59+ Out of Office Message Examples You Can Use Right Now

In this post, we've curated 69 out-of-office (OOO) message examples you can use right now.

You see, a missed call or unanswered text creates a moment where your client can form an opinion about your business. You don’t want that.

That said, a good out-of-office message turns that moment into a professional, reassuring experience. A bad one, on the other hand, leaves callers confused and frustrated.

The problem is that most professionals and businesses set up their out-of-office messages once and then forget about them. The result? Outdated return dates, missing contact details, and vague wording cost you customer satisfaction without you even knowing it.

iPlum can help you fix this.

For starters, iPlum is a mobile-first phone system built for team management, security, and scale that lets you set up a dedicated out-of-office greeting.

It also lets you pair your greetings with auto-reply messages and automatically respond to incoming text messages on your existing phone. That way, whether you're on sick leave, on business travel, or away for an extended period, iPlum ensures your callers always get a professional response.

In this article, we'll walk you through tips on how to write effective OOO messages, plus 51+ message examples you can use right away.

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Table of Contents

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1.How to send out-of-office messages effectively

2. 59+ Out-of-Office Message Examples You Can Use Right Away?

3. Send out-of-office messages effectively with iPlum

4. Set up your out-of-office message with a few clicks

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How to send out-of-office messages effectively

Before you pick a template, it helps to know what separates an effective OOO message from one that annoys callers.

Here's how to go about it.

• State your return date clearly: Tell callers the specific date you'll be back. "I'm out of the office until May 12 and will respond to your message on May 13" is far more useful than "I'm currently away." Callers need a response timeline they can plan around.

• Give callers a next move: After your return date, tell callers what to do. Should they leave a message, send an email, or call a backup contact? An effective OOO message always answers the question: what should I do right now?

• Include alternative contact information: For urgent matters and urgent requests, point callers to a colleague, a support team, or an emergency contact. Don't leave them with no options.

• Match the tone to your industry: A professional tone works for every business, but the exact wording differs. Healthcare and legal professionals need more formal language to meet compliance expectations. Other businesses can afford to be warmer and more conversational.

• Keep it short: Two to four sentences are enough. Long messages lose callers before they get to the important part.

• Check for grammatical errors: A message full of typos or broken sentences undermines your credibility. Proofread before you publish.

• Update it every time: Set a reminder to update your out-of-office message before you leave and revert it the moment you return. An OOO message referencing a trip from two months ago can make clients feel you're not paying attention.

With that out of the way, let’s get to the actual messages.

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59+ Out-of-Office Message Examples You Can Use Right Away

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Short and Professional Out-of-Office Messages

These are clean, no-frills messages for standard absences.

1. "Hi, you've reached [Name]. I'm out of the office from [start date] to [return date]. Leave your name and number, and I'll get back to you on [return date]."
2. "Thanks for calling [Business Name]. I'm away until [date]. For urgent requests, contact [Name] at [phone number]. Otherwise, leave a message, and I'll respond when I'm back."
3. "You've reached [Name] at [Company]. I'm currently out of the office. Leave a message, and I'll respond to your message on [return date]."
4. "Hi, this is [Name]. I'm not available right now. I'll be back on [date] and will return your call then."
5. "Thank you for calling. I'm out of the office until [date]. Please leave your name, number, and a brief reason for your call, and I'll get back to you."

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Auto Reply Messages for Text

These work as automatic replies to incoming text messages.

1. "Thanks for your message. I'm out of the office until [date] and have limited access to my phone. I'll get back to you on [return date]."
2. "Hi! I'm currently away on business travel. I'll respond to your message when I return on [date]. For urgent matters, contact [Name] at [number]."
3. "Thanks for reaching out. I'm on leave until [date] with limited access to email and messages. I'll respond as soon as I'm back."
4. "Auto response: I'm out of the office until [date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [Name] at [number] or email [address]."
5. "Hi, thanks for your message. I'm currently unavailable until [return date]. I'll reply on my first business day back."

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Holiday OOO Messages

Use these for public holidays and holiday closures.

1. "Happy [holiday name]! Our office is closed for the holiday and will reopen on [date]. Leave a message, and we'll call you back on our first business day."
2. "Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We're closed for [holiday name] and will return on [date]. For urgent issues, email [address]."
3. "Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! Our office is closed from [start date] to [return date]. We'll respond to all messages when we reopen."
4. "Hi, you've reached [Name]. I'm on holiday leave and will be back on [specific date]. I'll get back to you then. Happy [holiday name]!"
5. "Our office is closed for the holiday. We'll be back on [date] during regular business hours. Leave a message, and we'll get back to you soon."
6. "Hi, you've reached [Name]. Our office is closed for [public holiday] and reopens on [date]. Leave a message, and we'll call you back."
7. "Thanks for calling. We're observing [holiday name] and will reopen on [specific date]. For urgent issues, email [address]."

