100+ Out of Office Message Templates for Every Situation in 2025

What is an Out of Office Message?

An out-of-office (OOO) message is an automated email response that informs people you're currently unavailable to reply to their emails. Whether you're on vacation, attending a conference, or out sick, a well-crafted OOO message is a professional courtesy that manages expectations and ensures important matters are handled in your absence. In today's fast-paced work environment, setting up an effective auto-reply is not just good etiquette; it's a crucial part of maintaining clear and professional communication.

Taking a few moments to set up your OOO message can save you from a chaotic inbox upon your return and prevent senders from feeling ignored. This article will provide you with over 100 templates to cover any situation, ensuring you always have the right words to say, even when you're not there to say them.

Best Practices for Writing an Out of Office Message

Before we dive into the templates, let's cover some best practices for writing an effective out of office message:

• Keep it Concise and Clear: Your message should be easy to read and understand at a glance. Get straight to the point.
• State Your Return Date: Always include the dates of your absence and when you expect to return. This gives the sender a clear timeline.
• Provide an Alternative Contact: For urgent matters, provide the name and contact information of a colleague who can assist in your absence. Make sure you get their permission first!
• Set Expectations for Your Response Time: Let people know if you'll be checking emails intermittently or not at all. Be realistic about when you'll be able to respond.
• Proofread Your Message: Typos and grammatical errors can look unprofessional. Take a moment to double-check your message before activating it.

Professional Out of Office Messages

For most corporate and professional settings, a straightforward and formal OOO message is the best approach. Here are 20 templates to choose from:

1
1. Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will return on [Date]. I will respond to your email upon my return.
2
2. I am out of the office from [Start Date] to [End Date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [Colleague's Name] at [Colleague's Email].
3
3. Thank you for your email. I am currently on leave and will have limited access to email. I will respond to your message as soon as possible upon my return on [Date].
4
4. I am out of the office and will not be checking emails until my return on [Date]. For urgent matters, please email [Colleague's Name] at [Colleague's Email].
5
5. Thank you for reaching out. I am currently out of the office with no access to email. I will reply to your message upon my return on [Date].
6
6. I will be out of the office until [Date]. For urgent inquiries, please contact [Colleague's Name] at [Colleague's Email] or [Colleague's Phone Number].
7
7. Thank you for your message. I am currently attending a conference and will have limited access to email. I will respond as soon as I can.
8
8. I am currently out of the office for a business trip and will return on [Date]. I will respond to your email as soon as I'm back in the office.
9
9. Thank you for your email. I am out of the office and will respond to your message upon my return. For immediate assistance, please contact our main office at [Phone Number].
10
10. I am out of the office from [Start Date] to [End Date]. I will do my best to respond promptly upon my return.
11
11. Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office on annual leave. For urgent matters, please contact [Colleague's Name].
12
12. I am out of the office and will be back on [Date]. I will respond to my emails in the order they were received upon my return.
13
13. Thank you for your email. I am currently out of the office. Your message is important to us and will be addressed as soon as I return.
14
14. I am out of the office with limited access to email. For urgent support, please open a ticket with our support team at [Support Email].
15
15. Thank you for your message. I am out of the office and will get back to you on [Date].
16
16. I am currently out of the office for a company event. I will respond to your email when I return on [Date].
17
17. Thank you for your email. I am out of the office and will reply to your message upon my return. Have a great day!
18
18. I am out of the office until [Date]. If your matter is urgent, please resend your email to [Colleague's Name] at [Colleague's Email].
19
19. Thank you for your message. I am currently away from my desk and will be back on [Date].
20
20. I am out of the office and will respond to your message shortly. Thank you for your patience.

