Key takeaways
- A two weeks notice letter needs the date, your manager's name, a clear resignation statement, your exact last working day, a thank-you and an offer to help with the handover.
- Two weeks usually means 14 calendar days from the day you give notice, so notice given on a Friday normally ends on the Friday two weeks later.
- Tell your manager in person or on a call first, then send the letter the same day so there is a dated record.
- In most US states employment is at-will, so two weeks is a custom, but a contract, union agreement or company policy can require notice.
A two weeks notice letter is a short, dated note that tells your employer you are resigning and names your last working day. It does not need to be long or clever. It needs to be clear, polite and easy to file. Below you will find what to put in it, a template you can copy, two shorter versions, and how to hand it in without awkwardness.
If you would rather skip the typing, our free two weeks notice letter generator builds the letter from a short form and shows it in a live preview as you type.
What to include in a two weeks notice letter
Keep it to one page and three short paragraphs. A good notice letter has:
- The date you hand it in.
- The recipient, usually your direct manager, by name.
- A clear statement that you are resigning, with your job title and the company name.
- Your last working day, written out in full (for example, "Friday, October 23, 2026").
- A reason, if you want one. It is optional. One neutral sentence is plenty, such as "I have accepted a position elsewhere."
- A thank-you for the time you spent there.
- An offer to help with the handover, such as training a replacement or writing up your current tasks.
- A sign-off, like "Sincerely," followed by your name.
Two weeks usually means 14 calendar days from the day you give notice. If you hand it in on a Friday, your last day is normally the Friday two weeks later.
Two weeks notice letter template
Copy this, replace everything in [brackets], and delete any line you do not need.
[Your Name]
[Your Email] | [Your Phone]
[Date]
[Manager's Name]
[Company Name]
Dear [Manager's Name],
I am writing to formally resign from my position as [Job Title] at [Company Name]. My last working day will be [Last Working Day, e.g. Friday, October 23, 2026]. [Optional: I have accepted a position elsewhere.]
I want to make this transition as smooth as possible. Over the next two weeks I am happy to help train my replacement, document my current projects, and hand over anything else that would help the team.
Thank you for the opportunities I have had during my time here. I have valued working with you and the team, and I wish everyone the best.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Two short variations
Leaving on good terms, with extra gratitude. Use this when you liked the job and want to keep the door open.
Dear [Manager's Name],
Please accept this letter as my two weeks notice. My last day at [Company Name] will be [Last Working Day].
Working here as [Job Title] has taught me a great deal, and I am grateful for your support, especially [one specific thing, e.g. the chance to lead the spring launch]. I would be glad to stay in touch.
Until my last day, I will do everything I can to wrap up my work and help with the handover.
With thanks,
[Your Name]
Short and neutral. Use this when you want a clean record and nothing more.
Dear [Manager's Name],
I am resigning from my position as [Job Title] at [Company Name], effective [Last Working Day].
I will help with the transition of my responsibilities before I leave. Thank you for the opportunity.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
How to deliver your notice
Tell your manager first, in person or on a call. Your manager should hear the news from you, not from an email or a coworker. Ask for a few minutes in private, keep it brief, and say when your last day will be.
Then send the letter the same day. Email works well because it gives both of you a dated record. Attach the letter as a PDF or paste it into the email body, and copy HR if your company expects it. A plain subject line is best:
- Resignation – [Your Name], last day [Date]
- Two weeks notice – [Your Name]
If your workplace prefers paper, print a copy and hand it over at the end of the conversation. The two weeks notice letter tool has a Print / Save as PDF button, so you can do either from the same draft.
Plan the handover. Make a short list of open projects, shared files and who to contact for what. Offering this unprompted is the easiest way to leave a good last impression.
Is two weeks notice required?
In most of the US, no. Most states follow at-will employment, which means either you or your employer can end the job at any time. Two weeks is a professional custom, not a federal rule.
There are exceptions:
- An employment contract may set a notice period.
- A union agreement may have its own rules.
- Company policy can tie some benefits to giving notice. SHRM notes that in some states an employer can make payout of unused vacation depend on giving notice.
Final pay rules also vary. The US Department of Labor says federal law does not require an employer to hand over your final paycheck right away, but some states do require prompt payment.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your contract or employee handbook, or your state labor department, for the rules that apply to you.
What not to say in a notice letter
Your letter will likely sit in your personnel file, and future employers may call for a reference. Keep it clean.
- No complaints. Save honest feedback for an exit interview, and keep it calm there too.
- No criticism of coworkers or managers, even if it is deserved.
- No salary details from your new job.
- No long explanations. One sentence of reason is the most you need.
- No vague dates. "In a couple of weeks" invites confusion. Write the exact last day.
Read it aloud once. If a sentence would make you wince in a reference call, cut it.
Make your letter in a couple of minutes
You can fill in the template above by hand, or use the two weeks notice letter generator. You type your name, email, job title, company, manager's name and last working day, then add an optional reason or extra note. It writes three paragraphs for you: a resignation statement, a handover offer and a thank-you, closed with "Sincerely," and your name. You can pick a Classic, Modern or Minimal layout, add a logo if you like, and use Print / Save as PDF. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is uploaded. The fields are not saved, so export your PDF before you close the tab.
If your notice period is longer than two weeks, the resignation letter generator uses the same form; just pick the last day your contract requires.
Moving on to something new? Update your resume in the resume builder while the details of your current role are fresh.
Frequently asked questions
The date, your manager's name, a clear statement that you are resigning with your job title and company, your exact last working day, a short thank-you, an offer to help with the handover, and a sign-off such as "Sincerely," with your name. A reason is optional.
Usually not. Most US states follow at-will employment, so two weeks is a professional custom rather than a federal rule. An employment contract, union agreement or company policy can set a notice period or tie benefits to it, so check your contract or employee handbook.
Yes. Tell your manager first, in person or on a call, so they hear it from you. Then send the letter the same day by email or hand over a printed copy, so both of you have a dated record of your resignation and your last working day.
Keep it plain and specific, for example "Resignation – [Your Name], last day [Date]" or "Two weeks notice – [Your Name]". Attach the letter as a PDF or paste it into the email body, and copy HR if your company expects it.
Leave out complaints, criticism of coworkers or managers, salary details from your new job, and long explanations. Write an exact last day rather than a vague one. The letter usually stays in your personnel file, so keep it short, neutral and polite.