Want to get the best outcome of your email campaign? Know the best days and times to send email campaigns to maximize open rates and boost email engagements.
In email marketing, timing plays a crucial role. Sending your emails at the right time can lead to higher open rates, better engagement, and ultimately, more conversions. However, finding the best days and times depends on various factors like your audience, industry, and the nature of your content.
In this article, we’ll explore the best days and times to send email campaigns that can help you maximize your email’s effectiveness.
Why Timing Matters in Email Marketing?
Every recipient’s inbox is flooded with daily emails, from promotional offers to newsletters and updates. To stand out, you need not only compelling content but also perfect timing.
Research shows that when you send emails when your audience is most likely to check their inboxes, you improve your chances of being noticed.
Optimizing the day and time you send your emails can lead to significantly higher engagement, increasing the chances of your emails being opened, read, and acted upon.
Best Days and Times to Send Email Campaigns in a Table
Before diving into the details, let’s look at a table showcasing the most suitable days and times to send email campaigns.
| Day | Optimal Times | Comments | Recommended Audience/Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10 AM – 12 PM, 5 PM – 6 PM | High open rates at the start of the workweek. People are more likely to engage with fresh content. | B2B audiences, new product announcements, or weekly newsletters. |
| Tuesday | 11 AM – 12 PM, 7 AM – 8 AM | Consistent engagement mid-morning with early bumps as people start their day. | Professional audiences, follow-up campaigns, and educational content. |
| Wednesday | 12 PM – 1 PM | Similar patterns to Tuesday. Midday engagement peak. | Mid-week reminders, webinars, or event sign-ups for B2B audiences. |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 12 PM, 7 AM – 9 PM | Highest overall open rates during the workweek. Consistent engagement throughout the day. | Promotional offers, sales campaigns, and pre-weekend planning emails. |
| Friday | 10 AM – 12 PM, 8 AM | Good engagement before the weekend. Send early for best results. | E-commerce deals, weekend offers, or event promotions. |
| Saturday | 11 AM – 12 PM | Generally lower engagement but slight boost in the morning. | Consumer-focused emails, personal projects, or hobby-related content. |
| Sunday | 12 PM – 1 PM, 6 PM – 9 PM | Less crowded inboxes with some spikes in the evening as people prep for the week. | Weekly summaries, blog updates, or planning content for professionals. |
Best Days and Times to Send Email Campaigns
Studies from email marketing platforms consistently show that certain days of the week perform better than others when it comes to email engagement. Let’s break down these findings:
1. Tuesday: The Golden Day for Email Marketing
- Why it works: Tuesday has long been regarded as the best day for sending emails. By this day, most people have settled into their work week, making them more receptive to opening and engaging with emails.
- Results: Emails sent on Tuesday tend to see the highest open and click-through rates.
- Actionable tip: If you have important announcements or product launches, Tuesday is the best day to send them.
2. Thursday: Ideal for Follow-Ups
- Why it works: Thursday performs almost as well as Tuesday. By Thursday, people are preparing for the weekend and maybe more receptive to offers and reminders.
- Results: Thursday is ideal for follow-up campaigns and promotional emails.
- Actionable tip: Use Thursday for sending reminders, last-chance offers, or to follow up on emails sent earlier in the week.
3. Wednesday: A Midweek Opportunity
- Why it works: Wednesday sits comfortably between the high-performing days of Tuesday and Thursday. Recipients are productive, making it another strong day for engagement.
- Results: This is a solid day for educational content, newsletters, or product updates.
- Actionable tip: Test sending emails on Wednesday if your Tuesday or Thursday emails aren’t performing as expected.
4. Weekends: High Risk, Low Reward
- Why it works: Weekend email campaigns generally underperform because people tend to disconnect from work. However, certain industries, like retail or entertainment, may see better engagement during this time.
- Results: Saturday has the lowest open rates across most industries.
- Actionable tip: If your audience consists of consumers or if you’re promoting special weekend offers, sending emails on weekends might still work. Otherwise, avoid weekends for important email campaigns.
