Every missed call ends the same way: your voicemail greeting plays. Whether it's a prospect calling during a meeting, a client reaching out after hours, or a patient trying to book an appointment — what they hear next is your only chance to make a first impression. These scripts are organized by situation. Find the one that fits, fill in the brackets, and you're done.
→ Not sure which type fits your situation? What Is a Voicemail Greeting? covers all six types with context.
TL;DR
Scripts included | 30+ organized by situation |
Situations covered | Business hours · After-hours · Out-of-office · Holiday · Sales · Industry-specific · Department lines · Short greetings |
Every good greeting includes | Your name, unavailability, specific callback window, what to leave, emergency contact if needed |
Ideal length | 60–80 words (~20 seconds) |
How to use | Copy any script, fill in the [brackets], record yourself or paste into a free AI generator |
Business Hours Voicemail Greeting Examples
A business hours greeting has one job: confirm the caller reached the right place and tell them exactly when to expect a response. Most businesses get the confirmation part right and fumble the timeline — "I'll return your call as soon as possible" is not a timeline. It's a non-answer that leaves callers to fill in the gap themselves, usually with doubt. A specific callback window — "by 5 PM today" or "within one business day" — is the single change that most improves a standard greeting. Tone can range from formal to warm depending on your industry, but the structure stays the same.
1. Standard professional
"You've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name]. I'm unable to take your call at the moment. Please leave your name, number, and a brief description of how I can help, and I'll return your call within one business day. Thank you."
2. With specific callback window
"Hi, you've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name]. I'm not available right now, but I return all calls by [5 PM / end of business day]. Please leave your name, number, and what you're calling about, and I'll be back in touch soon."
3. Email-redirect option included
"You've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name]. I'm currently unavailable. If your matter is time-sensitive, you can also reach me at [email address]. Otherwise, leave your name and number and I'll call you back within one business day."
4. Warm SMB tone
"Hey, you've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name] — sorry I missed you. Leave your name and number and I'll get back to you by end of day. If it's urgent, feel free to text me at this number."
After-Hours Voicemail Greeting Examples
After-hours greetings solve a specific problem: the caller doesn't know whether you're gone for the evening, closed for the weekend, or simply unavailable. The greeting's job is to remove that ambiguity immediately. State your hours. State when you'll respond. If your industry involves anything time-sensitive — healthcare, legal, property emergencies — include an alternative contact for urgent situations. Callers who reach you after hours are often in problem-solving mode; a greeting that answers their questions quickly earns more patience than one that doesn't.
5. Simple after-hours with business hours stated
"You've reached [Company Name]. Our business hours are [Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM]. We're currently closed. Please leave your name and number and we'll return your call on the next business day."
6. With emergency contact
"You've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name]. Our office is currently closed. If this is an emergency, please contact [Name] at [phone number]. Otherwise, leave your name and number and I'll call you back first thing [tomorrow morning / Monday morning]."
7. Weekend closure
"Thank you for calling [Company Name]. We're closed for the weekend and will reopen [Monday] at [9 AM]. Please leave your name, number, and a brief message and we'll return your call then."
Out-of-Office & Vacation Voicemail Greeting Examples
The critical difference between an out-of-office greeting and a regular after-hours message is specificity. A caller who hears "I'm out of the office" with no further information has learned nothing useful — they don't know if you're back tomorrow or in three weeks. Every out-of-office greeting needs a return date. For absences longer than a few days, it also needs an alternative contact, because some callers won't wait. The goal is to give people a clear decision: wait for you, or reach out to someone else now.
8. Standard out-of-office with return date
"You've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name]. I'm out of the office until [Date] and will have limited access to messages. Please leave your name and number and I'll return your call when I'm back on [Date]. For urgent matters, contact [Name] at [number]."
9. With colleague redirect
"Hi, you've reached [Your Name]. I'm out of the office until [Date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [Colleague Name] at [phone number] or [email address]. Otherwise, I'll return your call when I'm back."
10. Extended leave — no return date
"You've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name]. I'm currently on an extended leave and unavailable. During this time, please contact [Colleague Name] at [number] for assistance. Thank you for your patience."
Holiday Voicemail Greeting Examples
Holiday greetings have a surprisingly common flaw: they announce the closure without announcing when service resumes. A caller who hears "we're closed for the holiday" still doesn't know whether to call back tomorrow or next week. Always include the specific reopening date and time. For businesses that handle orders or urgent service requests, add a fallback — a website, an email, or a direct line — so callers who can't wait have somewhere to go. Keep the tone consistent with your brand; holiday greetings don't need to be noticeably warmer than your standard messages.
11. General holiday closure
"Thank you for calling [Company Name]. Our office is closed in observance of [Holiday Name] and will reopen on [Date] at [Time]. Please leave your name and number and we'll return your call then."
