60 Retirement Messages for Colleagues, Your Boss, Friends and Family

A retirement card marks the end of a career and the start of something new, so the best messages do two things: thank the person for what they gave and wish them well for what comes next. Here are 60 retirement messages for every kind of colleague and friend.

Short retirement messages

1. Happy retirement!
2. Congratulations on your retirement. Enjoy every minute.
3. Wishing you a long, happy and healthy retirement.
4. Here's to the next adventure.
5. You've earned this. Enjoy it!
6. Congratulations on a wonderful career.
7. Time to relax — happy retirement!
8. All the best for your retirement.

Retirement messages for colleagues

1. Thank you for everything you've taught us. Enjoy every minute of your retirement.
2. Work won't be the same without you. Wishing you a happy retirement.
3. It's been a privilege working with you. Enjoy the next chapter.
4. Thank you for your kindness, wisdom and endless cups of tea.
5. You've made such a difference here. Have a wonderful retirement.
6. We'll miss your stories, your laugh and your advice. Happy retirement!
7. Congratulations on a brilliant career — now go and enjoy yourself.

Retirement messages for a boss

1. Thank you for your leadership and kindness. Wishing you a long and happy retirement.
2. You've been a wonderful mentor. Enjoy your well-earned retirement.
3. Thank you for believing in me. Happy retirement!
4. Your guidance shaped this team. We wish you every happiness.
5. Thank you for making work a place people wanted to be.

Retirement messages for friends and family

1. Here's to lie-ins, long lunches and all the adventures you've been saving up.
2. Congratulations, Dad! Time for more golf and less email.
3. So proud of you, Mum. Enjoy every moment of your retirement.
4. Retirement suits you already. Congratulations!
5. Now we can finally plan that trip. Happy retirement!

Funny retirement messages

1. Congratulations on your permanent weekend!
2. Goodbye tension, hello pension.
3. Retirement: the only job where you can't be late.
4. You've officially escaped. Well done!
5. Enjoy your new full-time job: doing whatever you like.
6. No more alarm clocks — unless it's for a tee time.
7. Every day is Saturday now. Congratulations!
8. We'll miss you — and so will the coffee machine.

Retirement messages for teachers

1. Thank you for inspiring so many young minds. Happy retirement!
2. Generations of pupils are better for having you as their teacher.
3. Thank you for every lesson, every kindness and every encouragement.
4. The school won't be the same without you. Enjoy your retirement.

Retirement messages for nurses and carers

1. Thank you for a lifetime of caring for others. Now it's time to care for yourself.
2. You've made a difference to so many people. Happy retirement.
3. Thank you for your compassion and dedication. Enjoy every minute.

Heartfelt retirement messages

1. Your hard work and dedication have been an inspiration.
2. Thank you for everything you've given over the years.
3. May your retirement be filled with good health, good friends and good times.
4. You leave behind a legacy that will be remembered for years.
5. Wishing you peace, joy and plenty of time for the things you love.

Retirement wishes with hobbies in mind

1. Enjoy the extra time in the garden — happy retirement!
2. Here's to more holidays and fewer meetings.
3. Time to perfect that golf swing. Congratulations!
4. Happy retirement — may your fishing line always be tight.
5. Enjoy the books, the walks and the long coffees.

Retirement speech and toast lines

1. Please raise your glasses to a wonderful colleague and friend.
2. To [name]: thank you for the memories, and here's to many more.
3. Here's to a retirement as remarkable as your career.
4. Cheers to new beginnings and well-deserved rest.
5. To [name], who made every working day better.

Messages for a retirement gift

1. A little something to help you enjoy your free time.
2. For your first day of not commuting — enjoy!
3. Something for the garden, from all of us.
4. A small gift to start your next adventure.
5. With love and thanks from the whole team.

Saying goodbye to someone moving to a new job rather than retiring? See our leaving card messages.

How to write a retirement card

Thank them for something specific. A project, a habit or the way they helped people.

Look forward. Mention travel, hobbies or family time they are looking forward to.

Keep jokes kind. Avoid jokes about age or being "past it".

Sign with your role if the card is big. On a team card, "From Sarah in Finance" helps them remember who wrote what.