Last Updated: October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
Callers notice when your phone still says "regular business hours" on December 24th. Update three recordings before the holidays: your voicemail greeting, your after-hours or closure message, and your on-hold loop. Keep each greeting under 30 seconds, state your exact dates and return time, and tell callers where to go if it can't wait. Below are 15 scripts you can copy, a timing guide, and how to get them professionally recorded in one order.
In this guide
- Why holiday phone messages matter more than you think
- What every holiday message needs
- Holiday voicemail greeting scripts
- Office-closed and holiday-hours scripts
- Holiday on-hold message scripts
- Bilingual holiday greeting
- Timing: how long each message should be
- When to record and when to swap them
- DIY vs. professional recording
- FAQ
Why Holiday Phone Messages Matter More Than You Think
The holidays are when your phone system is most likely to be wrong. Hours change, staff are out and offices close on days customers don't expect. The greeting that worked fine in September is now giving callers bad information.
Holiday calls also tend to be urgent: a last-minute order, a billing question before year-end, an appointment that needs rescheduling. A caller who hears outdated hours, or dead air on hold, often doesn't wait around. Widely cited industry figures, including an AT&T study summarized on Wikipedia, put the share of callers who hang up when left on hold in silence at around 60–70%. The same body of research finds callers stay on the line longer when they hear music or useful information.
A seasonal update is one of the cheapest fixes in your whole customer experience. It's usually three short scripts, recorded once, swapped in for six weeks.
Section summary: Holiday hours change and holiday callers are impatient. An accurate, friendly greeting keeps them from giving up.
Related: Voicemail Greetings: The Complete Guide · On-Hold Messages
What Every Holiday Message Needs
Whatever the holiday, a good seasonal greeting answers four questions in this order:
- Who did I reach? Say your business name first.
- Are you open? Give the specific dates, not "over the holidays."
- When will someone call me back? Name the day you return.
- What if it can't wait? Give an emergency line, website, email or online ordering option.
Add a warm line of holiday wishes at the end if it fits your brand. Put it after the useful information, never before. A caller who needs your hours shouldn't sit through a greeting card first. For your year-round greeting, see our professional voicemail greeting scripts.
Two things to avoid:
- Religious-specific greetings, unless they fit your audience. "Happy holidays" or "season's greetings" works for nearly any business.
- Messages that outlive the season. Set a calendar reminder to switch back on your first day open in January.
Section summary: Lead with your name, your dates, your return day and a way to get help. Save the holiday wishes for last.
Holiday Voicemail Greeting Scripts
Replace the bracketed text with your details. Word counts are approximate, and timing assumes a natural read of about 150 words per minute.
- General holiday voicemail (about 45 words, ~18 seconds)
"Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Our team is enjoying the holidays with family, and we're away from our desks right now. Please leave your name, number and a short message, and we'll return your call on [Return Day, Date]. Happy holidays, and thank you for calling."
- Thanksgiving (about 40 words, ~16 seconds)
"You've reached [Business Name]. Our office is closed Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th for Thanksgiving. We'll be back Monday, November 30th at [time]. Please leave a message and we'll call you back. From all of us, happy Thanksgiving."
- Christmas week (about 50 words, ~20 seconds)
"Thank you for calling [Business Name]. We're closed Thursday, December 24th and Friday, December 25th, and we'll reopen Monday, December 28th at [time]. If you need immediate help, visit [website] or email [address]. Otherwise, leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as we return. Merry Christmas and happy holidays."
- New Year's (about 40 words, ~16 seconds)
"Happy New Year from [Business Name]. Our office is closed Friday, January 1st. We'll be back Monday, January 4th at [time]. Leave your name and number and we'll return your call. We look forward to working with you in 2027."
- Individual employee voicemail (about 35 words, ~14 seconds)
"Hi, you've reached [Name] at [Business Name]. I'm out of the office through [Date] and will return calls on [Return Date]. For anything urgent, please call [colleague / main line]. Happy holidays."
These dates are for the 2026–2027 season: Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, Christmas on a Friday, and New Year's Day on Friday, January 1, 2027.
Section summary: Five ready-to-use voicemail scripts, each under 20 seconds, covering the three biggest holidays plus a general and a personal version.
Office-Closed and Holiday-Hours Scripts
These play before anyone answers, on your auto attendant or main greeting. They're especially useful if your phone system can switch messages on a schedule. See our guide to auto attendant recordings.
