After-hours auto-attendant script examples
Here are 15 after-hours auto-attendant script examples: closed messages with voicemail, versions that read out your opening hours, scripts with an emergency option, and full holiday closure menus. Each is short, British and ready to copy. Replace the [square-bracket] placeholders with your own details, and keep every greeting under 30 seconds.
What makes a good after-hours message?
When your office is closed, the auto-attendant is the only thing answering the phone. A good after-hours message reassures the caller, tells them when you are open, and gives them a clear next step so they do not simply hang up and call a competitor. A vague "we are closed" with no follow-up wastes the call.
The best after-hours scripts cover four things:
- That you are currently closed (briefly, no apology needed).
- Your opening hours, so the caller knows when to try again.
- A clear next step: leave a voicemail, hear an emergency option, or visit the website.
- A warm sign-off, so the business still sounds welcoming out of hours.
With business-hours routing on a cloud phone system, these greetings play automatically outside your set hours, so you never have to switch anything on or off manually.
Standard closed message with voicemail
The everyday after-hours greeting most businesses need. Closed, hours, voicemail, done.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our office is now closed. We are open [opening hours], Monday to Friday. Please leave your name, number and a short message after the tone, and we will call you back the next working day. Thank you for calling."
"You have reached [Company name] outside our normal opening hours. Sorry we have missed you. Leave your name and number and a brief message, and a member of the team will return your call as soon as we are open."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. We are currently closed. Please leave a message with your details and we will get back to you when we reopen. You can also find answers to common questions on our website."
After-hours scripts with opening hours
Spelling out the hours stops callers wondering and reduces repeat calls.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. We are sorry you have caught us outside office hours. Our opening hours are [opening hours], Monday to Friday, and [opening hours] on Saturday. Please leave a message and we will call you back during the next working day."
"You have reached [Company name]. Our team is available [opening hours], Monday to Friday. We are closed on weekends and bank holidays. Leave your name and number and we will be in touch when we are next open. Thank you."
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our phone lines are open [opening hours]. As it is now outside these hours, please leave a message or contact us through our website, and we will respond as soon as we can on the next working day."
After-hours scripts with an emergency option
Only use these if you genuinely have an out-of-hours route. Make the option unmistakable.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our office is now closed. We are open [opening hours], Monday to Friday. If you have a genuine emergency that cannot wait, press 1 to reach our on-call team. For all other matters, please leave a message after the tone and we will call you back the next working day."
"You have reached [Company name] out of hours. For an urgent issue that needs attention tonight, press 1 and you will be connected to our duty contact. If your call is not urgent, leave your name and number and we will return your call when we reopen at [opening hours]."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. We are currently closed. If this is an emergency, press 1 now. Otherwise, please leave a message with your name, number and a short description, and a member of the team will be in touch on the next working day."
"Thank you for calling [Company name], [your trade]. We are closed for the evening. For an emergency call-out, press 1 to reach the on-call engineer, who may charge an out-of-hours rate. For a quote or a routine booking, leave a message and we will call you back tomorrow."
Holiday and Christmas closure menus
Always name the exact reopening date. That one detail prevents a string of repeat calls.
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our office is now closed for the Christmas and New Year break. We will reopen on [date] at [opening hours]. Please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we return. We wish you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year."
"You have reached [Company name]. We are closed for the bank holiday weekend and will reopen on [date]. To leave a message, please do so after the tone and we will return your call when we are back. For anything urgent, press 1. Thank you for calling."
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. We are currently closed for our annual break from [date] until [date]. During this time, the office is unattended. Please leave your name and number, or email us at [email address], and we will reply on [date]. Thank you for your patience."
"Thanks for calling [Company name]. We are taking a short break and will reopen on [date]. If your enquiry can wait, please leave a message and we will be in touch when we return. If you need urgent help before then, press 1 to reach our on-call team."
"Thank you for calling [Company name]. Our team is away over the holidays and we will reopen on [date]. To leave a message, press 1. To hear our opening hours and find answers online, press 2. We look forward to speaking with you in the new year."
Tips for after-hours auto-attendant scripts
- State that you are closed and give the hours within the first two lines.
- Always offer one clear next step, usually a voicemail, so the call is not wasted.
- Only mention an emergency option if you can actually answer it out of hours.
- For closures, name the exact reopening date, not just "after the holidays".
- Use business-hours routing so these greetings play automatically on a schedule.
- Review holiday greetings each year and remove them promptly once you reopen.
Frequently asked questions
What should an after-hours auto-attendant message say?
It should thank the caller, tell them the business is currently closed, give the opening hours, and offer a clear next step such as leaving a voicemail or using an emergency line. Keeping it short and reassuring stops out-of-hours callers from hanging up, and giving the opening hours means they know exactly when to call back or expect a reply.
Should an after-hours message include an emergency option?
Only if you genuinely have an out-of-hours emergency route, such as an on-call engineer or a duty contact. If you do, give it as a clear keypad option, for example press 1 for emergencies. If you do not, it is better to point callers to a voicemail or a website than to promise a response you cannot deliver overnight.
How do you set up automatic after-hours routing?
A cloud phone system lets you set business hours so calls route one way during the day and another after hours, with no need to switch anything manually. During hours, calls ring your team. Outside hours, callers hear your after-hours greeting and can leave a voicemail, hear an emergency option, or be answered by an AI receptionist, all on a schedule you set once.
What is a good Christmas or holiday closure message?
A holiday closure message should thank the caller, state the closure dates and the exact reopening date, and offer a way to leave a message or get urgent help if relevant. Naming the reopening date is the most important detail, because it tells callers precisely when they will hear back and prevents repeat calls during the break.
Can callers still leave a message when we are closed?
Yes. After-hours auto-attendant scripts almost always end by inviting the caller to leave a voicemail, which is then emailed to you as audio and often a written transcript. This means messages left overnight or at the weekend are waiting for you when you open, so nothing is missed and you can prioritise callbacks before the day even starts.
Put these scripts to work
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