Voicemail greeting generator
60 greetings, from funny to strictly professional. Pick a style, add your name, and copy a greeting that sounds like a person, not a phone system.
Style
You've reached [your name]. Please leave your message after the beep. If you're calling about my car's extended warranty, please leave your message before the beep.
About 10 seconds out loud.
Ring your phone from the browser and hear what callers hear.
Funny voicemail greetings
For your personal phone. Friends will actually listen to the end, which is more than most greetings get.
Car warranty
“You've reached Sam. Please leave your message after the beep. If you're calling about my car's extended warranty, please leave your message before the beep.”
Deciding whether to answer
“Hi, it's Sam. I'm probably looking at my phone right now, deciding whether to answer. You lost. Leave a message and I'll make it up to you.”
Avoiding someone
“Hey, it's Sam. I'm either away from my phone or avoiding someone. Leave a message, and if I don't call back, it's the second one.”
1,000th caller
“Congratulations! You're the thousandth caller to Sam's voicemail. Your prize: you get to leave a message. Go on, you've earned it.”
Looking for my phone
“Hi, this is Sam. I can't come to the phone because I'm looking for my phone. Leave a message and I'll call you back as soon as I find it.”
Nobody calls anymore
“This is Sam. Leave a message. And if you're one of the five people who still call instead of texting: honestly, thank you.”
Fake phone menu
“Hello, you've reached Sam. Press 1 if you know what you're doing. Press 2 if you don't. Actually, pressing does nothing. Just leave a message.”
Ignoring my phone
“Hi, you've reached Sam. I'm not ignoring you. I'm ignoring my phone, which is much less personal. Leave a message.”
Your call is important
“Thank you for calling Sam. Your call is very important to me, which is why it went to voicemail. Leave a message and I'll treat it with the same urgency.”
Saving the world
“Hey, it's Sam. I'm out saving the world. Or buying groceries. One of those. Leave a message.”
Pretending to be busy
“Hi, you've reached Sam. My phone is on silent because I'm asleep, in a meeting, or pretending to be in a meeting. Leave a message.”
I'll nod along
“You've reached Sam. Talk to me after the beep. I'll listen later, nod along, and call you back.”
I'm thinking
“Hi, this is Sam. I'm thinking about what you've just said. Leave the rest after the beep.”
Urgent? Text me
“Hi, it's Sam. If it's important, leave a message. If it's urgent, text me. If it's an emergency, why are you calling me? Call the emergency services.”
Busy being unreachable
“This is Sam's voicemail. I'm busy being unreachable. Leave a message and I'll become reachable again soon.”
Professional voicemail greetings
For your work line or a phone recruiters and clients call. Name, why you missed it, what to leave, when you'll call back.
Standard
“Hello, you've reached Sam at Riverside Dental. I'm away from my desk or on another call. Please leave your name, number and a brief message, and I'll return your call within one business day.”
With another contact
“Hello, you've reached Sam at Riverside Dental. Leave your name, number and a short message, and I'll call you back within one business day. If you need help sooner, email hello@example.com.”
In a meeting
“Hi, you've reached Sam. I'm in a meeting. Leave your number and I'll ring you back within one business day.”
Job seeker
“Hello, you've reached Sam. I'm sorry I missed your call. Please leave your name, number and the best time to reach you, and I'll get back to you within one business day. Thank you.”
Formal
“Good day. You have reached the voicemail of Sam, Riverside Dental. I am currently unavailable. Please leave a detailed message including your name and telephone number, and I will return your call within one business day.”
Warm and friendly
“Hi, this is Sam at Riverside Dental. Sorry to miss you. Leave your name and number and I'll call you back within one business day.”
Freelancer or consultant
“Hi, you've reached Sam. I'm with a client right now. Leave your name, number and what you'd like to talk about, and I'll call you back within one business day.”