Funny Out of Office Messages

If your workplace has a more relaxed culture, a humorous OOO message can be a great way to show some personality. Here are 15 funny templates:

1
1. I am currently out of the office and probably sleeping on a beach somewhere. I'll get back to you when I'm back to reality on [Date].
2
2. Thanks for your email. I'm on vacation and will be responding to emails with a fruity drink in my hand. Expect delays.
3
3. I'm not in the office right now. I've gone to find myself. If I get back before I return, I'll reply to your email.
4
4. [Your Name] is currently out of the office. The robots have taken over. For help, please contact [Colleague's Name], who is a human (I think).
5
5. I'm out of the office. If you need me, please send a raven. Otherwise, I'll reply when I return on [Date].
6
6. On vacation. Hoping to win the lottery and never return. If I'm back on [Date], it means I didn't win.
7
7. I am currently out of the office. I have a cell phone, but I will not be using it for work. I'll get back to you when I return.
8
8. Thanks for your email. I'm currently on an adventure. I'll tell you all about it when I'm back on [Date].
9
9. I'm out of the office. If it's an emergency, dial 911. If it's not, please wait for my return.
10
10. Error 404: Employee not found. Just kidding, I'm on vacation. I'll be back on [Date].
11
11. I am out of the office, and my brain is too. I'll be back with a fully functioning brain on [Date].
12
12. I am currently out of the office, and I'm not taking my laptop with me. So, no, I won't be checking my emails.
13
13. I'm on vacation. If you need me, too bad.
14
14. I am currently out of the office. If you need to reach me, please send a carrier pigeon. I'll be waiting.
15
15. Out of the office. I'll be back when I'm back.

Vacation Out of Office Messages

When you're taking a well-deserved vacation, make sure your OOO message reflects that. Here are 20 vacation-themed templates:

1
1. Thank you for your message. I am currently on vacation and will return on [Date].
2
2. I am on vacation from [Start Date] to [End Date]. I will respond to your email upon my return.
3
3. Thank you for your email. I am currently on vacation with limited access to email. For urgent matters, please contact [Colleague's Name].
4
4. I am on vacation and will not be checking emails until my return on [Date].
5
5. Thank you for reaching out. I am currently on vacation. I will reply to your message upon my return.
6
6. I am on vacation until [Date]. I will respond to my emails upon my return.
7
7. Thank you for your message. I am currently on vacation. For immediate assistance, please contact [Colleague's Name].
8
8. I am on vacation and will be back in the office on [Date].
9
9. Thank you for your email. I am currently on vacation and will respond to your message when I return.
10
10. I am on vacation from [Start Date] to [End Date]. I look forward to connecting with you upon my return.
11
11. Thank you for your message. I am currently on vacation. Enjoy your week!
12
12. I am on vacation and will be offline until [Date].
13
13. Thank you for your email. I am on vacation and will reply as soon as I can upon my return.
14
14. I am on vacation and will respond to your message when I am back in the office on [Date].
15
15. Thank you for your message. I am currently on vacation. For urgent requests, please contact [Colleague's Name] at [Colleague's Email].
16
16. I am on vacation and will have no access to email. I will respond to your message upon my return on [Date].
17
17. Thank you for your email. I am currently on vacation and will be back on [Date].
18
18. I am on vacation and will get back to you as soon as I return.
19
19. Thank you for your message. I am on vacation and will respond to you upon my return. For anything urgent, please contact [Colleague's Name].
20
20. I am on vacation until [Date]. I will respond to your message as soon as I return to the office.

Holiday Out of Office Messages

During the holidays, a festive OOO message can add a nice touch. Here are 15 templates for various holidays:

1
1. Happy Holidays! I am currently out of the office and will return on [Date].
2
2. Thank you for your message. Our office is closed for the holidays and will reopen on [Date].
3
3. Season's Greetings! I am out of the office for the holiday break and will respond to your email upon my return.
4
4. Happy Thanksgiving! I am out of the office and will be back on [Date].
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5. Merry Christmas! I am out of the office and will respond to your message in the New Year.
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6. Happy New Year! I am out of the office and will return on [Date].
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7. Thank you for your message. I am out of the office for the Easter holiday and will be back on [Date].
8
8. Our office is closed in observance of [Holiday Name]. We will reopen on [Date].
9
9. Happy [Holiday Name]! I am out of the office and will respond to your message when I return.
10
10. I am out of the office for the holiday weekend and will be back on Monday.
11
11. Thank you for your email. I am out of the office celebrating [Holiday Name] with my family.
12
12. Wishing you a happy holiday season! I will be out of the office until [Date].
13
13. Our office is closed for the holidays. We look forward to connecting with you in the New Year.
14
14. I am out of the office for the holiday and will have limited access to email.
15
15. Happy Holidays! For urgent matters during the break, please contact [Colleague's Name].

