What Does “I Love You to the Moon and Back” Mean?

Download Article

Learn how to interpret and respond to this sweet phrase

Co-authored by Annabelle Reyes Reviewed by John Keegan

Last Updated: October 25, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

Meaning & Origins

|

How to Use the Phrase

|

How to Respond

|

Benefits of Expressing Love to Others

Whether it be on social media or in conversation with loved ones, you’ve probably heard the phrase “I love you to the moon and back” before. This expression gained popularity from the 1994 children’s book Guess How Much I Love You, and it’s a common way to express deep, unconditional love. If you want to know more about this beautiful, affectionate phrase, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over the expression’s definition and origins, how to use it, and how to respond if someone says it to you, so keep reading!

Things You Should Know

“I love you to the moon and back” is a phrase that expresses vast, unconditional love. It’s used to show affection for a romantic partner, friend, or family member.
The original use of the phrase is unknown, but it likely owes its popularity to the 1994 children’s book, Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney.
If someone says “I love you to the moon and back,” reciprocate this affection by telling the person you love them, too.

Section 1 of 4:

“I Love You to the Moon and Back” Meaning & Origins

Download Article

It’s a way to convey the vastness of your affection for someone, whether they be a family member, friend, or romantic partner. If someone says this phrase to you, they’re likely trying to say that their love knows no bounds and that they would go to great lengths to prove this to you.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
The phrase likely comes from the book Guess How Much I Love You. Though it’s not known who first used the expression, many people believe that it was popularized by the 1994 picture book Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. The book explores the unconditional love between a young hare and his father.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- At the end of the book, the young hare says “I love you right up to the moon,” to which the father hare replies, “I love you right up to the moon—and back.”^{[3]
  X
  Research source}

Section 2 of 4:

How to Use “I Love You to the Moon and Back”

Download Article

1
Use the phrase to convey your love for a romantic partner. If you want to show your partner you love them, saying “I love you to the moon and back” could be the perfect move! Shoot them a romantic text with this phrase, post a cute photo of the two of you on social media and use it as a caption, or simply say it to them the next time you talk. Here are some examples:
- If you want to send it in a text: “Just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you, and how lucky I feel to be yours. Love you to the moon and back 💘”
- If you want to use it as a caption on social media: “An appreciation post for my favorite person. I love you to the moon and back 🌙”
- If you want to say it to them in person: “In case I don’t say it enough, I just wanted to tell you how much you mean to me. I love you to the moon and back.”
2
Say this phrase to show a close friend how much you care. “I love you to the moon and back” isn’t limited to romantic relationships—it’s also a great way to express platonic affection! Here are some examples of how to use it:
- If you’re posting on social media for a friend’s birthday, you could caption the post: “Happy birthday to the best friend I could ever ask for. Love you to the moon and back! 💫"
- You could also send this phrase to them in a text: “Just wanted to say thank you for being there for me today—you really cheered me up! I love you to the moon and back 🩷”
3
Use this phrase to tell a family member that you love them deeply. “I love you to the moon and back” can also be used to tell family members how deeply you care for them. This is no surprise, considering that the phrase gained popularity in a book about the unconditional love between a parent and a child!^{[4]
X
Research source} If you’re feeling extra love toward your parent or sibling, reach out and tell them.
- For a parent: “I’ve been thinking about how much you’ve done to take care of me, and I wanted to say I’m so grateful for you. I love you to the moon and back.”
- For a sibling: “Just reaching out to say I miss you, and I feel so lucky that you’re my sister! I love you to the moon and back.”

Section 3 of 4:

How to Respond to “I Love You to the Moon and Back”

Download Article

Respond by telling them you love them too. Assuming you love this person as much as they love you, take a moment to tell them you reciprocate their feelings. Verbalizing your love and gratitude for each other can spark positive feelings, increase satisfaction in the relationship, and bring you closer together! Here are some examples of what to say:
- “Thank you for your kind words—they made my day! I love you, too.”
- “I love you to the moon and back twice! Thank you for being you.”

Section 4 of 4:

Benefits of Expressing Love to Others

Download Article

Expressing love can have positive effects on your relationships and health. Saying “I love you” to the people around certainly brings you closer to them, but it can also have positive impacts on your physical health. In fact, research shows that communicating your positive feelings for loved ones can lower your stress hormones and help you control your cholesterol and blood pressure.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- So, whether you say “I love you to the moon and back,” or some other affectionate phrase, let the people in your life know how much you care!
- Being able to verbally express love also signals to potential romantic partners that you have a strong emotional bond and are open to commitment—which can be a great thing!
- Reader Poll: We asked 1073 wikiHow readers which signs in a relationship would make them feel ready to commit, and 56% of them agreed on a strong emotional connection. [Take Poll]