14 Heartfelt Thank-You Notes to Show Appreciation

Writing thank-you notes sounds simple. Many of us grew up hearing that thank-you notes were mandatory after holiday, birthday or graduation gifts, and social media overflows with pictures of gratitude journals, posters and memes.

Despite this encouragement, it can be challenging to write a proper thank-you. Unsure what to say or how to make your thank-you note look stylish and beautiful?

We’ll walk you step-by-step through designing and composing thank you notes for a variety of personal and professional situations. You’ll also discover templates to help you get started!

Did you know the average American household receives fewer than a dozen pieces of personal mail a year? That’s reason enough to say thanks with a personalized message. Piktochart has a portfolio of templates for thank-you messages; there’s no single formula for sharing thankfulness. To illustrate, we’ve designed samples for several common circumstances calling for thank-yous. 

For gifts associated with a major holiday, you can use its theme to craft your thank-you message. Let’s look at a card I designed for my sister, who bought me a book on sketchnoting (one of my favorite pastimes) at Christmas.

• Template chosen: I chose the Pretty Christmas Card template because it provides a seasonal feel, but the snowflakes also work for writing the card after the holidays, even into mid-January. 
  
• Design elements: The white and tan snowflakes complement the custom reddish-brown background. The reversed-out white type is easy to read on the darker background. 
  
• Writing tip: I focused my brief message on her thoughtfulness in finding a book I didn’t know about (praising the effort to find it), as well as how much enjoyment I will get (why I am so thankful she made that effort). 
  

Another quick example: I adapted this thank-you card from a graduation invitation template. The colors match the photo and the template provides a nice background. I used stock photos, but you can insert your own grad pic.

The art of playing host requires a lot of skills – planning and scheduling, event coordination, housekeeping and cooking, to name a few. Sending a thank-you message after you’ve been someone’s guest shows you value the time and effort they invested in your comfort and enjoyment. 

Let’s look at an example based on a friend living along Maine’s coast hosting me for a week while I worked on a book proposal.

• Template chosen: I started with a do-it-yourself template for a greeting card, then borrowed imagery from the Beyond The Sea report template. 
• Design elements: All the colors in the layout – from the calming blues of the sky and sea to the aqua of the clouds – complement each other. The cute little lighthouse looks a lot like those found on Maine’s coast! 
• Writing tips: I mentioned the salt in the sea air, the beautiful fresh-cut flowers, and the taste of the meals and dessert. I made it clear that my host’s efforts helped me enjoy my retreat, which helped me finish my writing project.

Not every thank-you note has to be a standard design or size. I decided to create a “checklist of thanks” for my spouse for all the things she does for me. 

• Template chosen: I started with the minimalist onboarding checklist template and swapped out some colors and photos to make it feel gentle but fun. We both love checklists.
• Design elements: I chose a calming light blue to complement the colors in the photo. The modules on the design made it a snap to swap in different words.
• Writing tips: I simply noted all the times and ways my spouse supports me.

Personal thank-you notes require sincerity, motivation and creativity to share your gratitude effectively. Professional thank-you notes require all that, plus a little bit of business savvy to ensure your note positions you as smart, capable and trustworthy. 

Let’s look at several examples of great professional thank-you notes using the Piktochart thank-you letter template collection. 

A post-interview thank-you note is your final chance to make the case for a potential boss to hire you. However, this message should always be centered on gratitude for the chance to discuss the position. 

• Template chosen: I picked the Small Business Thank-You template because of its clean, open design. 
• Design elements: I love the use of brick red and almost brownish tones in the letterhead design. The bottom color-block area gave me a chance to insert my own personal tagline.
• Writing tips: After thanking the interviewer, I focused on a highlight of our discussion and how I felt I might be able to help them.

For small and medium-sized businesses, striking the right tone on employee engagement materials can be challenging. A well-designed acknowledgement letter when an employee reaches a significant milestone can become a keepsake workers treasure throughout their tenure.

• Template chosen: The business thank you note template reinforced the company brand for this letter directed to an employee, from the company’s CEO. 
• Design elements: The photo in the header provides a visual reminder of what the company sells. The warm brown and green colors bring to mind the natural wood materials shown in the photo. 
• Writing tips: Although the template’s text was originally designed to thank a customer, it was simple to adapt to an employee-focused message.

Sometimes it’s important to document a milestone in a business relationship with more than a kind email. This templated letter can be emailed or sent through the postal service and provides recognition for a developing partnership with another business.

• Template chosen: I chose the thank you note to client template because of its simple yet eye-catching design. 
• Design elements: The wave motif, repeated at the top and the side of the letterhead, provide a sense of gentle motion. I love the way that the dark blue, green and white hues complement each other.
• Writing tips:  I focused my message on my partner’s ability to provide services augmenting my own, and expressed excitement about an upcoming collaboration opportunity.

One important element of writing thank-you messages is matching the tone and design of the card to your relationship with the recipient. Let’s look at two messages designed for different members of my immediate family.

My mother has a degree in elementary education, and even though she only spent a few years teaching, being an educator is just how she approaches life. I found this lovely Teacher’s Day card template and knew it would be perfect to thank her for being an excellent role model and for being the very first guide on my learning journey. The words I chose were simple, heartfelt, and direct. 