Best Times to Send Email Campaigns
The time of day you send an email plays a significant role in its performance. Let’s examine the best and worst times to send emails.
1. Mid-Morning (9 AM – 11 AM)
- Why it works: Many professionals start their workday by checking their emails, which makes this time frame highly effective.
- Results: Studies show that the highest open rates occur between 9 AM and 11 AM.
- Actionable tip: Schedule your email to arrive just before 9 AM to ensure it’s at the top of your recipients’ inboxes.
2. Early Afternoon (1 PM – 3 PM)
- Why it works: After lunch, people tend to check their emails again, making this another good time for engagement.
- Results: This time works well for B2B campaigns, especially for newsletters or reports.
- Actionable tip: Try sending your emails right after lunch for the best results.
3. Evening (After 8 PM)
- Why it doesn’t work: Most people are winding down by this time, making it the least effective period for sending emails.
- Results: Emails sent after 8 PM generally have lower open rates and engagement.
- Actionable tip: Avoid sending important campaigns late in the evening unless you know your audience is active at this time.
4. Early Morning (6 AM – 8 AM)
- Why it works: Some early risers and busy professionals check emails first thing in the morning. However, your email might get buried as the day goes on.
- Results: Engagement is moderate during these hours, but it may work for specific audiences.
- Actionable tip: Test early morning emails, but avoid scheduling too early as they might get buried under later emails.
How Time Zones and Regional Habits Affect Email Engagement
Geographical location plays a critical role in determining the best time and day to send email campaigns. Subscribers in different regions experience emails at various times of the day due to time zone differences, and their engagement patterns vary based on cultural norms and work habits.
Time Zones Matter
When targeting a global audience, sending emails at your local optimal time might not be effective for subscribers in other time zones. For instance, an email sent at 10 AM in New York might reach someone in London at 3 PM, while hitting inboxes in Australia late at night. To overcome this, many email marketing platforms, including MailerLite and OptinMonster, offer time zone scheduling or Smart Sending features. These tools automatically adjust your campaign’s send time-based on the recipient’s time zone, ensuring emails hit inboxes at the right moment for each subscriber.
Regional Work Habits and Cultural Preferences
Work habits vary across regions, which can affect when recipients are most likely to open emails. For instance, while US audiences respond well to emails sent during traditional business hours, other regions may have different workweek structures. In Middle Eastern countries, the workweek typically runs from Sunday to Thursday, meaning a Sunday email might perform well, while Fridays should be avoided.
In Southern Europe, long lunch breaks or siestas may mean lower engagement in the middle of the day, with higher activity in the late afternoon. On the other hand, recipients in regions like the US or the UK may be more responsive to morning emails.
Cultural Variations in Engagement
Certain cultures may prefer to engage with emails outside of traditional business hours. For instance, while B2B emails perform well during business hours in the US, consumer-focused emails in regions like Japan or South America may see better engagement during evening or weekend hours.
Optimize for Global Audiences
To optimize global campaigns, it’s crucial to segment your list by region and test different sending times. Tools that allow scheduling based on time zones will help ensure your emails are sent when your audience is most likely to engage, no matter where they are located.
Best Days and Times to Send Email Campaigns by Region
| Region | Days | Optimal Sending Times (Local Time) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America (US/Canada) | Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | 10 AM – 12 PM, 5 PM – 6 PM | Peak engagement during late mornings and early evenings. B2B campaigns perform well in business hours. |
| Europe (UK/Western Europe) | Tuesday, Thursday | 9 AM – 11 AM, 3 PM – 4 PM | Ideal for catching morning readers and the post-lunch crowd. Avoid sending around siesta hours in Southern Europe. |
| Middle East | Sunday to Thursday | 9 AM – 11 AM | The workweek runs from Sunday to Thursday. Avoid sending on Fridays as they are typically off days. |
| Australia/New Zealand | Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday | 10 AM – 12 PM, 6 PM – 8 PM | Evening emails can perform well due to a more relaxed after-work lifestyle. |
| Asia (Japan, China, India) | Tuesday, Thursday | 11 AM – 1 PM, 7 PM – 9 PM | Emails sent outside of work hours, especially in the evening, tend to perform better for B2C audiences. |
| South America (Brazil, Argentina) | Tuesday, Friday | 9 AM – 11 AM, 6 PM – 9 PM | Early mornings and late evenings work best, particularly for B2C emails. Weekends can see good engagement. |
| Africa | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 10 AM – 12 PM, 4 PM – 6 PM | Similar to European patterns. Midday emails perform well for general audiences. |
Key Insights:
- Best Days Globally: Tuesday and Thursday are optimal in most regions.