12. Christmas / New Year extended closure
"Thank you for calling [Company Name]. Our office is closed for the holiday season from [December 24] through [January 2] and will reopen on [January 3]. Leave your name and number and we'll return your call in the new year."
13. Holiday with online redirect
"Thank you for calling [Company Name]. We're closed for [Holiday] and will reopen on [Date]. To check an order status, track a shipment, or start a return, visit [website]. Our team will return all calls starting [Date]."
Professional & Sales Voicemail Greeting Examples
A sales or professional greeting carries more weight than a standard business one. In many cases, it's the first contact a prospect has with you — and they're making a quick judgment about whether leaving a message is worth their time. The instinct to apologize ("sorry I missed you") or explain your busyness ("I'm with clients") is understandable but counterproductive. What actually builds credibility is a greeting that signals you know your value, you respect the caller's time, and you'll respond with purpose. Specificity matters here more than anywhere else.
14. Sales rep — value-prop forward
"Hi, you've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name], where we help [target customer type] [achieve specific result]. I'm with a client right now but I return all calls within [two hours / the same business day]. Leave your name and the best time to reach you."
15. Consultant — outcome-oriented
"Hi, you've reached [Your Name]. I work with [type of clients] to [specific outcome]. I'm not available right now but I check messages twice daily. Leave your name, number, and what you're hoping to accomplish, and I'll call you back by [end of day / tomorrow morning]."
16. Broker or agent
"You've reached [Your Name] at [Brokerage / Agency]. I may be with a client, but I make it a point to return every call by end of day. Leave your name and number and I'll be in touch."
17. Follow-up after first contact
"You've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name]. If you recently reached out about [product / service / your inquiry], I received your message and will follow up by [date or time]. Otherwise, leave your details and I'll be in touch soon."
Industry-Specific Voicemail Greeting Examples
Generic scripts work in most situations. Industry-specific ones work better in high-trust contexts — because the right terminology and the right information for that industry signals to callers that you understand their situation before you've even spoken to them. A medical patient calling after hours needs to know whether there's an emergency option. A law firm caller needs to know not to leave confidential details. A real estate lead needs to know you're responsive. These nuances matter, and a generic script misses all of them.
Medical & Dental Office
Medical and dental greetings have a non-negotiable element: a clear path for emergencies. Every after-hours or closed greeting needs to direct callers to 911 or an on-call provider for urgent situations before anything else. Beyond that, the most useful thing a medical greeting does is tell callers exactly what to leave — date of birth, the nature of the request — so that staff can prepare before returning the call.
18. General medical office
"You've reached [Practice Name]. Our office is currently closed. For medical emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. For appointment requests or prescription refills, please call back during business hours: [Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM]."
19. Dental clinic — after-hours
"Thank you for calling [Dental Practice Name]. We're currently closed. Our office hours are [Monday through Thursday, 8 to 5, and Friday, 8 to 1]. For a dental emergency, please call [emergency number]. Otherwise, leave your name and number and we'll return your call next business day."
20. Specialist — appointment focus
"You've reached the office of [Dr. Name], [Specialty]. To schedule or change an appointment, please leave your name, date of birth, and the best number to reach you. A member of our team will return your call within one business day."
Law Firm
Legal greetings require one addition that almost no other industry does: an explicit note not to leave confidential information in the message. Voicemail is not a secure channel, and professional responsibility standards in most jurisdictions require attorneys to communicate that to prospective clients. Beyond that, the greeting should confirm the practice area if relevant — it reassures callers they've reached the right kind of firm and reduces back-and-forth on the return call.
21. General law firm
"You've reached [Law Firm Name]. Our office is currently unavailable. Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief description of your legal matter, and an attorney will return your call within one business day. Please do not leave confidential information in this message."
22. Solo attorney — after-hours
"You've reached [Attorney Name]. My office hours are [Monday through Friday, 9 to 6]. I'm currently unavailable. For urgent legal matters, leave a detailed message with your name and number. I check messages each evening and will return your call the following morning."
Real Estate
Real estate greetings need to address the industry's pace problem: leads go cold fast, and callers who don't hear a specific, confident callback promise will move on to the next agent. The most effective real estate greeting does two things — reassures the caller they've reached someone responsive, and asks for the specific information (property, neighborhood, price range) that lets you return the call prepared.
23. Agent — currently with clients
"Hi, you've reached [Your Name] at [Brokerage]. I'm currently with clients but I return every call within two hours. Leave your name, number, and the property or neighborhood you're interested in, and I'll be right back to you."
24. Property management office
"Thank you for calling [Property Management Company]. For a maintenance emergency, please call [emergency maintenance line]. For all other inquiries, leave your name, property address, and phone number and our team will return your call next business day."
Retail & E-commerce
Retail greetings serve a different purpose depending on when the call arrives. During business hours, a missed call usually means the team is busy — state your hours and promise a same-day callback. After hours or during peak periods, callers often have transactional needs (order status, returns) that can be handled without a phone call at all. Redirecting them to a website or email isn't a brush-off — it's often faster for them and reduces your call volume at the same time.
