Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Letters & Notes (31 Notes + Mini Letters) 🎅

Need elf on the shelf letters that are ready to print, with no email signup and no hunting through a dozen blog posts? Same here.

This free printable set has 8 half-page elf letters (arrival, I’m back, sorry I’m late, oops, be good, good job, Christmas countdown and goodbye), a blank note, a letter to my elf, 31 cut-apart elf notes (one for every day of December, with a few naughty-list ones), plus mini letters and mini envelopes to cut and fold. 12 pages total.

It’s part of our Christmas Games collection. Fill in the blanks, tuck a letter under your elf, and let the morning fun begin. (Not affiliated with the Elf on the Shelf brand. These are just fan-friendly printable letters for your own scout elf.)

Grab Your Free Elf on the Shelf Letters 👇

Download the free PDF below and print only the pages you need. No email, no signup.

What’s Included

Everything is written in the elf’s voice, with blanks for your child’s name and your elf’s name. Every page has a festive red and green airmail border with a little Santa Mail postmark and Christmas stamp. Here’s the full list:

Half-page letters (two per sheet):

• Elf arrival letter: the big “hello, I’m here!” welcome
• I’m back letter: for an elf returning for another year
• Sorry I’m late letter: for elves that show up after December 1
• Elf oops letter: for a morning when your elf made a mess
• Be good reminder: a gentle nudge about kindness (no scary stuff)
• Good job letter: praise for kind and helpful days
• Christmas countdown letter: a “Christmas is almost here” update
• Elf goodbye letter: a Christmas Eve send-off

Extras:

• A blank note from your elf with writing lines, so you can write your own
• A letter to my elf, with writing lines and a drawing box for kids
• 31 cut-apart elf notes, including 8 naughty-list notes and a Christmas Eve note
• 9 mini elf letters to cut apart and fold, with To and From lines
• 8 mini envelope templates to cut, fold and glue

Features and Benefits

The letters are short and written in big, easy-to-read type, so they can be read out loud in under a minute. That matters when a seven-year-old is staring at the elf at 6:45 a.m. They’re warm and silly, never scolding.

Each letter is a half page, so it feels like a tiny note from a small elf. Print one sheet at a time. You don’t have to use the whole set, so print the arrival letter now and save the rest for later in December.

Looking for more ways to keep the Christmas magic going? Try our Christmas activity placemats, a Christmas wish list to leave for Santa, or the letter to Santa templates. Or print our Christmas bingo and Christmas scavenger hunt for family game night.

Who It’s For

• Parents with a scout elf who want easy, no-prep elf letters
• Families starting the elf tradition for the first time
• Teachers running an elf in the classroom
• Grandparents who host an elf at their house
• Anyone who forgot to write the arrival letter and needs one fast (no judgment)

How to Use It

1. Print the pages you want on regular paper (white or a pale color works great).
2. Cut each sheet in half along the center line to make two half-page letters.
3. Fill in your child’s name and your elf’s name with a pen, then sign the line. Handwriting is part of the charm.
4. Fold or roll the letter with a ribbon and tuck it near your elf. Or use a mini letter and mini envelope for a tiny surprise.
5. Cut apart the notes pages and leave one each morning.
6. On Christmas Eve, leave the goodbye letter and send your elf home.

Does the Elf Have a Name?

In the Elf on the Shelf tradition, families name their elf together. The arrival letter has a blank for your elf’s name, so you can fill in whatever your family picked, and your child can write back on the letter to my elf page.

Elf on the Shelf Letters to Print

Here are all eight letters, two to a sheet, with a little about when to use each one.

Elf Arrival Letter and I’m Back Letter

The arrival letter is the big first-morning letter. The elf introduces itself, explains it will fly to the North Pole every night to report to Santa, and asks kids to look but not touch. The I’m back letter is for an elf returning for another year, with a hint of mischief ahead.

Sorry I’m Late Letter and Elf Oops Letter

Did December 1 sneak up on you? The sorry I’m late letter explains why the elf is a few days behind (hello, North Pole traffic) so you don’t have to make something up on the spot. The oops letter is for a morning when the elf got into a little mischief.