Real estate agent
“Hi, you've reached Sam at Riverside Dental. I'm probably showing a home right now. Leave your name, number and the property you're interested in, and I'll call you back within one business day.”
Business voicemail greetings
For a company or shop line that several people answer. Lead with the business name, then tell callers exactly what happens next.
Main line
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental. You've reached Sam. I'm on another call or away from my desk. Leave your name, number and a short message, and I'll call you back within one business day.”
After hours
“You've reached Riverside Dental. We're closed right now. Our hours are 8 to 6, Monday to Friday. Leave your name and number and we'll call you back within one business day. If it can't wait, email hello@example.com.”
Customer service
“Thank you for calling Riverside Dental customer support. Everyone on the team is helping other customers. Leave your name, number and a short description of the problem, and we'll call you back within one business day. You can also email hello@example.com.”
Sales line
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental, this is Sam. Leave your name, your number and what you're looking for, and I'll call you back within one business day with answers.”
Small business owner
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental, this is Sam. I'm probably with a customer right now, which is good news for both of us. Leave your name and number and I'll call you back within one business day.”
Medical or dental office
“You've reached Riverside Dental. Our office is closed. Our hours are 8 to 6, Monday to Friday. If this is a medical emergency, hang up and call your local emergency number. Otherwise, leave your name, date of birth and phone number, and we'll call you back within one business day.”
Law or accounting firm
“You've reached Riverside Dental. Please leave your name, number and a brief description of your matter. Please don't leave confidential details in this message. We'll return your call within one business day.”
All lines busy
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental. All of our lines are busy right now. Leave your name and number and we'll call you back within one business day. You won't lose your place.”
Lunch break
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental. We're on a short break and back soon. Leave a message and we'll call you back within one business day.”
Appointments and bookings
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental. To book, change or cancel an appointment, leave your name, number and the day that suits you, and we'll call to confirm. We're open 8 to 6, Monday to Friday. You can also email hello@example.com.”
Personal voicemail greetings
Friendly and plain, for your own phone when you'd rather not be funny.
Classic
“Hi, you've reached Sam. I can't get to the phone right now. Leave your name and number and I'll call you back.”
Casual
“Hey, it's Sam. Leave a message and I'll get back to you. Honestly, a text is faster.”
Warm
“Hi, you've reached Sam. Sorry I missed you. Leave a message and I'll call you back within one business day.”
Text me instead
“Hi, it's Sam. I see texts much faster than voicemail, so if you can, send me a text. Otherwise, leave a message.”
Household
“You've reached Sam's house. We can't come to the phone right now. Leave a message and one of us will call you back.”
New number
“Hi, this is Sam. This is my new number, so if you're looking for the person who had it before, sorry. Otherwise, leave a message.”
Short and simple voicemail greetings
Five seconds or less. Callers get to the beep fast.
Plain
“You've reached Sam. Leave a message.”
Call back
“Hi, it's Sam. Leave a message and I'll call you back.”
After the beep
“Sam here. Message after the beep.”
Work
“You've reached Sam at Riverside Dental. Please leave a message.”
Text or message
“Hi, this is Sam. Can't talk now. Text me or leave a message.”
No name
“Sorry I missed you. Leave your name and number and I'll call back.”
Cute voicemail greetings
Sweet, upbeat and a little silly, without trying too hard.
Thanks for calling
“Hi, it's Sam! Thanks for calling, it really does make my day. Leave a message and I'll call you back soon.”
Having a good day
“Hi, you've reached Sam. I'm probably out having a good day. I hope you are too. Leave a message!”
Say it twice
“Hey, it's Sam. Leave me a message. And if you're calling to say something nice, say it twice.”
Call back with a smile
“Hi, you've reached Sam. Sorry I missed you. Leave a message and I'll call back with a smile.”
Family fun
“Hi! You've reached Sam and family. We're busy having fun. Leave a message after the beep!”