- Extended holiday closure (about 55 words, ~22 seconds)
"Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Our offices are closed from [Start Date] through [End Date] for the holiday season, and we'll reopen [Return Date] at [time]. Orders placed online at [website] will ship when we return. For urgent support, press [#] or email [address]. Thank you, and happy holidays."
- Reduced holiday hours (about 45 words, ~18 seconds)
"Thanks for calling [Business Name]. During the holidays, our hours are [hours] from [Date] through [Date]. We're closed on [Dates]. Stay on the line to reach our team, or visit [website] anytime. We appreciate your patience this season."
- Early closing day (about 30 words, ~12 seconds)
"Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Today, [Day], we're closing early at [time] for the holiday. We'll reopen [Day] at [time]. Please leave a message and we'll call you back."
- Medical or service office with an on-call line (about 50 words, ~20 seconds)
"You've reached [Practice Name]. Our office is closed [Dates] for the holiday. If this is a medical emergency, hang up and dial 9-1-1. For urgent needs, our on-call provider can be reached at [number]. For all other questions, leave a message and we'll return your call on [Date]."
See our guides to auto attendant recordings and IVR phone menus.
Section summary: Four closure and holiday-hours scripts for your main line, including one with emergency routing for medical and service businesses.
Holiday On-Hold Message Scripts
On-hold messages work best as a loop of short segments, each 15–30 seconds, separated by music. For holiday traffic, mix useful information (hours, shipping deadlines, online options) with one or two promotional lines. For more on building a full loop, see our On-Hold Messages guide.
- Holiday welcome (about 30 words, ~12 seconds)
"Thank you for holding, and happy holidays from all of us at [Business Name]. Your call is important to us, and a member of our team will be with you shortly."
- Holiday hours reminder (about 35 words, ~14 seconds)
"Just a reminder: our holiday hours are [hours] through [Date], and we'll be closed [Dates]. You can always reach us online at [website], day or night."
- Shipping or order deadline (about 35 words, ~14 seconds)
"Need it before the holidays? Place your order by [Date] for delivery by [Date]. Our team can help you choose the right option. Stay on the line and we'll be right with you."
- Gift card or seasonal promotion (about 35 words, ~14 seconds)
"Looking for a last-minute gift? [Business Name] gift cards are available in any amount, in store or online at [website]. Ask our team about them when we pick up."
- Year-end thank-you (about 30 words, ~12 seconds)
"As the year comes to a close, thank you for choosing [Business Name]. We're grateful for your business, and we look forward to serving you in the new year."
Section summary: Five short on-hold segments. Loop them with music and the caller hears useful, seasonal information instead of silence.
Bilingual Holiday Greeting
If a meaningful share of your callers speak Spanish, a bilingual greeting is one of the easiest ways to make them feel welcome during the holidays.
- English / Spanish holiday closure (about 60 words, ~24 seconds)
"Thank you for calling [Business Name]. We're closed [Dates] for the holidays and will reopen [Return Date]. Please leave a message. Happy holidays! Gracias por llamar a [Business Name]. Estamos cerrados [Fechas] por los días festivos y volveremos el [Fecha de regreso]. Por favor, deje un mensaje. ¡Felices fiestas!"
Have the Spanish half recorded by a native speaker rather than an English voice reading Spanish. Callers can tell. See our guide to Spanish IVR and phone voiceover.
Section summary: A two-language closure message, voiced by a native Spanish speaker for the Spanish half.
Make It Memorable: Character Holiday Greetings
For retailers, toy and gift shops, restaurants, family entertainment venues and any brand with a playful personality, a greeting from Santa or one of his elves turns a routine phone message into something callers remember, and sometimes share. Character greetings work best as one segment in your on-hold loop or as a short opener on your main line, followed by the practical details in a standard voice.
The four-question rule still applies: Santa can deliver the holiday cheer, but callers still need your name, your dates and your return day. Leave character greetings off medical, legal, financial and other serious-business lines. A jolly "ho ho ho" doesn't fit a caller with a billing problem or an urgent appointment.
Bonus: Santa holiday greeting (about 45 words, ~18 seconds)
"Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas from all of us at [Business Name]! The elves and I are busy getting ready for the big night, so our shop is closed [Dates]. We'll be back [Return Day] at [time]. Leave a message, and remember — I'm checking my list!"
