30 "I Will Get Back to You" Email Templates + Writing Tips
An "I will get back to you" email buys you time without leaving the other person wondering. The best ones confirm you received the message, say why you cannot answer fully yet, and give a specific time you will reply. Then, crucially, you keep that promise. Below are 30 templates for work, clients, customers and personal situations, followed by tips to make them sound natural.
The formula
Most good holding replies follow four parts:
- Acknowledge. "Thanks for your message about the Q3 budget."
- Reason (optional, brief). "I need to check the figures with finance."
- Specific time. "I will get back to you by Wednesday afternoon."
- Interim help (optional). "If it is urgent before then, call me."
"Soon" and "shortly" mean different things to different people. A day or time removes the guesswork.
Short, all-purpose replies
1. The one-liner
Thanks, [Name]. Got this, and I will get back to you by [day].
2. Polite and neutral
Hi [Name], thank you for your email. I am looking into it and will reply with a full answer by [day/time].
3. Need to check something
Hi [Name], good question. I need to confirm a couple of details before I answer properly. I will get back to you by [time].
4. Mobile reply
Saw this, [Name]. I am away from my desk but will reply properly by [time] today.
5. Busy day
Hi [Name], thanks for this. I am tied up with deadlines today but have blocked time tomorrow morning to go through it. You will hear from me by noon.
Replies to clients
6. Quote requested
Hi [Name], thanks for the details. I am putting your quote together now and will send it over by [day].
7. Need input from the team
Hi [Name], thank you for your request. I want to check timings with our production team so the date I give you is reliable. I will confirm by [day].
8. Change request
Hi [Name], thanks for sending the changes. I am reviewing what they mean for the timeline and budget and will get back to you with options by [day].
9. Complex question
Hi [Name], this is a good question and deserves a considered answer rather than a quick one. Let me look into it, and I will reply by [day] with a recommendation.
10. Contract or legal review
Hi [Name], thank you for the contract. I am reviewing it with [legal advisor/colleague] and will come back to you with any comments by [date].
11. Proposal under consideration
Hi [Name], thanks for the proposal. We are discussing it internally this week and will get back to you with a decision or questions by [date].
Replies to colleagues and managers
12. To your manager
Hi [Name], on it. I will have an answer on [topic] for you by [time]. If you need a quick version before then, let me know.
13. Request for data
Hi [Name], I am pulling the numbers now. They should be ready by [time]; I will send them straight over.
14. Not your area
Hi [Name], I am not the best person for this, but I have asked [colleague], who handles [area]. One of us will get back to you by [day].
15. Waiting on someone else
Hi [Name], I am waiting on [person/team] for [information]. As soon as I have it I will update you, and either way you will hear from me by [day].
16. Meeting follow-up
Thanks everyone for today. I will look into the questions I took away and circulate answers by [day].
17. Need to think it over
Hi [Name], thanks for the idea. I would like to think it through properly. Can I come back to you by [day]?
Replies to customers
18. Order issue
Hi [Name], thank you for letting us know about your order [number]. I am checking with our warehouse and will update you by [time] [day].
19. Refund request
Hi [Name], thank you for your message. Your refund request is being reviewed, and we will confirm the outcome by [date].
20. Technical problem
Hi [Name], sorry for the trouble. Our technical team is investigating. I will update you by [time] even if we do not have a fix yet.
21. Feature or product question
Hi [Name], thanks for asking. I am checking with our product team to make sure I give you accurate information, and I will get back to you within [timeframe].
22. Complaint
Hi [Name], thank you for telling us about this, and I am sorry it happened. I am looking into exactly what went wrong and will contact you by [day] with what we can do.
Hiring and recruiting
23. To a candidate after an interview
Hi [Name], thank you for your time today. We are finishing interviews this week and will get back to you with an update by [date].
24. To a recruiter
Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out about the [role]. I am interested and would like to review the details properly. I will get back to you by [day].
25. Job offer received
Hi [Name], thank you so much for the offer. I am excited about it and would like a few days to review the details. Could I come back to you by [date]?
26. Reference request
Hi [Name], happy to help. I will send the reference for [person] by [date].
Personal and networking
27. Invitation
Hi [Name], thanks for the invite! I need to check a couple of plans and will let you know by [day].
28. Favour request
Hi [Name], thanks for asking. Let me see what I can do, and I will get back to you by the end of the week.
29. Networking introduction
Hi [Name], thanks for the introduction to [person]. I am travelling this week but will get in touch with them by [day].
30. Holding reply before leave
Hi [Name], thanks for your email. I am off from [date] to [date], so I will reply properly when I am back on [date]. For anything urgent, please contact [colleague] at [email].
Writing tips
Make the deadline realistic
Give yourself a buffer. If you think you will have an answer Tuesday, say Wednesday. Coming back early looks good; coming back late erodes trust.
Keep the promise, even if you have no answer
If the deadline arrives and you are still waiting, send an update anyway:
Hi [Name], a quick update: I am still waiting on [information]. I expect it by [new time] and will follow up then.
That small message prevents most frustration.
Track what you have promised
It is easy to send five holding replies and forget three. Flag the emails, add a calendar reminder for each deadline or keep a simple list. If you struggle to keep track, the ideas in our guide on AI for personal productivity can help you set up a routine.
Match the tone to the relationship
A colleague can get "On it, back to you by 3." A new client may need a fuller sentence. The templates above can be shortened or expanded freely.
Avoid over-apologising
"So sorry for the delay, apologies again, I am really sorry" makes a short wait sound like a disaster. One "thanks for your patience" is enough.
Proofread even short replies
Holding replies are often typed quickly on a phone. A fast pass through a grammar checker catches the wrong name or a missing word.
Draft once, reuse often
If you send similar holding replies every week, save your favourites as snippets. For longer or trickier messages, AI for writing emails can turn your notes into a first draft that you then check and personalise.
FAQ
Is "I will get back to you" professional?
Yes, especially with a specific time attached. "I will get back to you by Thursday" is clear and professional. On its own, without a time, it can sound vague.
What can I say instead of "I will get back to you"?
Alternatives include "I will reply by...", "I will follow up with you on...", "Let me look into this and come back to you by..." and "You will hear from me by...".
How long should I wait before getting back to someone?
As soon as you have a proper answer, and never later than the time you promised. For routine work emails, many people aim to reply within one working day.
What if I miss the deadline I gave?
Send a short message as soon as you notice, apologise once, give a new time, and keep it.