How to Ask a Customer for Missing Information (Without Three Rounds of Emails)

When to send this

When an order or project is missing information you need. How many times you send this email directly determines how long the job stalls — so the goal is getting everything at once, not one question at a time.

The template (copy it)

Requesting information from a customer
Hi [Name], To get [thing] set up for you, I just need a couple of details: · [item 1] · [item 2] Whenever you get a chance, reply here with those and we'll take care of the rest right away. Thank you! Best, [Your name / business]

The most common mistake

Burying the missing items in a sentence. "I wanted to check the size, and also the material, oh and the color isn't confirmed either…" guarantees they'll miss one, and you'll send this email again. Use a list, one item per line, so they can just work down it.

Variant: when the situation is different

If you need more than three things, say what unblocks: "once I have these I can start / send an exact quote." Give them the cause and effect, or filling out your list stays permanently at the bottom of their to-do list.

After you send it

No reply after 3–4 days? Paste the list again — don't just write "any update on those details?" Making them scroll back to find the list adds friction, and every bit of friction adds another delay.

Templates for other situations
This is one of 12 common business emails. The full set (with a scenario picker) is here:
See all 12 business email templates →

You don't have to type any of this

makupai reads your inbox, works out what's urgent, and hands you the draft. You glance at it and hit send. 14-day free trial, no credit card.

14 days free No card needed 5-minute setup
Start free trial