In this workaday world, birthdays are one of your few reprieves from chores and responsibilities – that one day in the year when you have permission to pass the buck, hand over the to-do list, and concentrate solely on getting second helpings of cake. You’re the guest of honor, after all, and thoroughly deserve to be spoiled. That means epic parties, witty cards, and a heaving pile of presents – nothing but good vibes for a solid 24 hours.
In fact, the birthday honoree has only one duty as we see it: to express their gratitude for everyone who spent time or money on them this year. You can do this if you see the person or when you accept their gift, but many mail thank you cards afterwards or post a social media status to salute those who remembered to reach out. Of course, if you’re reading this, then it’s still your birthday as far as we’re concerned. As part of your continuing VIP treatment, we’ve prepared 35 ready-made ways to say “Thank You” for those birthday wishes. Let us know your favorite in the comments below!
Birthday Thank You Card Messages for Friends
Birthdays were made to be spent with friends (or were friends made to spend birthdays with)? Several seminal birthdays are usually shared with our BFFs: from our earliest trips to indoor play centers at 4 or 5 to our night-long adventures into adulthood at 18 and 21. We suggest a playful, casual tone for your friend’s thank you message!
- Thank you for coming to my birthday party! I loved your gift and hope you had as much fun as I did.
- I know we’ll be friends forever – you already know too much. Thanks for sharing another birthday with me!
- Having you as a friend is the only gift I need – but that gift didn’t hurt!
- Thanks for all the attention you gave me on my birthday!
- I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Thanks for all you do, and I’ll see you at the same time next year!
Birthday Thank You Card Messages for Family Members
For all they do, your family members deserve a thank you card every day of the year. So, if you want to channel 365 days’ worth of appreciation into one card, try a few of the messages below. You can then personalize the thank you by paying homage to the gift they gave you or mentioning a highlight from the party. Overall, keep the tone personal and sincere – befitting a relationship with someone you’ve known your entire life – but don’t forget to include everyone, either (even if they’re your aunt’s long-lost second cousin, twice removed).
- Thank you for your card and gift – and thank you for always making a difference.
- I am truly blessed to have you in my life. Your presence makes every day a little bit brighter!
- The message you included in your card meant more than you know. I just wanted to say thanks for always thinking of me and cheering me on.
- I never expected that surprise party, and I’m humbled at all the effort you put in.
- Thank you for being there – and I don’t just mean at my party! I appreciate everything you do; I don’t say it enough!
Birthday Thank You Card Messages for Kids
Children’s birthday parties are rarely planned by the kids themselves; they’re usually the product of parents taking inspiration from their child’s latest craze (“Can we watch Moana again?”) to schedule an event on their behalf. When all’s said and done, and to thank those who accepted your invite, compose a message that suits your child’s personality or the theme of the party. Something to prompt a Maui-sized “You’re Welcome!” from the recipients, perhaps!
- I loved the cake and the presents too, but my favorite thing was seeing you!
- Thank you for celebrating my special day and making my party so much fun!
- Thank you berry much for celebrating my birthday with me. You’re the sweetest friend, and your gift was the cherry on top! [example of a dessert/fruit theme]
- Thank you for coming to our little ladybug’s birthday party – the day just flew by! [example of a bug theme]
- Thank you for stomping by and making my birthday dino-mite! [example of a dinosaur theme]
Birthday Thank You Card Messages for Coworkers
Okay, your supervisor may not have been invited to your birthday party, but your colleagues could have planned something of their own! Did the team spring after-work drinks, a Zoom catch-up, or a virtual card and collection pot upon you recently? Then they deserve some credit too for their efforts. Granted, these messages might be more subdued, but they’re just as important, ensuring that their thoughtfulness doesn’t go unnoticed.
- I’m very lucky to be part of this team. Thank you all for thinking of me!
- Seeing all the kind words and thoughtful messages pour in this morning made my day!
- Nobody creates a virtual presentation like you guys. Thanks to each of you for your contributions!
- You didn’t have to acknowledge my special day (you really didn’t, given the age I am!), but I’m touched that you made time for me.
- I was so surprised when I received your gift. I love it, and I appreciate your generosity.
Funny Birthday Thank You Card Messages
According to Greenvelope, “the type of relationship you have can help properly phrase your thank you card.” For close friends or for a boyfriend or girlfriend, a flirty or funny thank you card might suit your relationship better than a formal message. Tread carefully when using sarcasm – you don’t want to sound ungrateful – but a lighthearted touch can soften a message that feels self-aggrandizing. How about being a little self-deprecating, instead, poking fun at yourself and making the recipient less self-conscious?
- Thank you for remembering my birthday (or for at least remembering to check your social media notifications reminding you of my birthday).
- Thanks for always being older than me; I promise not to rub it in too often this coming year!
- Your birthday wishes were pretty late, but this thank you is even later, so I guess we’re even!
- Thanks for coming to my party, and for always sticking by me, even when I’m acting ridiculous – which is most of the time!
- Thanks for helping me to celebrate another trip around the sun. Now let’s pretend this never happened.
Short Birthday Thank You Card Messages
For some, the thought of writing out a long spiel to say thank you can feel insincere or contrived. In that case, a short thank you will do just fine, allowing you to sum up a very profound feeling in a few simple words. If you’re thanking a lot of people or are restricted by space somehow – by the length of a text or the number of characters permitted in an e-card, for example – then having some brief quotes and captions to respond with can be handy.
- Thank you for making my birthday so memorable!
- Thank you for your warm wishes and your lovely gift.
- Birthdays are so much better when you’re around.
- This was the best birthday I’ve ever had!
- I appreciate you, and all your years of love and support.
Social Media Birthday Thank You Messages
Rather than designing individual thank you cards for everyone who got in touch, you can always create a general post on Instagram or Facebook as a catch-all. Use a GIF or photo to add color and personality, and to make it stand out in a crowded news feed; or, use Zazzle Create to personalize a post, banner, digital postcard, or cat meme. Tag everyone who needs to see it and you won’t have to message each user or reply to each comment one by one (though we would still drop them an emoji, just to be polite 🙏)!
- Feeling privileged to wake up to all these lovely messages! Thank you all for the birthday wishes!
- Thank you all for making my birthday extra special – I’m beyond grateful!
- I’d like to dedicate some space to thanking everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday, whether online or in person. I’m extremely lucky to count you among my friends, family members, and followers!
- Where’s the Reaction for ‘Overwhelmed’? 😱I can’t believe how many people wished me well on my birthday – thank you all so much!
- I never know what to say to people on their birthday, but it’s clear none of you have that problem! Thank you for some truly inspiring messages.
With a message in tow and some ideas for personalization in hand, you’re ready to begin drafting your thank you card (or email, or text, or video). With 35 templates to choose from, it won’t take long; just be sure to add a personal touch, whether that’s an inside joke, a photo, or plans for your next birthday. And, if you’re still in the planning stages of a birthday party, check out our “36 Birthday Party Ideas for Kids, Teens & Adults” and “30 Awesome Party Ideas For Milestone Birthdays.”
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