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Sick Leave Out-of-Office Messages

Keep these brief and professional.

1. "Hi, this is [Name]. I'm on sick leave and will return on [date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [colleague name] at [number]."
2. "Thanks for calling. I'm currently on sick leave. I'll respond to your message when I return. For urgent matters, reach [Name] at [number]."
3. "You've reached [Name]. I'm on medical leave until [date]. Please contact [backup contact] at [number] for immediate help."
4. "Hi, I'm on sick leave and have limited access to my messages. I'll respond as soon as I'm back. For urgent inquiries, contact [Name] at [phone number]."
5. "Thanks for your message. I'm on sick leave until [return date]. For billing inquiries or general inquiries, email [address] or contact [team member] at [number]."
6. "Hi, I'm out until [date]. For billing inquiries, email [address] with your order number. I'll respond to all other messages on my return."
7. "Thanks for calling. For general inquiries, email [address]. For billing inquiries, contact [Name] at [number]. I'll be back on [date]."

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Parental Leave Out-of-Office Messages

1. "Hi, you've reached [Name]. I'm on parental leave until [date]. During my absence, [colleague name] will handle all urgent requests. You can reach them at [number]."
2. "Thanks for calling. I'm on parental leave and will be back on [specific date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [Name] at [number]."
3. "Hi, this is [Name] at [Company]. I'm on parental leave until [return date]. I'll have limited access to email and messages during this time. Please contact [backup contact] for anything urgent."

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Extended Leave Out-of-Office Messages

Use these for longer absences where callers need more information.

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1. "Hi, you've reached [Name]. I'm on extended leave from [start date] to [return date]. During this time, [Name] will handle all urgent matters. You can reach them at [number] or [email]."
2. "Thanks for reaching out. I'm away on extended leave until [date]. For general inquiries, email [address]. For urgent issues, contact [team member] at [phone number]."
3. "You've reached [Name] at [Company]. I'm on extended leave and will return on [date]. Leave your name, number, and order number if applicable, and I'll get back to you when I'm back."

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Business Travel Out-of-Office Messages

1. "Hi, this is [Name]. I'm on business travel until [date] and have limited access to email and messages. I'll respond on my return. For urgent requests, contact [Name] at [number]."
2. "Thanks for calling [Business Name]. I'm traveling for work until [return date]. Leave a message, and I'll call you back on my first business day back."
3. "Hi, you've reached [Name]. I'm currently on business travel with limited access to my phone. For immediate assistance, please contact [colleague] at [number]."

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Holiday Closure Messages for Businesses

1. "Thanks for calling [Company Name]. Our office is closed for the holiday season from [start date] to [return date]. We'll respond to all messages when we reopen on [date]."
2. "Hi, you've reached [Business Name]. We're closed for [holiday name]. Our regular business hours resume on [date]. For urgent matters, email [address]."
3. "Happy holidays from [Company Name]! We're currently closed and will reopen on [date]. Leave a message with your name, number, and a brief reason for your call."

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Out-of-Office Messages with Alternative Contacts

1. "Hi, you've reached [Name]. I'm out of the office until [date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [Name] at [phone number] or email [address]."
2. "Thanks for calling. I'm currently unavailable. For urgent matters, reach [backup contact] at [number]. I'll get back to all other messages on [return date]."
3. "You've reached [Name] at [Company]. I'm on leave until [date]. For technical support, contact [Name] at [number]. For billing inquiries, email [address]."
4. "Hi, this is [Name]. I'm out until [return date]. Please contact [alternative contact] at [number] for immediate help. I'll respond to all messages when I'm back."
5. "Hi, I'm out until [date] with limited access to email. For urgent matters, contact [Name] at [number]."
6. "Thanks for your message. I'm traveling until [return date]. I'll reply when I'm back. For immediate assistance, reach [Name] at [number]."

