Out of Office Message Examples
Copy-ready out-of-office examples for every situation, or generate a custom one with your own name and return date below.
Out of office message examples by situation
Vacation
Hello, Thank you for your email. I am out of the office on vacation and will be back on Monday, August 12. I will have limited access to email and will reply as soon as I return. Best regards, Alex Morgan
Hi, I am currently away from the office and will return on Monday, August 12. Your message will not be forwarded, so I will get back to you once I am back at my desk. Thank you for your patience, Alex Morgan
Sick leave
Hello, Thank you for reaching out. I am out of the office today due to illness and expect to be back on Monday, August 12. I will reply to your message when I return. Best regards, Alex Morgan
Hi, I am unexpectedly out of the office on sick leave and plan to return on Monday, August 12. I apologize for any delay in my response. Thank you for understanding, Alex Morgan
Business travel
Hello, Thank you for your email. I am traveling for business with limited access to email until Monday, August 12. I will respond to your message as soon as I can. Best regards, Alex Morgan
Hi, I am currently on a business trip and will be back in the office on Monday, August 12. I am checking email intermittently and will reply as soon as possible. Thank you, Alex Morgan
Holiday closure
Hello, Thank you for your message. Our office is closed for the holiday and will reopen on Monday, August 12. I will reply to your email when we are back. Best regards, Alex Morgan
Hi, Our team is out of the office for the holiday period. We reopen on Monday, August 12 and will respond to all messages then. Happy holidays, Alex Morgan
Parental leave
Hello, Thank you for your email. I am on parental leave and will return on Monday, August 12. I will not be checking email during this time. Best regards, Alex Morgan
Hi, I am currently on parental leave until Monday, August 12 and have limited access to email. I will respond to your message after I return. Thank you for understanding, Alex Morgan
How to use these out of office examples
- 1
Pick the example that matches your situation.
- 2
Swap in your name, return date, and an urgent contact.
- 3
Paste it into your Gmail or Outlook auto-reply settings.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good out of office message example?
A good example states that you are away, gives your return date, and points urgent requests to a colleague. The examples above cover vacation, sick leave, business travel, holiday closures, and parental leave.
Are these out of office examples free to use?
Yes, copy any example for free, no signup. You can also generate a personalized version with the tool above.
Should I include a reason in my out of office message?
A brief reason like "on vacation" or "traveling for business" is fine, but keep details light. What matters most is your return date and who to contact while you are away.
How do I cover my phone while I am out of office?
Email auto-replies do not help callers. Yiriba answers your business line live while you are away, books appointments, and texts callers back, so nothing falls through the cracks.