Free Elf on the Shelf We’re Back Letter Printable – A free Elf on the Shelf “we’re back” letter is a short note left with a Scout Elf on the first morning the elf returns. For many U.S. families, that moment happens after Thanksgiving or on December 1. The letter tells kids the elf is home from the North Pole, reminds them of the basic rules, and kicks off another season of hiding spots and holiday mischief.
You do not need to buy a new kit just to get a letter. Official arrival printables and several parent-made templates are free to download and print at home on standard 8.5″ x 11″ paper.
What a “We’re Back” Elf Letter Is For?
The Elf on the Shelf tradition is built around a Scout Elf who “reports” to Santa and moves to a new spot each night. Because the elf cannot talk, families often leave a printed note so the return feels official.
A welcome-back letter usually does four things:
- Announces that the elf is back for the season
- Reminds kids not to touch the elf (so the “magic” stays intact)
- Encourages kindness and Christmas cheer
- Leaves space to write your child’s name and the elf’s name
First-year families usually want an arrival letter that explains the tradition. Returning families want a shorter “I’m back” or “we’re back” letter. If you have more than one elf, look for a plural “we are back” version.
Official Printables From The Elf on the Shelf
Start with the brand that created the tradition. The official site, The Elf on the Shelf, publishes free Scout Elf ideas and printable props you can use the morning your elf returns.
The official Elf on the Shelf return ideas page includes arrival printables such as a letter board, a welcome-back poem, and a crossword-style message. Those files are free PDFs. You print them, cut them out, and pose the elf next to the message. There is no fee for the printables themselves.
Official options are the safest choice if you want branded artwork and a look that matches the storybook.
Free “I’m Back” and “We’re Back” Letter Printables
If you want a classic letter on a sheet of paper, these pages currently offer free templates for personal use. Always print a test page first and confirm the download is still live before you need it on a busy holiday morning.
Instant “I’m Back” letters (four versions)
Leap of Faith Crafting has a free PDF with four layouts: boy elf, girl elf, a darker-skinned elf, and a blank template you can use with any Scout Elf. The site describes it as an instant digital download for personal use. Print on regular copy paper and place it beside the elf.
Click-to-print welcome-back letter
Lola Lambchops publishes free welcome and welcome-back letters. The welcome-back version is written for families whose elf is returning. On that page, you click the letter image to open and print the PDF. No purchase is required for the letters shown.
Editable return letter
101 Planners offers free editable Elf on the Shelf templates, including a return / “I’m back” letter. You can customize names in Word, Google Docs, or the site’s editor, then print. This is useful if you want the letter to say your child’s name and your elf’s name without handwriting it.
Those five links cover the official brand plus three widely used free letter pages. Skip random “calendar viewer” sites that scrape other blogs; they often have broken files or extra ads.
Free Elf on the Shelf We’re Back Letter Printable
How to Use the Letter on Arrival Morning?
- Print the letter the night before on white card stock if you want it to look sturdier than plain copy paper.
- Write in names with a fine-tip marker so it looks handmade, not photocopied.
- Place the elf in a simple first-day spot: the mantel, the kitchen counter, or next to the breakfast plates.
- Lean the letter against the elf or tuck it under one arm.
- Optional extras: a tiny candy cane, a ribbon around a rolled letter, or a small envelope labeled “From the North Pole.”
Keep the first morning easy. The letter does the talking. You can save bigger setups for later in December.
Quick Personalization Tips for U.S. Families
- Time the return for the weekend after Thanksgiving or December 1, whichever your family already uses.
- If you have two elves, choose a “we are back” letter instead of “I’m back.”
- Add one line about something that happened last year (“I still remember the cocoa explosion”) so the note feels specific.
- Restate only one or two rules. The most common are: do not touch the elf, and look for a new hiding spot each morning.
- Save a photo of the first-day letter. Kids like seeing the same tradition year after year.
Printables from blogs are almost always for personal, non-commercial use. Do not resell them or upload the files to a shared classroom drive unless the creator says that is allowed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not claim a paid Etsy listing is free. Do not download from a site that forces a credit card “trial.” If a page asks only for an email to send a PDF, that can still be legitimate, but instant downloads are simpler when you are short on time.
Also remember that The Elf on the Shelf name and characters are trademarked. Fan-made letters are fine for your own home. They are not official North Pole stationery.
FAQ
When should the elf come back?
Most U.S. families bring the elf back the weekend after Thanksgiving or on December 1. Pick one date and stick with it so kids know when to start looking.
Is there an official “we’re back” letter?
The official site focuses on arrival scenes, a letter board, a poem, and other printable props rather than one standard letter template. Fan-made “I’m back” and “we’re back” letters fill that gap.
Can I edit the letter?
Yes. Use an editable template, or print a version with blank lines and write the names by hand.
What paper should I use?
Standard letter-size paper works. Card stock holds up better if little hands pick the note up.
What if I have more than one elf?
Use a “we are back” letter, or print two copies and add both names.
A short printed note is enough to make the elf’s return feel planned. Download one official printable or one free letter tonight, fill in the names, and you will be ready when the Scout Elf “flies in” from the North Pole.