Last updated: October 29, 2026
If you’ve typed “let me know what time works best for you” in your last five emails, you’re not alone. It’s a safe, polite phrase — but it also gets repetitive fast, especially if you’re scheduling calls, interviews, or meetings every week.
The good news: English gives you plenty of room to switch things up. In this guide, you’ll find 13+ natural alternatives to “let me know what time works best for you”, sorted by tone — formal, professional, and casual — so you always have the right line for the right person.
I edit business emails and coach non-native English speakers on workplace writing, and this exact phrase comes up constantly in drafts I review. Most people default to it because it feels “safe,” not because it’s the best fit. Below, I’ll show you when to use it, when to skip it, and what to say instead.
Why “Let Me Know What Time Works Best for You” Needs Alternatives
The phrase itself is grammatically correct and perfectly polite — the issue is repetition, not correctness. Using the same scheduling line in every email can make your writing sound flat or automated, especially in client-facing or formal communication.
There’s also a small clarity issue worth knowing: “works best” implies you’re offering a choice among several options. If you only have one time slot available, a phrase like “please confirm your availability” is more accurate.
Native speakers naturally rotate their phrasing based on:
- Formality level — a client vs. a close coworker
- Urgency — a same-day call vs. next month’s meeting
- Medium — email, text message, or calendar invite
Below, you’ll find alternatives grouped by tone, with real examples you can copy directly into your next message.
Formal Alternatives for Professional Emails and Business Communication
Formal alternatives work best in emails to clients, executives, new contacts, or anyone you don’t know well. These phrases keep a respectful distance while still asking for a clear answer.
1. “Please let me know your availability.”
This is the most direct formal swap. It’s short, neutral, and works in almost any business email.
Example: “Please let me know your availability for a 30-minute call this week.”
2. “Could you please advise on a suitable time?”
Common in UK business English and formal correspondence. “Advise” here means “inform,” not “give advice” — a small but important distinction many learners miss.
Example: “Could you please advise on a suitable time for our quarterly review?”
3. “I would appreciate it if you could share your preferred time.”
This softens the request with “I would appreciate,” which reads as courteous without sounding stiff.
Example: “I would appreciate it if you could share your preferred time for the interview.”
4. “Kindly confirm a time that suits your schedule.”
“Kindly” is more common in South Asian and international business English than in American English, so use it when writing to a global audience or formal institutions.
5. “At your earliest convenience, please indicate a suitable time.”
Best for senior executives, legal correspondence, or first-contact emails where formality matters most. Note that this phrase can sound old-fashioned in casual business settings — I’d reserve it for genuinely formal contexts.
Semi-Formal and Professional Alternatives for Workplace Emails
Semi-formal alternatives fit everyday workplace communication — coworkers, familiar clients, and regular vendors — where you want to sound professional but not stiff.
6. “What time works for your calendar?”
A shorter, conversational version of the original phrase. Common in fast-moving teams and Slack-to-email crossover writing.
7. “Feel free to suggest a time that fits your schedule.”
“Feel free” adds warmth without losing professionalism. This is one of the most versatile options on this list — I use it constantly in coaching emails.
8. “Let’s find a time that works for both of us.”
This shifts the tone from “you decide” to “we decide together,” which reads as more collaborative. Useful when scheduling with peers rather than superiors.
9. “When are you available to connect?”
Common in American business English, especially for scheduling calls rather than in-person meetings. “Connect” is workplace shorthand for “talk” or “meet.”
10. “Please share a couple of times that work for you.”
Asking for multiple options (not just one) speeds up scheduling and avoids the back-and-forth of a single rejected time slot.
Informal Alternatives for Coworkers, Friends, and Texts
Informal alternatives suit texts, chat apps, and messages to people you already know well. Skip these in first emails to clients or senior leadership.
11. “What time works for you?”
The simplest, most natural version in everyday spoken and written English. Drop “best” and it instantly sounds more casual and conversational.