Bonus: Elf on-hold segment (about 35 words, ~14 seconds)
"Hi there! I'm one of Santa's helpers, and I'm keeping your spot in line warm. Did you know you can shop [Business Name] anytime at [website]? Hang tight - a real-life helper will be with you shortly!"
Hear Santa, elves and other holiday character voices on our Holiday and Christmas demo page.
Timing: How Long Each Message Should Be
|
Message type |
Ideal length |
Approx. word count |
|---|---|---|
|
Voicemail greeting |
15–20 seconds |
35–50 words |
|
Closure / holiday hours |
15–25 seconds |
35–60 words |
|
Early closing notice |
~10 seconds |
25–30 words |
|
Each on-hold segment |
12–30 seconds |
30–75 words |
|
Full on-hold loop |
2–4 minutes with music |
5–8 segments |
A useful rule of thumb: about 2.5 spoken words per second. If your script runs long, cut the pleasantries, not the dates. For more on timing, see our guide on how to write a voiceover script.
Section summary: Greetings under 20 seconds, on-hold segments under 30. Budget about 2.5 words per second.
When to Record and When to Swap Them
|
When |
What to do |
|---|---|
|
Early November |
Finalize holiday dates with your team and write scripts |
|
Mid-November |
Order recordings (all seasonal messages in one order) |
|
Before Thanksgiving week |
Load the Thanksgiving greeting and holiday on-hold loop |
|
December 21 |
Switch to the Christmas/New Year's closure message |
|
First business day of January |
Restore your standard greeting and hold loop |
Ordering everything together means your messages share the same voice and sound consistent across the season. It also keeps costs down.
Section summary: Write in early November, record in mid-November, and set a reminder to switch back in January.
DIY vs. Professional Recording
You can record a holiday greeting on your desk phone. The trade-off is that phone handsets pick up room echo, keyboard noise and flat delivery, and callers hear it. A professional recording from a human voice actor sounds warm, clear and consistent with the rest of your phone system. It also isn't expensive:
- Pricing is 38¢ per word. There's a $55 minimum for scripts up to 30 words and an $85 minimum for longer scripts. Most single holiday greetings run 35–50 words, so they land at the $85 minimum.
- Batch your season into one script. All 15 scripts above add up to roughly 615 words, or about $234 at 38¢ per word as a single script. Ordering them one at a time would cost far more in minimums. Use the price calculator for your exact total.
- Every recording is a full buyout. You pay once and use it every holiday season, with no renewal or usage fees.
- Need it today? 2-hour rush delivery is available for +$30 per script from talent marked RUSH (up to 300 words, 9am–7pm ET, Monday–Friday).
- Want music under your on-hold loop? Add a mix from our library for $60, or supply your own track for $50.
You can browse voices and hear demos before you order, including Santa and elf character voices for a playful seasonal touch, and every order includes one free revision. See full rates.
Section summary: Batched into one script, a professional human recording of your whole holiday season costs less than a few separate minimum orders, and you own it for every future holiday season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a holiday voicemail greeting say?
Your business name, the exact dates you're closed, the day you'll return calls, and where to get help if it's urgent. Add a short holiday wish at the end.
How long should a holiday voicemail be?
15 to 20 seconds, or roughly 35 to 50 words. Anything longer and callers start skipping ahead to the beep.
Should I say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays"?
"Happy holidays" or "season's greetings" fits almost any business. Use a specific holiday greeting only if you know it suits your customers.
When should I change my phone message for the holidays?
Load seasonal hours before Thanksgiving week, switch to your closure message around December 21, and restore your standard greeting on your first business day in January.
Can I reuse the same holiday recording every year?
Yes, if you keep the wording date-free (for example, "we're closed for the holidays and will return after New Year's Day"). Date-specific scripts are more helpful to callers but need re-recording each year. Because VoiceJungle recordings are a full buyout, you can reuse them as long as you like.
Do I need a separate on-hold message for the holidays?
It isn't required, but it's worth it. Holiday callers are often asking about hours, shipping cutoffs or gift options, and a seasonal loop answers those questions while they wait.
Get Your Holiday Messages Recorded
Pick a voice, paste in the scripts you need, and receive broadcast-quality recordings from a real human voice actor, ready to load into your phone system before the rush starts.
