How to say not interested politely

Sales pitches, recruiter messages, proposals, invitations: most of them deserve an answer, and most of the time the answer is no. A clear, friendly "not interested" saves everyone time. Here is how to word it, and 8 templates you can copy.

The three-part reply

1. Thank them. "Thanks for reaching out." Someone took the time to write.
2. Say it clearly. "I'm not interested" or "it isn't a fit for us." Vague answers invite follow-ups.
3. Close the door kindly, or leave it open on purpose: "Please remove me from the list" or "I'd be glad to hear about future roles."

Templates you can copy

A sales email or pitch

Hi [Name],

Thank you for reaching out. We're not interested at this time, so I'll pass. Please remove me from your follow-up list.

Best,
[Your name]

A business proposal

Dear [Name],

Thank you for sending the proposal and for the time you put into it. After reviewing it, it isn't the right fit for us right now, so we'll decline. I appreciate you thinking of us.

Kind regards,
[Your name]

A recruiter (door open)

Hi [Name],

Thanks for thinking of me. I'm not looking for a new role at the moment, but I'd be happy to hear about [type of role] in the future.

Best,
[Your name]

A recruiter (door closed)

Hi [Name],

Thank you for reaching out. I'm not interested in this opportunity, but I appreciate you getting in touch.

Best,
[Your name]

A partnership or collaboration

Hi [Name],

Thank you for the idea. It doesn't fit with what we're focusing on this year, so we'll pass for now. Good luck with the project.

Best,
[Your name]

A phone call

Thanks for calling, but I'm not interested. Please take my number off your list. Have a good day.

A social invitation or group

Thanks so much for asking! It's not really my thing, but I hope it goes well.

A follow-up after you said no

Hi [Name], as I mentioned, I'm not interested. Please remove me from your list. Thank you.

What to avoid

• "Maybe later" when you mean never. It guarantees another email in three months.
• Long reasons. Every reason is something to argue with. "It isn't a fit" is enough.
• Ignoring a real person. Automated mass emails can go unanswered, but a personal message from a recruiter or a colleague deserves a short reply.
• Being harsh. The person writing is usually just doing their job.

Related guides

For job-related noes, see how to decline a job offer and how to decline a job interview. For meetings, see how to decline a meeting, and for everything else, the polite ways to say no. All guides are on the guides page.

The Department's version

The Department of Doubt answers every claim it is not interested in with one stamp: I DON'T THINK SO. See today's ruling, or stamp your own with Stamp Anything.

See also: how to say no to a customer.

Questions about saying not interested

How do you politely say you are not interested?

Thank them, say clearly that you are not interested, and close the conversation kindly: "Thanks for reaching out, but I'm not interested. I wish you the best with it." Clear and friendly beats vague and polite.

How do I say not interested in a business email?

Keep it short and professional: "Thank you for the proposal. It isn't a fit for us at this time, so we'll pass. I appreciate you thinking of us." If you never want to hear about it again, ask to be removed from the list.

How do I tell a recruiter I am not interested?

Thank them and leave the door open if you like: "Thanks for thinking of me. I'm not looking right now, but I'd be glad to hear about [type of role] in the future." If you are not interested at all, just thank them and decline.

Is "not interested" rude?

On its own, it can sound abrupt. With a thank-you and one kind line, it is a perfectly polite and helpful answer, because it saves the other person time.

What if they keep following up?

Reply once more with the same clear message and ask them to stop: "As I mentioned, I'm not interested. Please remove me from your list." After that, you do not need to keep answering.

The Department of Doubt is satire, but this page is a plain guide. See the satire notice and about the Department.