12. “When’s good for you?”
Very common in texting and casual chat. Contraction-friendly and quick to type.
13. “Just tell me what time suits you.”
Direct and friendly, with no extra formality. Works well between coworkers who already have a relaxed rapport.
14. “Whenever works — just let me know.”
This flips the order, showing flexibility first. It’s a small structural change that makes you sound easygoing rather than demanding.
15. “Pick a time and I’ll make it happen.”
Casual and confident. I’d only use this with close colleagues or friends — it can sound overly familiar in formal settings.
Alternatives for Scheduling Emails and Calendar Invites
When scheduling through email threads or calendar tools, shorter and more specific phrasing tends to get faster replies than open-ended questions.
Instead of a general “let me know,” try phrases that guide the person toward a quick decision:
- “Does Tuesday at 2 PM or Wednesday at 10 AM work better for you?”
- “I’ve sent a calendar invite for Thursday — feel free to propose a new time if it doesn’t work.”
- “Reply with your top choice from the options above.”
Giving two or three specific time slots, rather than an open question, usually gets a faster response. This is a small habit that saves several email exchanges over a week of scheduling.
Quick Reference Table
| Alternative Phrase | Tone | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Please let me know your availability | Formal | Client emails, first contact |
| Could you please advise on a suitable time? | Formal | UK business, executives |
| I would appreciate it if you could share your preferred time | Formal | Interviews, formal requests |
| Kindly confirm a time that suits your schedule | Formal | International/global business |
| What time works for your calendar? | Semi-formal | Team scheduling |
| Feel free to suggest a time that fits your schedule | Semi-formal | Everyday workplace emails |
| Let’s find a time that works for both of us | Semi-formal | Peer collaboration |
| When are you available to connect? | Semi-formal | Business calls |
| What time works for you? | Informal | Texts, casual chat |
| When’s good for you? | Informal | Friends, close coworkers |
| Whenever works — just let me know | Informal | Flexible, friendly requests |
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Asking About Availability
The most common error isn’t grammar — it’s mismatched formality, where a casual phrase gets sent to a formal contact or vice versa.
Watch out for these:
- Overusing “best” — “What time works best?” implies multiple options; if you only have one slot, say “Does 3 PM work for you?” instead.
- Mixing tone within one email — starting formal and ending with “just lmk” confuses the reader about how casual they can be in reply.
- Skipping a time zone reference — for remote or international teams, always name the time zone (e.g., “10 AM EST”) to avoid confusion.
- Vague endings — “Let me know” without a deadline can stall responses. Add “by Friday” or “before our call” to prompt action.
I see the tone-mismatch mistake most often in student and early-career professional writing — a warm, casual opening followed by an abrupt, overly formal scheduling line. Keeping one consistent tone throughout the message reads far more natural.
Please Let Me Know What Time Works Best for You
“Please let me know what time works best for you” is a polite and natural way to ask someone to choose a suitable time for a meeting, call, appointment, or conversation. It sounds professional without being overly formal and gives the other person flexibility.
- Meaning: You are asking the other person to tell you which time is most convenient for them.
- Formal use: It works well in professional emails, workplace messages, and business communication.
- Example: “Please let me know what time works best for you, and I’ll arrange the meeting accordingly.”
Please Let Me Know When Would Be a Convenient Time for You to Talk
“Please let me know when would be a convenient time for you to talk” is used when you want to arrange a conversation while respecting the other person’s schedule. A slightly more natural version is “Please let me know when would be a convenient time for you to talk.”
- Meaning: You are politely asking the person to suggest a suitable time for a conversation.
- Professional use: It is appropriate for emails, work messages, phone calls, and formal communication.
- Example: “Please let me know when would be a convenient time for you to talk about the project.”
Other Ways to Say Let Me Know What Time Works Best for You
There are several natural alternatives to “Let me know what time works best for you.” The best choice depends on how formal or friendly you want to sound.
