Research indicates that the best times to send emails are typically between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., with 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. also performing well. Interestingly, 58% of adults start their day by checking their email in the morning.
However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for email timing. While these timeframes may show increased engagement for many, the ideal time depends on your audience. Each audience has its own preferences. For instance, if your target includes nurses, doctors, or laborers working night shifts, their peak email engagement may occur at 10 p.m. rather than 10 a.m.
Best Times to Send Emails: Insights from Leading Research
After analyzing open rate data from some of the most credible research studies, we’ve confirmed that Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. are generally the best times to send emails. However, there’s more to this answer than just the numbers.
To help you make the best decision for your unique business, we’ve summarized these studies below to provide deeper insights tailored to your needs.
1. HubSpot's Research
Source: Hubspot
HubSpot’s survey of over 150 marketers highlights the critical differences in email timing preferences for B2B and B2C audiences.
Their findings reveal that 31% of marketers achieve the highest engagement with emails sent between 9:01 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. EST. This timing is even more significant for B2B businesses, where 47.9% of marketers report it as the optimal window.
For B2C marketers, while 9:01 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. remains effective, there is greater flexibility. However, Monday emails perform best when sent earlier, between 6:01 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. EST.
Best Time to Send Emails: Tuesdays between 9:01 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. EST. Late evening and nighttime emails (after 6:00 p.m.) consistently show the lowest engagement rates, making them the least effective times to send.
Recommendation: Segment your audience and adjust your send times based on their behavior and demographics. This approach can significantly enhance your email engagement and success rates.
2. Omnisend's Study
Omnisend’s research emphasizes that the best time to send an email depends on the campaign's primary goal—whether it’s boosting open rates, click-through rates (CTR), or sales conversions.
Their findings reveal:
Best Days for CTR: Friday and Sunday.
Source: Omnisend
Highest Open Rates: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Source: Omnisend
Sales Conversions: Strongest on the first day of the month.
Source: Omnisend
The study also tracks trends across the entire month, showing fluctuations in open rates and CTR, while sales conversions peak on the 1st.
Omnisend highlights that audience behaviors can vary significantly, reinforcing the importance of knowing your target demographic. Additionally, they stress the value of integrating emails with other channels, such as SMS, to maximize engagement.
- Open Rates: Tuesdays
- Conversions: Fridays
- Day of the Month: 1st day
- Time of Day: 8 a.m., 2 p.m., or 5 p.m.
3. GetResponse's Study
GetResponse’s research provides valuable insights into the best times and days to send emails, emphasizing how timing can influence engagement metrics like open rates and click-through rates (CTR).
Source: GetResponse
Their findings show:
- Best Days for Open Rates and CTR: Tuesday and Thursday
- Top Times for Engagement: 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. consistently deliver the highest results
- Late-Night Potential: Emails sent between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. show promise for specific industries, particularly those targeting younger audiences or night-shift workers
GetResponse highlights the importance of personalizing email timings based on audience preferences and demographics. They recommend continuous testing to identify the optimal timing for your specific audience.
4. Campaign Monitor's Study
Campaign Monitor’s research highlights the significance of strategic email timing, offering insights into when audiences are most likely to engage. Their data provides clear patterns that marketers can leverage to boost open rates and click-through rates (CTR).
Source: Campaign Monitor
Key findings include:
- Best Day for Engagement: Wednesday consistently delivers the highest open and click-through rates
- Optimal Time of Day: 10:00 a.m. emerges as the most effective time for sending emails, capturing mid-morning attention
- Industry-Specific Timing: Results can vary across industries, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches based on your target audience
Campaign Monitor underscores the importance of ongoing testing to refine email timing strategies. Adjusting send times based on audience habits and preferences can significantly enhance campaign performance.
Best Times to Send Emails:
- Day: Wednesday
- Time: 10:00 a.m.
- Recommendation: Customize your email schedule using audience segmentation and performance tracking
5. Salesforce's Study
Source: Salesforce
Although Salesforce’s 2021 data is slightly older than other studies, it offers valuable lessons about the evolving nature of optimal email send times. Their approach highlights the importance of adapting strategies to dynamic audience behaviors.
Using their advanced Spark-powered system, Salesforce analyzes varying data volumes and employs an assembly model structure to deliver precise recommendations tailored to individual recipients.
Best Time to Send Emails: Between 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. in the recipient’s local time zone.
Recommendation: Focus on personalization by considering the recipient’s behavior, time zone, and other relevant factors. Leveraging automated systems can help you identify and implement the best send times for your campaigns.
6. Mailmunch's Study
Mailmunch’s research, based on billions of email sends, provides key insights into when emails are most likely to achieve high engagement. Their findings underscore the importance of time and day of the week in maximizing open rates and click-through rates (CTR).
Key takeaways from their study include:
Best Days for Engagement: Tuesday and Thursday are the most effective days for sending emails, showing the highest levels of engagement.
Source: Mailmunch
Optimal Time of Day: Emails sent between 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. tend to perform best, capturing the attention of recipients during mid-morning.
Source: Mailmunch
Mailmunch also emphasizes the need for continuous testing, as audience behaviors can vary based on industry, demographics, and other factors. Customizing send times based on audience preferences can help boost performance.
Best Times to Send Emails:
- Days: Tuesday and Thursday
- Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Recommendation: Regularly test your email campaigns to identify the best send times for your specific audience and improve engagement
Why Timing Matters in Email Marketing
The timing of your emails plays a crucial role in maximizing engagement. When you send emails at the right time, your audience is more likely to open them and interact with your content.
For example, sending an email about an online sale at 10 p.m. may result in lower engagement. Many recipients will be asleep or unwinding, causing them to overlook your message. This could lead to a decrease in your email’s value, potentially increasing your unsubscribe rate.
A high unsubscribe rate can harm your sender reputation and put you at risk of falling outside of email service providers' guidelines, such as Google’s.
By understanding and applying the best email timing practices, you can improve open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, ultimately improving the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns.
Continuously Test the Best Time to Send Emails
Most email marketing platforms allow you to schedule campaigns, and many even offer split-testing features to compare sending times. Even if your platform doesn't have split testing, you can still experiment by scheduling emails at different times and then analyzing the results. Look at the open and click-through rates to identify which times perform best.
Once you’ve identified the optimal sending times for your audience, you can incorporate this data into your email automation strategy, ensuring consistent engagement and improved campaign performance over time.
About The Author
Author : Jordan Blake
Jordan Blake is a seasoned marketing specialist with a deep understanding of lead generation and sales strategies. With years of experience in the field, Jordan has helped numerous businesses refine their marketing efforts, particularly focusing on the nuances between prospects and leads. His expertise in sales funnel optimization allows companies to effectively manage and nurture leads, ensuring that each stage of the process is tailored to maximize conversion potential.
