Four short paragraphs, no reason, no handover detail. If you want the date worked out and your names filled in, the 2 week notice template can write it in its short version with the same few sentences.
Not legal advice. Check your contract and local law for notice rules.
What a short resignation letter keeps and drops
A short letter still has to do the job of a long one: it is the record that you resigned and when. Cut everything else, but never the four things on the left.
Keep
Can drop
The sentence that you are resigning
The reason you are leaving
Your exact last day, written out in full
Details of the handover
One line of thanks
Long goodbyes and memories
Your name, and a signature on paper
Plans for after you leave
Three sentences is the floor. Below that, a letter starts to read as curt, and a curt letter is the one that gets remembered when someone is asked for a reference. One warm line costs nothing and changes how the whole letter lands.
Short does not mean blunt. An opening such as "Please accept this letter as my notice of resignation" is polite in any workplace, while a bare "I quit" leaves your manager with questions and nothing useful to file.
Short resignation letter samples
Six letters of three to five sentences, across three tones and four timings. Each one opens in the writer with your own names and date.
1. Short and neutral
Use it when you want the plainest short letter for a standard two weeks.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name],
This letter is my formal two weeks' notice of resignation from my position as [Job title] at [Company]. My final day of work will be [Last day].
Thank you for the support and the chance to learn so much here. I am grateful for my time on this team.
It has been a good experience working here, and I wish the team well.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name],
This letter is my formal two weeks' notice of resignation from my position as [Job title] at [Company]. My final day of work will be [Last day].
Thank you for the support and the chance to learn so much here. I am grateful for my time on this team.
It has been a good experience working here, and I wish the team well.
Best regards,
[Your name]
2. Short and warm
Use it when you want it short but friendly.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name],
Please take this letter as my two weeks' notice. I'm leaving my position as [Job title] at [Company], and my last day will be [Last day].
Thank you for the kindness and support you've shown me. I'll take a lot of what I've learned here with me.
Please keep in touch. I'd love to hear how everyone is doing.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name],
Please take this letter as my two weeks' notice. I'm leaving my position as [Job title] at [Company], and my last day will be [Last day].
Thank you for the kindness and support you've shown me. I'll take a lot of what I've learned here with me.
Please keep in touch. I'd love to hear how everyone is doing.
Best wishes,
[Your name]
3. Short and formal
Use it when you want it short in a formal workplace.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name]:
I am writing to formally resign from my position as [Job title] at [Company]. In keeping with the customary two weeks' notice, my last day will be [Last day].
Please accept my thanks for your guidance and for the experience I have gained in this position.
Please accept my best wishes for the continued success of the organization.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name]:
I am writing to formally resign from my position as [Job title] at [Company]. In keeping with the customary two weeks' notice, my last day will be [Last day].
Please accept my thanks for your guidance and for the experience I have gained in this position.
Please accept my best wishes for the continued success of the organization.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
4. Short, with more than two weeks' notice
Use it when you are giving more than two weeks and only need the date.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name],
Please accept this letter as my notice of resignation from my position as [Job title] at [Company]. My last day will be [Last day].
Thank you for the experience I have gained here. I have learned a great deal from working with this team.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name],
Please accept this letter as my notice of resignation from my position as [Job title] at [Company]. My last day will be [Last day].
Thank you for the experience I have gained here. I have learned a great deal from working with this team.
I wish you and the team continued success.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
5. Short, with less than two weeks' notice
Use it when you are leaving soon and want to own the short timeline.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name],
I'm writing to let you know that I'm resigning from my position as [Job title] at [Company]. I'm sorry for the short notice; my last day will be [Last day].
I'm grateful for the chance to grow here, and for the people who made this a good place to work.
I'm cheering for you and the team, and I hope we keep in touch.
[Date]
Dear [Manager's name],
I'm writing to let you know that I'm resigning from my position as [Job title] at [Company]. I'm sorry for the short notice; my last day will be [Last day].
I'm grateful for the chance to grow here, and for the people who made this a good place to work.
I'm cheering for you and the team, and I hope we keep in touch.
Warm regards,
[Your name]
6. Short resignation email
Use it when you are resigning by email and want it brief. More subject lines are on the two weeks notice email page.
Subject: Resignation notice, last day [Last day]
Dear [Manager's name],
I am resigning from my role at [Company], and this email is my two weeks' notice. My last day will be [Last day].
I appreciate the opportunities I have had in this role and the support you have given me.
Subject: Resignation notice, last day [Last day]
Dear [Manager's name],
I am resigning from my role at [Company], and this email is my two weeks' notice. My last day will be [Last day].
I appreciate the opportunities I have had in this role and the support you have given me.
I wish you and the team all the best.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
When a longer letter is better
Short is the right default, but some situations need more on paper:
A formal record. If the letter goes to HR, a board or a district office, a full business letter with addresses reads better. See the formal resignation letter for that layout.
Specific thanks. If someone helped you grow, a sentence naming what they did is worth the extra length.
A handover in writing. If you manage people, cover shifts or teach classes, a line on how your work will be covered saves questions later.
A short letter is also the right choice when you have already talked it through with your manager. The letter only has to confirm what you agreed; the conversation carried the rest.
For letters with a reason, a handover offer and more warmth, browse the resignation letter examples, which run from a new job to retirement.
Questions
How short can a resignation letter be?
Three sentences can do the job: that you are resigning, your last day, and thank you. Any shorter and it starts to read as abrupt, which can matter later when you ask for a reference. The six samples on this page stay between three and five sentences and still sound polite.
Is a short resignation letter unprofessional?
No, as long as it is polite and dated. Your employer needs the facts on file, not a long story, and a short letter is often easier to read and to keep. Include a line of thanks, and make sure your exact last day is written out in full, with the weekday and the year.
What must a short resignation letter include?
It must include the sentence that says you are resigning, your exact last day and your name. A line of thanks is strongly advised, because it keeps the letter warm without making it longer. Everything else, such as the reason or the handover details, is optional and can wait for a conversation.
Can a short resignation letter be sent by email?
Yes. Add a plain subject line such as Resignation notice, keep the same three to five sentences, and end with your name. The short email sample above is ready to paste into a new message, and the writer can open it in your email app with the subject already filled in.
When should I write a longer resignation letter?
Write a longer one when you want a formal record, want to thank people for specific things, or need to set out a handover plan in writing. A manager leaving a team, or anyone in a job such as nursing or teaching with shifts or classes to cover, often benefits from the extra detail.
Should a short resignation letter still say thank you?
Yes. One line of thanks keeps a short letter polite without making it longer than it needs to be, and it changes how the whole letter reads. It does not have to be elaborate: thanking your manager for the chance to work there is enough. Each of the six samples above has one.
