What makes a good empty state message?

A good empty state explains why the screen is empty, reassures the user nothing is broken, and offers a clear next action. It avoids dead ends by always pointing to what the user can do next, usually with a single primary button.

How is a no-results state different from a no-items state?

A no-items state means the user has never created anything, so the copy invites them to add their first one. A no-results state means data exists but a search or filter excluded it, so the copy suggests broadening the query or clearing filters.

Should empty states use humour?

A light, friendly tone works for consumer apps and lowers the sting of an empty screen. Professional and technical tones suit business dashboards and developer tools where clarity matters more than personality. Match the tone to your product voice.

Why include a call-to-action button?

An empty state without an action is a dead end. The button turns an empty screen into the obvious starting point, which is especially valuable on first run when activation depends on the user taking that first step.

Can I edit the generated text?

Yes. The output is a starting point that follows UX writing conventions. Adjust the noun field for accuracy and tweak the wording to fit your brand voice before shipping it.

Empty State Copy Generator

Empty states are the screens users see before they have created anything, when a search returns nothing, or when there is no data to chart. They are easy to skip during design but they shape first impressions and activation. This generator produces a heading, a body sentence, and a button label for the four most common empty states in three tones.

How it works

The tool selects a copy template based on two choices: the state type (no items, no results, no data, first time) and the tone (friendly, professional, technical). It then injects the noun you provide — for example projects or invoices — and naturally singularizes it for the button label by trimming a trailing s. Each template follows the same three-part structure UX writers recommend:

heading  — names the situation in a few words
body     — explains why it is empty and reassures
cta      — one clear next action

The no-results variant always points toward broadening the search rather than adding new records, because the data already exists. The first-time variant is the most encouraging, since first-run activation is the highest-leverage moment in onboarding.

Tips and examples

For a project-management app with no projects yet, the friendly template yields: “Nothing here yet — You haven’t added any projects yet. Create your first one and it’ll show up right here.” with an “Add project” button.

Keep the body to one or two short sentences. Use sentence case for headings, and make the button a verb phrase the user can act on immediately. When in doubt, prefer the friendly tone for consumer products and the professional tone for B2B dashboards.