Sick Leave Out of Office Messages

When you're out sick, a simple and discreet message is best. Here are 10 templates:

1
1. Thank you for your message. I am out of the office due to illness and will respond upon my return.
2
2. I am currently out of the office on sick leave. For urgent matters, please contact [Colleague's Name].
3
3. Thank you for your email. I am out sick today and will respond to your message as soon as I am able.
4
4. I am out of the office due to a medical reason and will have limited access to email.
5
5. Thank you for your message. I am on sick leave and will respond to your email upon my return.
6
6. I am out of the office today. For immediate assistance, please contact [Colleague's Name].
7
7. Thank you for your email. I am out of the office and will get back to you as soon as I can.
8
8. I am on sick leave and will be back in the office on [Date].
9
9. Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office. For urgent inquiries, please contact [Colleague's Name].
10
10. I am out of the office and will respond to your message when I return.

Parental Leave Out of Office Messages

For extended leave like parental leave, a clear and informative message is essential. Here are 10 templates:

1
1. Thank you for your email. I am currently on parental leave and will return on [Date].
2
2. I am on maternity/paternity leave until [Date]. For assistance, please contact [Colleague's Name].
3
3. Thank you for your message. I am out of the office on parental leave. I will respond to your email upon my return.
4
4. I am on parental leave and will not be checking emails until my return on [Date].
5
5. Thank you for reaching out. I am on parental leave. For all work-related matters, please contact [Colleague's Name].
6
6. I am currently on parental leave. I look forward to connecting with you upon my return on [Date].
7
7. Thank you for your email. I am on parental leave. In my absence, please direct your inquiries to [Colleague's Name].
8
8. I am out of the office on parental leave until [Date].
9
9. Thank you for your message. I am currently on parental leave. For urgent matters, please contact [Colleague's Name].
10
10. I am on parental leave and will be back in the office on [Date].

Conference/Business Trip Out of Office Messages

When you're traveling for work, let people know you might have limited access to email. Here are 10 templates:

1
1. Thank you for your email. I am currently attending a conference and will have limited access to email.
2
2. I am out of the office for a business trip and will return on [Date].
3
3. Thank you for your message. I am at a conference and will respond to your email as soon as I can.
4
4. I am currently traveling for work and will have limited access to email until [Date].
5
5. Thank you for your email. I am out of the office for a business meeting.
6
6. I am at the [Conference Name] conference this week. I will do my best to respond to your message in a timely manner.
7
7. Thank you for your message. I am out of the office on a business trip. For urgent matters, please contact [Colleague's Name].
8
8. I am currently traveling for work. I will respond to your email upon my return to the office on [Date].
9
9. Thank you for your email. I am out of the office for a work event.
10
10. I am on a business trip and will have sporadic access to email. I will reply as soon as possible.

Conclusion

A well-written out of office message is a simple yet powerful tool for maintaining professionalism and managing expectations. With these 100+ templates, you'll be prepared for any absence. And when you want to take your professional communication a step further, consider using a tool like CapCut to create engaging video messages or presentations. A short, creative video can be a great way to announce a longer leave on social media or in a company-wide newsletter, adding a personal touch to your time away.

FAQs

What is the best out of office message?

The best out of office message is clear, concise, and provides all the necessary information. It should state your return date and provide an alternative contact for urgent matters. The tone should be appropriate for your workplace culture.

How do I write a professional ooo message?

To write a professional ooo message, start with a polite greeting, clearly state your dates of absence, provide an alternative contact, and end with a professional closing. Avoid overly casual language and stick to the essential information.

Should I say why I am out of office?

It's generally not necessary to provide a specific reason for your absence. Simply stating that you are "out of the office" or "on leave" is sufficient. However, for longer leaves like parental leave, it can be helpful to provide more context.

What is a good auto reply message for vacation?

A good auto reply message for vacation should convey that you are away and will not be checking emails. It's helpful to express that you're on vacation to set the expectation that you are truly disconnecting. Always provide an emergency contact for urgent issues.