Be Good Reminder and Good Job Letters

The be good reminder is a gentle nudge about kindness, and it stays positive instead of scary. Use the good job letter on a day your child has been especially kind or helpful. It says that Santa noticed, and that’s often all the motivation they need.

Christmas Countdown and Elf Goodbye Letters

The countdown letter builds excitement in the last days before Christmas. The goodbye letter is the Christmas Eve send-off: the elf says thank you, heads back to the North Pole with Santa, and promises to return next year.

Write Your Own Elf Letter and a Letter to My Elf

The blank note has writing lines and a spot to sign, so you can fit the message to what’s happening at your house this week. Kids can write back, too. The letter to my elf page has lines for their message and a box to draw a picture. It gives you something to “deliver” to the North Pole at night.

31 Elf Notes to Cut Apart

Short daily notes from your elf, one for every day of December. They come four pages of eight, cut apart on the dotted lines. Most are kind and silly, and 8 are naughty-list notes for the mornings your elf needs to make a point (or a mess). There is also a blank card to write your own. Here are the messages:

• Ho ho ho! I’m watching for kind words today.
• Can you help someone without being asked?
• I saw you share. Santa is smiling!
• Did you brush your teeth? Santa wants to know.
• Find me and give a high five (with a smile)!
• Today’s mission: make someone laugh.
• I flew to the North Pole last night. Guess who I saw?
• Be a good listener today. Elves love listening ears.
• Let’s tidy up. A clean room is a merry room!
• Tell me your favorite Christmas song. I’m humming it.
• Give a hug to someone in your family. It’s elf-approved.
• I’m hiding in plain sight. Look closer!
• Thank you for being kind to your brother or sister.
• Try a new food tonight. Santa says be brave!
• Draw a picture for someone you love.
• Write a thank-you to someone special today.
• Say something nice to three people today.
• Christmas is coming! How many days are left?
• Help set the table tonight. Teamwork makes the dream work.
• What’s your favorite thing about Christmas? Tell someone!
• I’m so proud of you. Keep being awesome.
• Almost time! Santa says be good for a few more days.
• Oops! I got into the sprinkles. Please don’t tell Santa!
• I tried to ride the toy truck. I crashed. Sorry!
• I had a snowball fight with the marshmallows. I won.
• Santa heard some arguing yesterday. Try kinder words today.
• Toys on the floor? Santa noticed. Time to tidy up!
• Someone stayed up late. Santa asks for an early night tonight.
• Listening ears needed! Follow directions the first time.
• I won’t name names, but a cookie went missing before dinner.
• Merry Christmas Eve! I’ll see you at the North Pole.

Mini Elf Letters and Mini Envelopes

Want something tiny? The mini letters page has nine small letters: I’m here, I’m back, sorry I’m late, elf oops, be good reminder, good job, Christmas countdown, elf goodbye, and one blank to write your own. Cut them apart, fold them in half, and fill in the To and From lines.

Then make a matching mini envelope. Cut out the envelope template along the solid lines, fold on the dotted lines, glue the side tabs to the inside, slide in a folded mini letter and seal the flap with a sticker. Each page makes four envelopes.

Tips for Using Your Elf Letters

• Pair a letter with a scene. Set the elf next to the letter so it looks like it just wrote it.
• Use a different pen color for the elf’s name so it looks handwritten by a tiny elf.
• Roll and tie. A ribbon makes the letter feel like a real North Pole delivery.
• Keep it short. A few lines a day beats a big production you can’t keep up in December.
• Reuse the notes. Slip them in a different order each year.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Christmas Printables You Might Like

• Christmas bingo printable: picture bingo for the whole family
• Letter to Santa templates: for kids to write to Santa
• Christmas countdown calendar: count down the days with your elf
• Christmas activity placemats: keep little hands busy at dinner
• Christmas conversation starters: questions for family time

Browse the whole set in our Christmas Games collection.