How to write the best thank you note

The art of the handwritten thank you note is never going to go away. Especially if you live in the South, a handwritten note on personalized stationery is a rule that no girl can fail to follow. Sending handwritten thank you notes for everything from “thanks for throwing a lovely party” to a baby shower gift is the best way to show your appreciation to friends, not an email or text. Of course, it’s much more time-consuming, and there are a million reasons to put it off, but having pretty, personalized stationery will make it an easier task.

We believe that there is still a place for handwritten notes in our fast-paced society – especially for something as important and personal as the thank-you note.

Emily Post

Some tips to write the best thank you notes

1. Keep it interesting. Make it personal. Get to the point. Are you thanking someone for a gift? Tell them why you like the gift. Are you thanking someone for the party they invited you to? Mention a few details that made the party memorable.

2. Length: A few sentences. A greeting, the thank you, a fun fact, and wrap it up. 3 – 6 sentences is all the note needs to be.

3. Pen selection. I usually like to use a fountain pen or rollerball pens because my handwriting is so much prettier with that type of ink. (Recommendation: try this Amazon find – best colorful pens for note writing – they are the best and make your handwriting pretty!)

A Simple Thank You Note Breakdown by Sentence

One | Thank them for the gift / invitation / etc.

Two | Tell them why you’ll enjoy the gift / had fun at the party / will use the gift

Three | (Optional) Add a tidbit or story about the gift / party

Four | Wrap it up with an appreciation message about their friendship / generosity /

Handwritten Thank You Note Samples

For a money gift

Thank you so much for the generous gift. We purchased a new toaster for our kitchen, which has been on our wish list for quite a while! We really appreciate your thoughtful gift, and are so lucky to have friends like you to help us celebrate special moments like moving into our new home.

For a friend that dropped off dinner

Thank you so much for dropping off dinner to our house. With a newborn, it’s hard to find the time to cook meals! We were so grateful to have a meal already prepared to enjoy for dinner. We are so blessed to have such caring friends in our lives to help us during this special and busy time!

For a child’s birthday party gift

Thomas absolutely loves the Ninja Turtles, and is thrilled with the addition of the “bad guy,” Leatherhead to his toy collection. Leatherhead has already been defeated by Raf, Michaelangelo, Leo & Donatello many times. We enjoyed seeing Luke at his birthday party, and really appreciate you made the effort to come. It was a special day, and we were so happy you were able to join us for the celebration!

For a personal gift

Thank you so much for the gorgeous statement necklace you gave me at lunch! You are so sweet to remember my birthday, and it made my day. I’m so lucky to have such a thoughtful friend with good taste to listen to my mom woes & bring me stylish gifts! I hope we can get together again soon.

Classic Note Cards to Order

There’s just something nice about putting pen to a well-designed note card. I love keeping a good variety of thank you note cards so I can dash off a quick thank you note because even though writing thank you notes can be a chore (especially if you have a lot to write!) – it’s a lot more fun if you have a cute thank you note card for the task.

Here is a selection of classic thank you note designs from some of my favorite online retailers, a few tips, and handwritten thank you note samples.

Click on the image or the affiliate link to view pricing and details. I make a small commission if you decide to purchase something from one of my affiliate shops, and I’d appreciate the support!

Photo Thank You Card Shop | Pinhole Press This pretty thank you note from Pinhole Press features the photo of your choice on the back, and a simple border and personalization on the back, perfect to send a thank you note for a baby gift.

Circle Monogram Card Shop | Tinyprints This TinyPrints design is available in several different colors, and the simple and sophisticated style makes it a perfect choice for business-related notes and personal notes. Available on Tinyprints.

Simple Striped Personalized Card Shop | Minted The simple double stripes on the border and pretty font choice at the top make this a sophisticated note to keep on hand to write thank you notes. This is a great choice for business and personal, especially if you’re following up on a job interview. This card is equally perfect for personal notes. The color choices are aqua, bright pink and black. Available from Minted.

Green monogram block on front, black hounds tooth on back Shop | TinyPrints A green and black combination is a winner, and the hounds tooth print on the back makes this a fun personalized note to send.

Glittery Hello This is a fun card to send to friends with a glittery “hello” in a pretty font at the top, and your name at the bottom. Available from Minted.

See also | How to write thank you notes for baby gifts and Keeping it Classy at Work: Handwritten Notes