Quick answer: A good elf goodbye letter does four things in a few short lines: thanks your child by name, names one favorite moment from the season, explains that the elf is heading back to the North Pole, and promises to see them next year. Leave it on Christmas Eve, since the official Elf on the Shelf guide says Scout Elves return to the North Pole that night.
The elf goodbye letter is the one nobody plans. The arrival letter gets written weeks ahead with a cup of coffee and good intentions. The goodbye letter gets written late on Christmas Eve, on the back of a receipt, while the wrapping paper is still on the floor.
It also carries more weight than the arrival. Some kids are thrilled to see the elf go (finally, they can touch the cookies on the counter). Others get properly sad. A few lines on a letter can be the difference between “bye, elf!” and a teary Christmas morning. So here is what to say, when to leave it, and a few wording ideas you can copy tonight.
Key takeaways
- Keep it short: four lines a young child can follow, or one short paragraph for older kids.
- Name one real moment from this season. That single line makes it feel personal.
- End with “see you next year.” It turns a goodbye into a promise.
What should an elf goodbye letter say?
An elf goodbye letter should say thank you, remember one specific moment, explain where the elf is going, and promise to come back. That’s the whole recipe. Thank the child by name, mention something that really happened this season, say the elf is flying home to help Santa, and close with “see you next Christmas.” Everything else is decoration.
The “one real moment” line is the part most printable letters skip, because a printed template can’t know what happened in your house. It’s also the line kids remember. “I loved watching you share your cookies with your little brother” lands harder than any rhyme. If you’re using a template, leave a blank line for it and fill it in by hand.
Five elf goodbye letter wording ideas you can copy
Here are five elf goodbye letters, from short and simple to a little more playful. Swap in your child’s name and your elf’s name, and change any line that doesn’t sound like your elf.
- Short and sweet (preschoolers): “Dear Mia, thank you for a happy Christmas. I’m flying home to help Santa now. Be kind while I’m gone. See you next year! Love, Pip.”
- The memory line: “Dear Leo, my favorite part of this year was the morning you laughed so hard at my marshmallow snowman. Santa needs me back at the North Pole tonight, but I’ll be thinking of you. See you next December! Your friend, Jingle.”
- The proud report: “Dear Ava and Sam, I told Santa all about you, and he was very proud. Now it’s my turn to fly home and get ready for next Christmas. Keep being good to each other. Love, Sparkle.”
- The mission report (great for older kids): “Mission complete. Agent Theo was observed being helpful, brave and mostly tidy. Elf returning to North Pole headquarters tonight. Next assignment: December. Over and out.”
- The gentle one, for a child who’ll miss the elf: “Dear Ella, it’s okay to feel a little sad. I’ll miss you too. Every time you do something kind this year, I’ll hear about it at the North Pole. I’ll be back before you know it. Love, Holly.”
Want these to look like they came from the North Pole instead of the printer drawer? Our elf letter template set includes a goodbye letter in each of its three designs, and every word is editable.
When does the elf leave: December 23rd or 24th?
The elf leaves on Christmas Eve, December 24th. The official Elf on the Shelf guide from The Lumistella Company says Scout Elves “must return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve” to help Santa get ready for next Christmas. Many families leave the goodbye letter out on the 24th, so kids find it before bed or with their presents.
You have two good options for timing. Christmas Eve morning gives kids a full day to say goodbye, which helps the ones who get sad. Christmas Eve night, tucked beside the stockings, keeps the surprise for the morning. Both work. Pick the one that fits your kid, not the one Pinterest picked.
How do you make the goodbye easier for a sad kid?
The easiest way to soften the goodbye is to give it a little warning and a little ritual. Mention a few days before that the elf will be heading home soon, so it isn’t a surprise. Then let the goodbye be a small event: a letter, a short “thank you” from your child, maybe a drawing the elf can “take” back to Santa.
The official rule is not to touch your Scout Elf, or it loses its magic. Some families make Christmas Eve the one time kids can give their elf a goodbye squeeze, and say so right in the letter. That’s a family call. If you do it, put it in writing (“Tonight you may give me one hug”) so the rule doesn’t feel broken.
A goodbye letter also makes a lovely keepsake. Fold it into the box with the ornaments, and next year’s arrival letter has something to point back to.
The goodbye letter is already written
Nine editable elf letters: arrival, “I’m back” and goodbye, in three designs. Type the names in free Canva, or print the fill-in PDF and write them by hand. One $7.99 set, reusable next year.
Get the elf letter set →Three goodbye letter styles, compared
Elf goodbye letters usually fall into three styles, and the right one depends on your child’s age and how much they love the elf. A preschooler and an older kid rarely want the same letter.
| Style | Best for | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Short and sweet | Preschoolers, early readers | Four simple lines, big words |
| Memory letter | Kids who’ll miss the elf | Warm, names a real moment |
| Mission report | Older kids, skeptics | Playful, “official” North Pole voice |
Our letter set has a goodbye in each of its three designs: “Goodbye!” in Snowy Village, “Farewell!” in North Pole Post Office, and the “Final Mission Report” in Space Mission. Every word is editable in free Canva, so you can push any of them toward the style above. The edit that matters most is still the one-line memory.
Handwritten or printed?
A printed goodbye letter is easier to read and looks official, while a handwritten one feels more personal, so many parents do both: a printed letter with one handwritten line. Young kids usually can’t tell the difference anyway. What they notice is their own name and a moment they remember.
If your handwriting is a known quantity in your house, print it and add the memory line in a different color “elf ink.” If you’d rather skip the computer entirely, a fill-in printable lets you write the names and the one line by hand in a few quick minutes.
Keeping the elf tradition from turning into a December money pit
The elf itself is a one-time purchase, but the props, treats and “elf-sized” surprises can quietly add up over the whole elf season. The cheapest elf seasons usually lean on paper: letters, notes, drawings and paper props cost almost nothing and get reused. A letter set you can edit and print again next year is one of the easiest ways to keep the magic without a new purchase every week.
If you’re keeping the whole holiday on a plan, our guide on how much to spend on Christmas gifts starts with one total for everything, and the elf arrival letter guide covers the first morning of the season.
FAQ
What do you write in an elf on the shelf goodbye letter?
Write a thank-you using your child’s name, one real moment from this season, a line saying the elf is flying home to help Santa, and a promise to come back next year. Four short lines are enough for young kids.
Does the elf leave on the 23rd or the 24th?
The elf leaves on Christmas Eve, December 24th. The official Elf on the Shelf guide says Scout Elves return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve to help Santa prepare for next Christmas.
Can kids touch the elf on its last day?
The official rule is not to touch your Scout Elf, or it loses its magic. Some families allow one goodbye hug on Christmas Eve and say so in the letter, but that is a family choice, not an official rule.
How do I announce the elf is back next year?
Use a return letter that picks up where the goodbye letter left off, for example mentioning the promise to come back. Our elf letter set includes an “I’m back” letter in each design for that morning.
Plan the rest of Christmas for free
The free Christmas Budget Planner for Google Sheets sets one total for the holiday, shows what to set aside each payday, and keeps your gift list in one place.
Get the free Christmas Budget Planner →The Elf on the Shelf is a trademark of CCA and B, LLC (The Lumistella Company). Money Aesthetic is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. This article is general information; the letter templates mentioned are our own designs.