- Best Times: Late mornings (10 AM – 12 PM) and early evenings (5 PM – 6 PM) work well across regions, with local variations based on cultural habits.
By considering both geographical and cultural factors, you can further enhance your campaign’s effectiveness and increase open rates globally. This approach ensures your emails are relevant to subscribers in every location, improving engagement rates across diverse audiences.
Tailoring Your Send Times and Days by Industry
Different industries have different email engagement patterns. For example, financial services and B2B industries might perform best during work hours, while retail, travel, and entertainment may see better engagement during evenings and weekends.
Best Days and Times to Send Email Campaigns By Industry
| Industry | Best Days | Optimal Times (Local Time) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce/Retail | Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | 10 AM – 11 AM, 6 PM – 7 PM | Best for promoting flash sales, product launches, or discounts when consumers are most active. |
| B2B (Business-to-Business) | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 8 AM – 10 AM, 2 PM – 4 PM | Professionals engage with work-related content during business hours, particularly mid-week. |
| Nonprofit/Charity | Monday, Thursday | 8 AM – 9 AM, 3 PM – 4 PM | Early mornings and afternoons work best for donation requests or volunteer drives. |
| SaaS/Technology | Tuesday, Thursday | 9 AM – 11 AM, 1 PM – 3 PM | Software and tech-related emails perform well during workday hours when teams evaluate tools. |
| Healthcare | Wednesday, Friday | 9 AM – 10 AM, 5 PM – 7 PM | Target healthcare professionals early in the day or post-work to ensure maximum engagement. |
| Hospitality/Travel | Thursday, Friday, Sunday | 10 AM – 12 PM, 5 PM – 6 PM | Consumers engage with travel deals leading into the weekend or while planning vacations. |
| Education | Monday, Wednesday | 8 AM – 10 AM, 1 PM – 3 PM | Educators and students respond well during the first half of the week, especially mid-morning. |
| Finance/Banking | Tuesday, Wednesday | 9 AM – 11 AM, 1 PM – 3 PM | Financial professionals check email during business hours, typically before or after meetings. |
| Media/Entertainment | Thursday, Friday | 12 PM – 2 PM, 7 PM – 9 PM | Best for promoting shows, events, or media content before or after work. |
| Real Estate | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | 9 AM – 10 AM, 5 PM – 6 PM | Potential buyers are most active during late mornings and early evenings; weekends work well too. |
Insights:
- Tuesday and Thursday: Across most industries, these days show the highest engagement.
- Morning and Late Afternoon: Emails sent between 9 AM – 11 AM and 5 PM – 7 PM tend to perform best across industries.
- Weekends: Some industries, like travel and real estate, can benefit from weekend sends as consumers plan leisure activities.
Testing the optimal times based on specific industry standards and audience behavior ensures higher open rates and better campaign performance.
A/B Testing for Optimal Results
No two audiences are the same, and while the data provides a strong starting point, A/B testing remains key to determining the best times to send emails to your specific audience. Test different send times, days, and even subject lines to see what resonates most with your subscribers.
Maximizing open rates and engagement in email marketing requires not only compelling content but also sending your emails at the right time. While Tuesday mornings tend to be the sweet spot for most industries, every audience is unique. By using the statistics provided above and continuously testing your email campaigns, you can significantly improve the performance of your email marketing efforts.
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