Best regards, Kind regards, Best wishes, Yours sincerely - which to use and when

Best regards

"Best regards" is probably the most popular signoff for an email or letter. It can be used both formally in a professional or business setting, but it can also be used informally, say in birthday card or personal letter. If you are really unsure of which to include "Best regards" is probably the best and safest choice for you.

Kind regards

"Kind regards" is usually a little more formal than "Best regards". We would recommend to use "Kind regards" in a professional email or business letter where you feel comfortable with the person you are emailing or writing to, and it should not be used personal correspondence. Using another sentence before "Kind regards" can either make you sound less or more professional, as you are required to be, for example:

Formal Use of Kind regards

Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you have any further queries.
Kind regards,
Your Name

Less Formal Use of Kind regards

I look forward to talking to you more soon, enjoy your day!
Kind regards,
Your Name

Regards

Using just the words "Regards" would definitely be in a professional business email or letter. We also think that it doesn't necessarily invoke as much "kindness" or "lightheartedness", as "Kind regards". It may be used by someone that keeps their emails short and sweet and someone that doesn't have to go overboard with kindness. If you are using just "Regards", be careful that you don't come off to the person you are writing to, as not caring about the business or opportunity that you are writing about.

Warm regards

We have mixed feelings about using the words "Warm regards" in business emails or professional correspondence. If you know the customer or client personally that you are emailing, we think this is okay, but if you writing cold emails or emailing potential customers that have only inquired about your services and have not yet bought, stick to something more like "Kind regards" or "Best regards" until you get to know them more. Also, "Warm regards" may be more likely to be used in festive message or at a time when more "warmth" is required, for example:

Warm regards in a festive email or letter

Happy holidays to you and your family.
Warm regards,
Your Name

Warm regards, when more warmth is required

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your grandma. My deepest condolences.
Warm regards,
Your Name

Yours sincerely

"Yours sincerely" is a very professional way to end a business email or letter, but if you're only a small business, we would advise with going with something a little less formal. Leave "Yours sincerely" for the corporate companies, and get a little more personal with your email by using "Kind regards" or "Best regards" instead. However, if you are writing to a corporate company about a potential job or internship, where they are likely to use "Yours sincerely" in a more formal setting, we would recommend using it too.

Yours faithfully

Do people even use "Yours faithfully" any more? We certainly haven't come across it in any business or personal correspondence in the last five to ten years. Our recommendation, go with something a little more modern and upbeat, or have a good reason to be writing the particular word "faithfully".

Yours faithfully - the only good reason to write it

I never cheated on you with your best friend.
Yours faithfully,
Your Name

#kidding

All the best

We actually really like this one. It can be used in professional or informal writing. It invokes a sense of kindness that you are wishing them all the best, but it's shorter than saying "I wish you all the best". Use this if you don't need to be overly formal and are ok with more of a relaxed tone with the person you are emailing.

Our Email Signature Templates

End your emails with style using our Email Signature Templates