50 Christmas Card Messages for Employees and Clients

The best Christmas card message for work is short, specific and sounds like a person wrote it. One line about something they did this year beats three lines of generic festive cheer every time.

Below you'll find 50 messages you can copy, tweak and send, sorted by who they're for. If you're writing to a whole team or client list, we've added tips at the end on how to send Christmas cards in bulk without it feeling like a mail merge.

How to write a work Christmas message that lands

• Name one real thing. "Thanks for steering us through the spring launch" says more than "thanks for your hard work".

• Keep it to two or three lines. A card is a moment, not a performance review.

• Match the relationship. A client you've worked with for ten years can take a joke. A new one probably wants warmth and a thank-you.

• Sign it from a person. "Sam and the Finance team" feels human. "The Management" feels like an HR notice.

Make every message personal: the one-line rule

On their own, the lines below are generic. They become a proper Christmas message when you add one detail that could only be about that person. The formula is simple:

Starter line + one personal detail + sign-off from a real person

That detail could be a project they delivered, a moment that made the team laugh, a quality you value in them, or something you're looking forward to doing with them next year. Their manager or your team's wins channel is a good place to find one. Keep it to things they've shared at work, and steer clear of anything private.

Here's the difference it makes:

Every message below has room for a line like this. Read each one as "starter line, then your personal bit".

Christmas messages for employees (from the business)

1.     Merry Christmas! Thank you for everything you've given this year. We couldn't have done it without you.

2.     Wishing you a restful Christmas and a very happy New Year. You've more than earned the break.

3.     This year was a big one, and you were a big part of it. Thank you, and Merry Christmas.

4.     From all of us: thank you for turning up, pitching in and making work a better place to be. Have a wonderful Christmas.

5.     Merry Christmas! Here's to switching off, eating too much and coming back to a brilliant new year together.

6.     Thank you for your hard work, your ideas and your patience with the office printer. Merry Christmas!

7.     Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, happy Christmas. Thank you for being part of the team.

8.     We say thank you a lot at this time of year, but we mean it every time. Merry Christmas.

Christmas messages from a manager to their team

9.     I'm proud of what we achieved this year and even prouder of how we did it. Merry Christmas, team.

10.  Thank you for making my job easy (well, easier). Have a fantastic Christmas.

11.  You made this year better than any plan I could have written. Enjoy every minute of the break.

12.  Merry Christmas! Thanks for the wins, the laughs and the late-afternoon biscuit runs.

13.  However you spend the holidays, I hope it's restful. Thank you for a brilliant year.

14.  Every one of you made a difference this year. Wishing you a very merry Christmas.

Christmas messages for colleagues

15.  Merry Christmas! Thanks for being the best desk neighbour (and snack supplier) I could ask for.

16.  Working with you makes Mondays bearable. Have a wonderful Christmas.

17.  Thanks for every "quick question" you answered this year. Merry Christmas!

18.  Wishing you a cosy Christmas and a new year full of good news.

19.  It's been a pleasure working with you. Enjoy the break, you deserve it.

20.  Merry Christmas to my favourite partner in spreadsheets.

Christmas messages for clients

If you're sending these on branded Christmas cards for clients, keep the tone warm but steady.

21.  Thank you for your trust and partnership this year. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year.

22.  Working with you has been a highlight of our year. Merry Christmas from all of us.

23.  Thank you for choosing to work with us. We're looking forward to what we'll achieve together next year.

24.  Wishing you and your team a restful Christmas. Thank you for a brilliant year of working together.

25.  Merry Christmas! We're grateful for clients like you, and for every project we've shared.

26.  As the year winds down, we wanted to say a simple thank you. Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year.

27.  Here's to another year of great work together. Warmest wishes this Christmas.

Christmas messages for remote and international teams

28.  Wherever you're celebrating this year, we're sending warm wishes your way. Merry Christmas!

29.  Different time zones, same brilliant team. Thank you for a fantastic year.

30.  We may not share an office, but we've shared a great year. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

31.  Thanks for making every video call feel like a team, not a grid of squares. Have a wonderful break.

32.  From our screens to yours: Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Holiday and end-of-year messages

Not everyone celebrates Christmas. These work for mixed teams and global client lists.

33.  Season's greetings! Thank you for everything you've brought to this year.

34.  Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year.

35.  However you celebrate, we hope the holidays bring you rest and joy.

36.  Thank you for an incredible year. Enjoy the break and see you in the new one.

37.  Happy holidays from all of us. Here's to an even better year ahead.

38.  Warm wishes for the festive season and a bright start to the new year.

Messages after a tough year

Some years are hard, for a business or for the people in it. Acknowledge it gently and keep the focus on thanks.

39.  This year asked a lot of all of us. Thank you for your resilience, and for looking out for each other.

40.  It hasn't been an easy year, but you made it a better one. Wishing you a peaceful Christmas.

41.  Thank you for sticking with it, and with each other. We hope the holidays bring you some well-earned rest.

42.  We know this year has been challenging. We're grateful for you, and we're here for you in the new one.

Funny Christmas messages for work

Best saved for people who already know your sense of humour.

43.  Merry Christmas! May your inbox be empty and your mince pie supply endless.

44.  Thanks for a great year. Please enjoy your out-of-office responsibly.

45.  Wishing you a Christmas with no Reply All emails.

46.  You've been on the nice list all year. We checked twice.

47.  Merry Christmas! Remember, Boxing Day leftovers count as a balanced meal.

Short sign-offs

48.  Merry Christmas and thank you.

49.  With thanks and warm wishes this festive season.

50.  Cheers to you, and to next year.

Sending your messages to a whole team or client list

Writing a personal message is the easy part. Sending it to 200 people is where December disappears. With Thankbox you can create one card, upload your recipient list as a CSV and create an individual card for everyone, each with their own name and message. Colleagues can add their own messages, photos and videos too.

Schedule it all in advance and it's done. Need a hand with timing? Here's our guide to when to send corporate Christmas cards. And if a card alone doesn't feel like enough this year, you can pair it with corporate Christmas gifts.

Images: Cover | Red heart-shaped ornament hanging on a tree | Woman working happily in a festive office setting