like your salutation, the closing must also end with a comma.
5. Signature: Located directly below the letter closing is your signature. Adding your name on print is vital to indicate who the writer and sender of the letter is for receivers to stay informed.

18+ Thank-You Letter Templates

Restaurant Follow Up Thank You Letter Example

Restaurant Meeting Thank You Letter Example

Appreciation Thank-You Letter

Business Thank-You Letter Template

Real Estate Thank-You Letter

Thank-You Letter after Interview

Thank-You Letter after Job Acceptance

Thank-You Letter after Phone Interview

Thank-You Letter for Job Offer Template

Thank-You Letter for Sponsoring Education

Thank-You Letter to Boss after Resignation

Thank-You Letter to Boss for Support

High School Scholarship Thank You Letter Sample

Scholarship Recipient Thank You Letter

Thank-You Letter for Management Training Program

Thank-You Letter for Legal Assistant Job

Thank-You Letter for Gala Event

Job Offer Thank-You Letter

Post-Interview Thank-You Letter

How to Create a Thank-You Letter

For many years, we’ve often struggled with the right way to say thank you. While today’s society continues to find new methods to extend their thanks through instant messaging and social media, sending a thank-you note will always be the perfect option for those who wish to deliver their message through a more personal approach.

WHO

There are a variety of reasons as to why people choose to write thank-you letters. While interview thank-you emails are one of the easiest ways to convey your sentiments toward a potential employer, many applicants still recognize the value in traditional letters. A thank-you letter may also be addressed to a friend, family member, or colleague.

WHAT

Thank-you letters usually contain words of gratitude, whether or not the words “Thank you” were expressed directly. It also explains your specific reason for writing. It could be your way of showing your appreciation toward someone who has given a gift, provided a service, or done a favor for your convenience and benefit.

WHEN

While there isn’t an actual rule as to when these letters should be sent out, it’s always a good idea to do it as quickly as possible. Set a 24-hour deadline for yourself to keep the letter timely and relevant. But if you’re writing the same type of letter to more than a dozen people at a time, consider sending the letter within a month after the event.

Tips to Achieving an Impressive Thank-You Letter

Here are a few tips to help you create a thank-you letter worth remembering.

• Send it as soon as possible. To avoid the delay, take the time to sit down and write your letter. This is especially important when sending your thanks right after a job interview. Unlike a thank-you card, thank-you letters don’t require a lot of work to complete, so you won’t be sacrificing too much of your time to write one.
• Make it positive and sincere. Try not to go overboard with your message. Some thank-you letters can seem insincere and forced because of the way they are written. So instead, focus on the positives and try not to exaggerate your point.
• Personalize your content. Be sure to personalize each thank-you letter you send. Every case is different, so your reasons for saying thanks will likely vary with different recipients.
• Keep it brief and to the point. A good way to make a person understand exactly what you appreciate is to specify what you are saying thank you for. You need to go a bit into detail in regards to your main intentions for writing, as you can never assume your recipient would know everything about it.   
• Edit before sending. Never forget to proofread your letter carefully before printing and sending it. A good thank-you letter has to be well written and error-free. This means the absence of any grammar or spelling mistakes that may potentially ruin the essence of your message.

Types of Thank-You Letters

There isn’t an established rule as to when a thank-you letter is most applicable. After all, there’s no harm in sending a thank-you letter out of the blue, for no exact reason. But if you’re looking to justify your purpose for writing the letter, here are a few situations where sending a thank-you letter is most common:

Job Interview Thank-You Letter

After wrapping up an interview for a job you’re eager to land, you’d want to raise your chances of getting the job by leaving a lasting impression that’s sure to be noticed. Sending a thank-you letter gives you the opportunity to highlight your candidacy in a subtle yet memorable manner.

Saying Thank-You to a Colleague

Sending a thank-you letter to a colleague is a professional gesture that’s hard to ignore. It’s not unusual for someone to feel unappreciated and unrecognized at work despite the time and effort they exert to fulfill their daily tasks, so by writing a simple thank-you letter, you can solidify working relationships with these unsung heroes.

Thanking Friends and Family

Sometimes, we forget how important it is to show how grateful we are to the people closest to us. These are the people who would cross oceans and move mountains just to see us happy and succeed in life. When a heartfelt face-to-face thank-you is physically impossible or hard to do, a thank-you postcard, letter, note, or email would do.

Thank-You Letter Sizes

If you want to stick with the traditional method of delivering letters as opposed to sending the letter as an email attachment, you can have the letter printed on a 8.5″ × 11″ ANSI A (letter) paper, as this is also considered to be the standard printing size for nearly any purpose.

Thank-You Letter FAQs

Let’s have a look at some of the most frequently asked questions regarding thank-you letters:

1. How can I make a thank-you letter?

The great thing about thank-you letters is that they only require less than ten minutes of your time to create. You can write your letter by hand or type it on the computer to make it easier for you to locate any spelling or grammar errors while writing. The letter should be brief and to the point to successfully deliver your message.

2. What is the purpose of a thank-you letter?

A thank-you letter is vital in both personal and business communication. We often send thank-you letters to express our appreciation toward someone who has done something for us. The letter may be written to show your gratitude for a job opportunity given, a gift received, a friendship formed, or for virtually anything you’re thankful for.

3. Why is a thank-you letter important?

In the world of business, a thank-you letter is known to be an effective marketing tool that can get you to the next round with a prospective employer. It’s a critical element of your job-search strategy which can help you establish credibility as an applicant. This will help you develop a rapport and increase the hiring manager’s comfort level in your candidacy.

Thank-you letters continue to be an essential component to the success of your job search. It’s a great way to reconnect and cement relationships with friends, relatives, and colleagues as well. So with the help of these letter templates and examples, you can create a meaningful thank-you letter in no time!