Best thank you cards for every occasion

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Which thank you cards are best?

Need thank you cards for every occasion? It’s worth investing in a set that will cover your needs. Whether it’s a birthday gift thank you note or one that expresses gratitude for support, finding the perfect card is essential.

Etiquette and common courtesy say that you should send the recipient a thank you note after receiving a gift. Although texts or emails may be the modern way to send thank you messages, there’s something special about using an actual card. Not only is it personal, but the tiny memento is also often saved by recipients for sentimental reasons.

Thank you card etiquette

No matter the occasion, thank you cards are usually sent out no later than a couple of weeks after receiving a gift. However, it’s always recommended to send thank you notes as soon as possible.

There are few exceptions to the two-week time frame, including wedding, baby and condolence-related thank you notes. Because personal circumstances are slightly different for these events, it’s generally acceptable to send out thank you cards within a month to two months. Some individuals may send cards toward the end of the time frame if they’d like to include photos.

What to write in thank you cards

While thank you cards are simple letters, their content should express gratitude in a personal way with personal details. Some people discuss the gift and mention how they intend to use it, whereas others explain why it’s meaningful. Many people close the note with warm words, such as, “I am excited to see you over summer break,” or “I’m so lucky to have a friend like you,” as well.

How to choose thank you cards for every occasion

Individual cards vs. deluxe card assortments

You can hand-pick a collection of individual thank you cards, which means you have full control over designs and inside messages. However, one of the drawbacks is that you’ll probably spend significantly more buying cards this way.

The other option is to invest in a deluxe thank you card assortment. These sets come with up to 50 cards and envelopes and may include stickers or extra stationery. Unfortunately, deluxe card boxes may not offer too much design or message variety.

Blank cards vs. cards with messages

Even if thank you cards feature holiday or occasion-specific designs on the front, they may be blank on the inside. This leaves room to write a longer personal note, or if younger kids are writing the card, there’s space for larger handwriting or drawings. Other thank you cards include messages, which may be as simple as “thank you” or as involved as a poem. They’re ideal if you prefer writing shorter, concise sentiments but don’t want too much blank space in the card.

Handmade vs. store-bought cards

There’s no shortage of store-bought thank you cards available, which makes it fairly easy to find a set that suits your needs. However, many people prefer creating their own thank you cards with help from home printers, Cricut machines or card-designing kits.

Photo paper for printable greeting cards makes it easy to create and print within minutes. Some sets even come with templates for printing envelopes, return address labels or custom stickers.

Which thank you cards are best?

Thank you card etiquette

What to write in thank you cards

How to choose thank you cards for every occasion

Individual cards vs. deluxe card assortments

Blank cards vs. cards with messages

Handmade vs. store-bought cards

Top 12 thank you cards for every occasion

Birthdays

Bridal showers

Weddings

Baby showers

Holidays

Graduations