What a thank you card needs
A thank you card carries four parts: a greeting, the gift or act, one detail about it, and a closing. Three to six sentences fit a standard 5x7 card. Handwriting works for gifts, meals, and overnight stays. Sign your name under the closing.
Name the item. Name the person who gave it. Add one fact about how you used it. That detail separates a note from a form letter.
Example: 'Dear Aunt Ruth, Thank you for the cast iron pan. I cooked eggs in it on Sunday and the edges came out crisp. I will use it each week. Love, Maya.'
Wording by situation
Birthday and shower gifts
Two or three sentences. Name the gift, the use, and the sender. 'Thank you for the garden trowel. I planted six tomato starts on Saturday.'
Money and gift cards
Name the amount or the store when you know it. Say what the money will pay for. 'Thank you for the $50. It goes toward my laptop for school.' If the giver asked for privacy, skip the number and name the plan.
Wedding gifts
One card per gift, written as the gift arrives. Address the card to the person or household on the envelope. Name the specific item, not 'your generosity.'
Dinner, parties, and overnight stays
Thank the host for the food and the room. Name one dish, one guest, or one part of the visit. Send the card within a few days of the event.
Interviews and work favors
Keep it to three sentences. Name the date, the role, and one point you took from the talk. 'Thank you for the hour on March 4 about the analyst role.'
Sentence starters
- Thank you for the [item].
- The [item] arrived on [day].
- I used the [item] for [task].
- Thank you for the [meal, ride, advice].
- You gave your time on [date], and I am grateful.
Lines to leave out
- An apology as the first line. Put the thanks first, the late note second.
- 'Thanks for everything.' It names no gift and no act.
- Requests for another gift or a future favor.
- Comments about the price of the item.
Timing and mailing
Send most thank you cards within two weeks of the gift. Wedding notes can take up to three months after the wedding. A card up to 1 ounce mails with one USPS First-Class Mail stamp. Cards mailed in late December take longer to arrive, so post them before the 20th if the date matters.