25. Retail store — with hours
"Thank you for calling [Store Name]. We're open [Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday, 11 to 6]. Leave your name and number and we'll return your call the same day."
26. Online order or returns redirect
"Thank you for calling [Company Name]. For order status, tracking, or returns, visit [website] or email [email address] for the fastest response. To speak with someone, leave your name, order number, and callback number and we'll get back to you within one business day."
Department & Team Line Voicemail Greeting Examples
Department lines have a structural advantage over individual greetings: the caller already self-selected. They pressed 2 for billing, or dialed the support number directly, which means they know what they need. The greeting's job is to confirm they're in the right place and collect the right information upfront. A billing department should ask for account numbers. A support line should ask for a description of the issue. Getting this right means the return call can start with context instead of twenty minutes of account lookup.
27. Sales / new inquiries
"You've reached the sales team at [Company Name]. Leave your name, company, and what you're looking for, and a sales representative will return your call within one business day. If you're an existing customer, please call [direct number]."
28. Customer support
"Thank you for calling [Company Name] customer support. We're currently assisting other customers. Leave your name, account number if you have it, and a brief description of your issue, and a support specialist will return your call within one business day."
29. Billing / accounts
"You've reached the billing department at [Company Name]. Leave your name, account number, and the nature of your inquiry, and a billing specialist will return your call within one business day. For immediate questions, you can also email [billing email]."
Short Voicemail Greeting Examples (Under 15 Seconds)
A short greeting isn't a lesser greeting — in the right situations, it's the better one. If your callers already know you, if your business relationship is established, or if brevity itself signals confidence in your industry, a 10-second message that covers the essentials outperforms a longer one every time. The risk with short greetings is omitting a key element — name, company, or callback expectation — so they still need to carry the core information, just without the padding.
30. Business line — direct
"You've reached [Your Name] at [Company Name]. Leave your name and number and I'll call you back."
32. Solo practitioner
"You've reached [Your Name]. Leave your name and number and I'll return your call within one business day."
33. "Text me" redirect
"Hi, you've reached [Your Name]. I respond faster to texts — send me a message at this number and I'll get back to you quickly."
34. Immediate callback
"You've reached [Your Name]. I'm unavailable right now — leave your number and I'll call you right back."
How to Turn Any Script Into a Professional Recording
You have the script. Now you have two options.
Option 1 — Record it yourself
- Find a quiet room — a closet full of clothes absorbs echo better than most dedicated spaces
- Time your script before recording — aim for under 20 seconds
- Record 2–3 takes and pick the one that sounds most natural, not most polished
Option 2 — Use an AI voicemail generator
If you'd rather not record, paste any script from this page into an AI voicemail generator. The tool converts your text to a professional-sounding MP3 in seconds — no microphone, no retakes, no quiet room required. Solvea's free voicemail greeting generator lets you paste any custom script or use built-in templates for real estate, dental, legal, medspa, and retail. Output is MP3, compatible with iPhone, Android, RingCentral, Zoom Phone, and most VoIP systems. No sign-up needed for your first three.
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Putting It Together
The right voicemail greeting is specific to your situation: it names you, tells callers when to expect a response, and asks for the right information upfront. Copy the script that fits, fill in the brackets, and update it whenever your situation changes. If you'd rather not handle the recording yourself, the generator turns any script into a professional MP3 in under three minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best voicemail greeting for a business?
The best business voicemail greeting matches your specific situation — not a generic template. It states your name and company, explains your unavailability briefly, gives a specific callback timeline, and tells callers exactly what to leave. Tailor it to your industry and update it whenever your hours or availability change.
How do I write a professional voicemail greeting?
Start with your name and company. State you're unavailable — no apology needed. Give a specific response window ("by end of day" or "within one business day"). Tell callers exactly what information to leave. Close with an alternative contact for urgent matters. Aim for 60–80 words total.
What should you not say in a voicemail greeting?
Avoid "your call is very important to us" — it's been overused to the point of meaning nothing. Don't apologize for missing the call. Skip vague phrases like "I'll call back at my earliest convenience." Never leave a greeting that's nameless or generic — callers need confirmation they've reached the right person.
How long should a voicemail greeting be?
Between 10 and 30 seconds — about 20 seconds is ideal. That's roughly 60–80 words at a natural speaking pace: enough to cover your name, company, availability, response timeline, and what to leave. Anything longer risks callers hanging up before the beep.
Can I use an AI tool to record my voicemail greeting?
Yes. AI voicemail generators let you paste any script, choose a voice, and download a professional MP3 — no recording equipment needed. Solvea's free generator works with iPhone, Android, RingCentral, Zoom Phone, and most VoIP systems. No sign-up required for your first three generations.