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Professional Out-of-Office Messages for Client-Facing Roles

1. "Thank you for calling [Name] at [Company]. I'm currently out of the office and will return on [specific date]. I'll respond to your message on my first business day back."
2. "Hi, you've reached [job title] [Name] at [Company]. I'm away until [date]. For urgent inquiries, contact [Name] at [number]. I'll respond to all other messages on [return date]."
3. "Thanks for reaching out to [Company]. I'm currently on leave until [date]. I'll respond to all email communications and messages as soon as I return."
4. "Hi, you've reached [job title] [Name]. I'm out from [start date] to [return date]. For urgent inquiries, contact [Name] at [number]."
5. "Thanks for contacting [job title] [Name]. I'm on leave until [return date]. For immediate needs, reach [Name] at [number]."

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Automatic Response Messages for Customer-Facing Businesses

1. "Hi, thanks for contacting [Business Name]. We've received your message and will respond on our next business day. For immediate needs, call [phone number] during business hours."
2. "Auto response from [Company]: We're closed right now. Our business hours are [hours]. We'll respond to your message on [date]."
3. "Thanks for your message. Our automated messages are active outside business hours. We'll respond to your message on the next business day."
4. "Hi, this is an auto reply from [Business Name]. We've received your message. For immediate assistance, please contact [Name] at [number]."
5. "Hi, I'm away until [return date]. I'll respond to your message on my first business day back. For immediate help, reach [support team] at [number]."
6. "Thanks for your message. I'm out until [date] with limited access to email. For urgent requests, contact [emergency contact] at [number]."

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Out-of-Office Messages for External Contacts

1. "Hi, you've reached [Name]. I'm out of the office and have limited email access until [date]. External contacts can reach [Name] at [number] for urgent requests."
2. "Thanks for calling [Business Name]. I'm currently away. For external contacts with urgent issues, please reach [team member] at [number] or email [address]."

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Out-of-Office Email Messages

These work for office emails and automated replies.

1. "Hi, thanks for your message. I'm out of the office from [start date] to [return date], with limited email access. I'll respond to your message when I return. For urgent matters, contact [Name] at [email]."
2. "Thanks for your email. I'm on leave until [return date] and have limited access to email. I'll respond as soon as I'm back. For immediate help, please contact [backup contact] at [email]."
3. "Hi, I'm currently on [holiday name] leave with no email access. I'll respond to all office emails on [return date]. For urgent inquiries, contact [Name] at [email]."
4. "Thanks for reaching out. I'm away until [date]. My emails are not being automatically forwarded during this period. I'll respond when I return on [date]."
5. "Hi, this is an auto response from [Name]. I'm on leave until [return date]. For immediate assistance, contact [support team] at [email or phone number]."
6. "Thanks for your message. I'm currently out of the office with limited access to email. I'll respond on [date]. Please include your personal contact information in your message so I can get back to you promptly."

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Send out-of-office messages effectively with iPlum

Writing a good out-of-office message is half the job. The other half is making sure it reaches every caller and text sender automatically, every time.

iPlum allows you to:

Set Up Your Out-of-Office Greeting in Minutes

iPlum lets you set up a dedicated out-of-office greeting that plays automatically when you're unavailable. 

All you need to do is log in to the iPlum web portal, navigate to your user settings, toggle the out-of-office feature on, and type your message. iPlum converts your message into speech using text-to-speech technology, or you can upload a custom audio file if you prefer your own voice. 

Learn how to set it up here.

Automatically Reply to Missed Calls and Texts

iPlum lets you set up automatic replies for missed calls and texts, so clients know you received their message even when you can't pick up. That way, no caller is left in the dark.

See how iPlum handles auto replies.

Set Business Hours and Let iPlum Do the Rest

For professionals who need to set realistic expectations around business hours, iPlum's business hours settings send calls outside set hours to voicemail or trigger an out-of-office greeting automatically. 

Callers get a consistent, professional response regardless of when they call. 

Read more here.

Get Your Voicemails as Text

iPlum can convert your voicemail into a readable text transcript and deliver it to your inbox alongside the audio file. You can then review messages and prioritize urgent matters as soon as you're back. 

See how voicemail transcription works.

Stay Compliant While You're Away

For healthcare, legal, and financial professionals, iPlum's HIPAA-compliant environment means all of this happens inside an encrypted, secure platform. With iPlum, your clients' personal contact information and message content remain protected.

Stop Your Phone from Ringing Entirely

You can pair your out-of-office greeting with iPlum's Do Not Disturb feature to stop your iPlum number from ringing entirely while you're away. 

Set up Do Not Disturb here.

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Set up your out-of-office message with a few clicks

Sign up for iPlum and create professional auto replies in minutes. You also get ready-to-use message templates. 

Click the link below to get started.

Sign up for iPlum

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