On the other hand, my sister, who recently retired, enjoys cards that both make her laugh and are a little bit classy. So I adapted a retirement party invitation to tell her thank you for being a wonderful role model as a hard worker. 

While “it’s the thought that counts” is especially true for thank-you messages, following a few simple guidelines ensures your message lands as powerfully as you meant it. 

Don’t bury your gratitude in a long missive. Make thanking your recipient the focus of your letter.

Think through what you want to say and expect to revise your first attempt.

It’s perfectly fine to start the note with “Thank you for …” It is direct and powerful and also lets them know you got their gift, if they weren’t present when you received it. 

Recapping your gratitude in a slightly different way at the end reinforces the idea that you have a multi-dimensional appreciation of the gift. 

If Uncle Howard got you a terrific bow-tie for your birthday, you can make your letter sound less transactional by connecting the neckwear with your relative’s positive traits. For example: “I’m so excited I can continue the family tradition of snappy bow-tie wearing! I’ve always admired your innovative sense of style.”

No matter how heartfelt your gratitude, there are times when the words just won’t flow. We’ve compiled several examples of phrases you can use in your message. Let these sentences prime your creative pump and help you customize your note. 

• “Thank you kindly for the chance to interview with your company this afternoon.” 
• “As president of Company/Organization X, I’d like to thank you for your recent purchase/subscription/pledge.”
• “I’m thankful to you for your work renovating my kitchen cabinets.” 
• “I appreciated your participation in our group brainstorming session.” 
• “Much obliged to you for covering my shift yesterday.” 

• “I can’t thank you enough for the tie! You have such a great sense of color and style!”
• “Many thanks for inviting us to your dinner party! Your grilled salmon was delish!” 
• “Big thanks for all you do to help mom and dad continue to live at home. I notice, and I care.” 
• “Thanks a ton for meeting me for the networking coffee. You always have great suggestions for my career.” 

Still at a loss for words? Try using Piktochart’s AI quote generator to help you find the words AND images to say thank you! Here’s an example I created in just a few minutes. 

The design of your thank-you note will shape your recipient’s response to it. Here are a few steps to use design to maximize the impact of your note.

Studying resources on the  psychology of color can help you select hues that align with your message. Using an online color wheel can help you select complementary colors that work well together.

One simple rule to make your thank-you note shine is to use heavily stylized fonts for headlines and section headings, and easier-to-read fonts such as Cambria or Open Sans in the body copy of your note.

Our quick tutorial on typography below is a good start to learn about typefaces (also known as fonts), which give personality to your content. You will also find out how to choose the right font to amplify the meaning of your message and convey your feelings.

To draw attention on your design where you want it, pay attention to these visual hierarchy rules:

• Larger objects get seen first
• Brighter elements are noticed faster
• Items grouped together are interpreted as related
• Unusual texture in a visual element will draw attention

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article, so let’s sum things up with a short step-by-step guide. You can create a personalized thank-you card to delight your recipient, even if you have no design experience!

It only takes a moment to sign up for Piktochart’s card maker – and it’s free.

There are thousands of card templates to review and compare. 

Once you open a template in your personal online workspace, you gain access to a design dashboard that lets you change fonts, adjust the color palette, and drop in different photos, icons or graphics. 

You can update the wording of the card as much or as little as you like. 

Once you’re ready to send, press the “download” button at the upper right of the workspace and select file quality appropriate for sharing in an email, posting on social media, or printing and mailing.

Need to say thanks in a hurry? Here are five templates you can personalize with minimal updates.

Try this professional cover letter template to make a lasting impression. All you need to do is update the photo and contact information (and the letter, of course). 

Does your dad have a quirky sense of humor? You could adapt this Father’s Day card template to thank him for being a good father – any day of the year!

This poster template for a work anniversary is simple, but has bright, happy color tones. It’s sure to make a vivid impression. Excellent for a quick pick-me-up message of thanks.

Although this holiday template is created to express holiday greetings to a dear cousin at the holidays, its design would be perfect for sending out a thank-you note after the gift-giving season is over. 

Gratitude is a wonderful emotion – one that benefits both the person expressing it and its recipient. Taking time to create a beautifully designed thank-you message shows you are a kind, thoughtful and unselfish person. 

With the tools and tips from this collection of thank you note examples and templates, you can show and share your gratitude in minutes.

As soon as possible after receiving a gift or attending an event, although there is never a bad time to send a thank-you. You may acknowledge thanks are belated if there’s a time gap, but remember to stay focused on your gratitude. 

Use Piktochart’s templates for beautifully designed, personalized thank-you cards and letters in a variety of formats and sizes. Download as .png, .jpg or .pdf files. 

More formal thank-you messages should, generally, be a little less adventurous in typography (font) and color choices. Stick to no more than two fonts and a palette of two to three colors.

As long as you’re both living, it’s never too late! 

However, you may want to find ways to make note-writing fun, so you’re not still dawdling eons later! Turn up the volume on your favorite tunes, keep snacks handy, and think of meaningful, creative elements to include (photos, hand-drawn illustrations, tiny keepsakes).