Best Regards vs. Kind Regards vs. Warm Regards
“Best regards,” “Kind regards,” and “Warm regards” are all usable email sign-offs, but they carry different degrees of warmth and familiarity. “Best regards” is broadly professional and moderately warm; “kind regards” is friendlier; “warm regards” is usually the most personal of the three. Match the closing to your relationship and the message rather than treating one as universally best.
For a broadly professional default, “Best regards” is usually the safest of the three. Use “Kind regards” or “Warm regards” when a warmer relationship or message justifies it.
Key details
Important caveats
Context Boundary
Different style guides and workplaces vary in how formal these closings feel; relationship, industry, and local norms matter.
Further guidance
Best Regards
“Best regards” is a versatile professional closing that adds warmth without implying a close personal relationship.
Kind Regards
“Kind regards” adds more friendliness and is useful where a warmer relationship or message tone is appropriate.
Practical Application
Match the sign-off to the relationship and message. “Best regards” is a broadly professional default; “Kind regards” adds friendliness; “Warm regards” is better reserved for contexts where genuine personal warmth fits.
Reader Check
Would the closing sound natural if spoken to this recipient, given your relationship and the message’s seriousness? If the warmth feels stronger than the relationship, step back to a more neutral closing.
Warm Regards
“Warm regards” is more personal and works best where genuine warmth fits the relationship.
Worked Example
Routine client update: “Best regards.” Friendly ongoing collaboration: “Kind regards.” Personal congratulatory note to a close professional contact: “Warm regards.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- How to Use “Regards,” “Best Regards,” and “Kind Regards” (opens in a new tab)Grammarly · Current professional-email guidance distinguishing regards variants by formality and relationship
- How To Use “Best Regards” and Other Professional Email Closings (opens in a new tab)Indeed · Current career-writing guidance on Best Regards, Kind Regards, and related sign-offs