Free tool · Runs in your browser

Letter of recommendation request email

Asking someone to write you a letter? Fill in who you are asking, what the letter is for and when it is due, add the points you hope it covers, and copy a clear, courteous request.

Private. Runs in your browser; nothing you type leaves your device.

How to use it

Fill in the details. Enter the name of the person you are asking, what the letter is for and the date it is due. Add a few points you hope the letter covers if you want to guide it. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Pick the right version. Use the professor version for a teacher or academic advisor, and the manager version for someone you worked for or with. Each one names the deadline and offers to send everything they need.
Copy, send and follow through. Copy the email and send it well before the deadline. When they agree, send your resume, the submission instructions and any forms straight away, and check in politely about a week before the letter is due.

Example

What was entered

Their name: Dana
What the letter is for: the graduate program in urban planning at Lakeshore University
Letter due by: November 13, 2026
Your name: Marcus Bell
Points you hope the letter covers: The community transit survey I led and the analysis in the final report. How I organized the team when our project timeline changed.

Professor

Subject: Request for a letter of recommendation

Dear Dana,

I hope you are well. I am applying for the graduate program in urban planning at Lakeshore University, and I would be grateful if you would write a letter of recommendation for me. I valued my time in your classes, and I believe you know my academic work well enough to speak to it with confidence.

The letter is due by November 13, 2026. If you agree, I will send my resume, a draft of my personal statement, the submission instructions and a reminder of the work I completed with you, so you have everything in one place.

If it helps, these are the points I would most like the letter to reflect:
The community transit survey I led and the analysis in the final report.
How I organized the team when our project timeline changed.

I know this takes time, so please tell me honestly if you are not able to. Thank you for considering it.

With gratitude,
Marcus Bell

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Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

Ask as early as you can, ideally three to four weeks before the letter is due. Busy professors and managers often have several letters to write at once, and extra time lets them write a thoughtful letter rather than a rushed one.

What should I include in the request?

Say what the letter is for, when it is due and how it will be submitted, and offer to send your resume and any application materials. A short list of projects or qualities they saw firsthand makes it much easier for them to write something specific.

What if they say no or do not reply?

Thank them and ask someone else; a reluctant writer rarely produces a strong letter. If there is no reply after about a week, send one short, friendly follow-up. If you still hear nothing, move on to your next choice so you do not miss the deadline.

Is my information sent anywhere?

No. This template runs in your browser: the email is filled in on this page as you type, and nothing you enter is sent to Applystead or anyone else. You copy the finished text and send it from your own email account.