- Formal: “Please let me know what time would be most convenient for you.”
- Professional: “Please let me know which time works best for you.”
- Polite: “Could you let me know what time is convenient for you?”
- Friendly: “What time works best for you?”
- Flexible: “Please let me know what time suits your schedule.”
- Business: “Please let me know your preferred time for the meeting.”
Please Let Me Know Your Convenient Time to Schedule a Meeting
“Please let me know your convenient time to schedule a meeting” is understandable, but “Please let me know a convenient time for you to schedule the meeting” or “Please let me know what time is convenient for you to meet” sounds more natural in English.
- Meaning: You are asking someone to provide a suitable time for a meeting.
- Professional use: This wording is common in workplace emails and business communication.
- Example: “Please let me know what time is convenient for you to meet, and I’ll send the invitation.”
What Time Works for You? Meaning
“What time works for you?” means “What time is convenient or suitable for you?” It is a natural and widely used question for arranging meetings, calls, appointments, or plans.
- Formal meaning: “What time would be most convenient for you?”
- Casual meaning: “What time suits you?”
- Example: “I’m available tomorrow afternoon. What time works for you?”
How to Ask for Availability for a Meeting: Example Text Message
When asking someone about meeting availability, keep the message clear, polite, and flexible. You can mention the day or general time and allow the person to suggest what works for them.
- Professional: “Hi, I’d like to schedule a meeting with you. Please let me know what time works best for you.”
- Polite: “Hi, could you please let me know when you’re available for a meeting?”
- Friendly: “Hi, what time works for you to meet?”
- Flexible: “Please let me know a convenient time for you, and I’ll do my best to accommodate your schedule.”
Please Let Me Know Your Availability at Your Convenience
“Please let me know your availability at your convenience” is a polite and professional expression that gives the recipient freedom to respond when they have time. It is especially suitable for emails and workplace communication.
- Meaning: You are asking the person to share when they are available without putting pressure on them to respond immediately.
- Professional use: It works well when the meeting is not urgent.
- Example: “Please let me know your availability at your convenience, and we can arrange a suitable time.”
Please Let Me Know Your Availability to Schedule a Call
“Please let me know your availability to schedule a call” is a professional way to ask someone when they are free for a phone or video conversation. It is commonly used in business emails and workplace messages.
- Meaning: You are asking the person to provide suitable times for a call.
- Natural alternative: “Please let me know when you are available for a call.”
- More formal: “Please let me know your availability so we can schedule a convenient time for a call.”
- Example: “Please let me know your availability to schedule a call and discuss the next steps.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say “let me know what time works for you”?
A natural and professional alternative is “Please let me know what time works best for you.” It sounds polite, flexible, and appropriate for emails, meetings, and workplace communication.
What’s another way to say “let me know what works for you”?
You can say “Please let me know what works best for you.” This keeps the message friendly while giving the other person freedom to choose a suitable time, option, or arrangement.
How do I say that time works for me professionally?
You can say “That time works well for me” or “That time is convenient for me.” Both sound professional and clearly confirm that the suggested time fits your schedule.
Is it correct to say “what time works best for you”?
Yes, “What time works best for you?” is grammatically correct and very natural. It is commonly used when arranging meetings, calls, appointments, or other scheduled activities.
What is another way to say “what works best for you”?
You can say “What would be most convenient for you?” or “Which time would suit you best?” These alternatives sound polite and professional, especially when discussing schedules or making arrangements.
Final Takeaway
You don’t need to reuse the same scheduling line in every message. Match your phrase to the relationship and the setting — formal for clients and executives, semi-formal for coworkers, and casual for friends and close colleagues — and your emails will sound more natural, not more complicated.
Riaz Ahmad is the founder and writer at DefineGrammar.com, dedicated to simplifying English grammar for students and writers worldwide. With a passion for language, he breaks down complex grammar rules into clear, practical lessons, helping readers write with confidence and clarity every day.