Out of office and vacation voicemail greetings
Say when you're back and who to try in the meantime, so nobody waits on a message you won't hear.
Out of office
“Hi, this is Sam. I'm out of the office until Monday the 3rd and not checking messages often. If it's urgent, email hello@example.com. Otherwise, leave a message and I'll call when I'm back.”
Vacation
“Hi, you've reached Sam. I'm on vacation until Monday the 3rd, somewhere with bad signal on purpose. For anything urgent, email hello@example.com. Otherwise, leave a message and I'll call when I'm back.”
Business trip
“Hi, this is Sam. I'm traveling for work until Monday the 3rd and checking messages once a day. If it can't wait, email hello@example.com. Leave a message and I'll get back to you.”
Parental leave
“Hi, you've reached Sam. I'm on parental leave until Monday the 3rd. For anything that can't wait, email hello@example.com. Thanks for your patience.”
Out sick
“Hi, it's Sam. I'm out sick today. For anything urgent, email hello@example.com. Otherwise, leave a message and I'll call you back when I'm better.”
Holiday voicemail greetings
For a business closing over a holiday. Change it back the day you reopen: an old holiday greeting sounds worse than none.
Holiday closure
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental. We're closed for the holiday and back on Monday the 3rd. Leave a message and we'll call you when we're back. Anything urgent, email hello@example.com.”
Christmas
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental. We're closed for Christmas and back on Monday the 3rd. Merry Christmas from all of us. Leave a message and we'll call you when we're back.”
New Year
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental. We're closed for the New Year and back on Monday the 3rd. Happy New Year! Leave a message and we'll call you back then.”
Thanksgiving
“Thanks for calling Riverside Dental. We're closed for Thanksgiving and back on Monday the 3rd. We're thankful for customers like you. Leave a message and we'll call you when we're back.”
Summer break
“Hi, it's Sam. I'm off for the summer until Monday the 3rd. Leave a message and I'll call you back when I'm home.”
Recording tips
- Record somewhere quiet and soft: a room with curtains or a sofa beats a kitchen.
- Hold the phone where you would on a call, not right up against your mouth.
- Smile while you talk. It sounds odd, but it can be heard.
- Funny greetings live or die on timing. Pause before the punchline, then get to the beep fast.
- Skip the date unless you'll remember to change it. An old date sounds worse than none.
Voicemail greeting questions
What's a good funny voicemail greeting?
One short joke, then the instructions. The car warranty one works because callers still learn what to do: leave a message after the beep. Keep it under 15 seconds, and skip anything that would make a stranger or a recruiter wince.
Should my work voicemail be funny?
Usually not. Clients, recruiters and your boss call that number. Keep the funny greeting for your personal phone and use a professional one at work. A warm, friendly professional greeting is a good middle ground.
What should a professional voicemail greeting say?
Your name and business, that you can't answer right now, what to leave (name, number, a short message), and when you'll call back. Keep it under 20 seconds. Callers stop listening after that.
How long should a voicemail greeting be?
10 to 20 seconds. The generator shows an estimate under each script, based on a normal speaking pace of about 150 words a minute.
How do I change my voicemail greeting on iPhone?
Open the Phone app, tap Voicemail, then Greeting in the top corner. Choose Custom, tap Record, read your script, and tap Save. Some carriers handle voicemail themselves, so if you don't see Greeting, call your voicemail and follow the menu.
How do I change my voicemail greeting on Android?
It depends on the phone and carrier. Usually you open the Phone app, go to Settings, then Voicemail, or you call your voicemail by holding 1 on the keypad and choose the greetings option from the menu.
Can I use the read-aloud voice as my greeting?
The read-aloud button uses your browser's built-in voice so you can hear the timing. It can't be downloaded. Most greetings sound better in your own voice anyway.
How do I hear my greeting the way callers do?
Call your own number and let it ring through to voicemail. You can do that from your browser with CallSpark: type your number, sign in, and your free first call rings your phone.