The Best Times to Send Marketing Emails for Higher Open Rates

When it comes to email marketing, timing is everything. You can write the perfect subject line, design a beautiful layout, and include a killer call-to-action, but, if your email lands in someone’s inbox at the wrong time, it might get buried or ignored.

So, what is the best time to send marketing emails to maximize open rates?

Why Email Send Time Matters

Email inboxes are competitive spaces. According to recent data, the average person receives over 100 emails a day. If you’re not hitting the inbox at a time when your audience is most likely to be checking their email, your message can easily get lost in the shuffle.

By understanding and adjusting your send times, you’re not just increasing the odds of being seen, you’re respecting your audience’s schedule, which builds trust and improves engagement over time.

Best Days to Send Marketing Emails

Here’s what studies (and our client data) show when it comes to days of the week:

• Tuesday: Often ranked the top day for open rates.

• Thursday: A close second. People are still in “work mode” and more receptive to offers.

• Wednesday: A solid middle ground with consistent engagement.

Avoid sending emails on weekends, unless you’re targeting a specific industry or consumer behavior (like a flash sale for retail).

Best Times to Send Marketing Emails

While there’s no one-size-fits-all, here are the general time slots that perform well:

Time Why It Works

• 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM People have settled into their day and are checking their inbox.
• 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Post-lunch lull = inbox scroll.
• 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Wrapping up work, checking email before logging off.

For B2C brands, sending emails around 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM can also perform well, since many people check personal emails after dinner or while winding down.

Real-World Example: Timing Matters

We did a campaign for one of our wellness spa clients, that run a monthly email on specials to their subscriber list. We tested different send times to see what would drive the most engagement. Initially, their campaign went out at 9:00 AM on Mondays and saw an open rate of 18.4%.

After adjusting the send time to Tuesday at 10:30 AM, the open rate climbed to 26.7%. That simple timing shift led to significantly more visibility for their monthly offers and a clear increase in click-throughs and bookings.

Tips for Optimizing Your Send Time

Know Your Audience: Use data from your email platform to see when your subscribers open emails most frequently.

A/B Test Your Send Times: Split your list and experiment with different days and times.

Consider Time Zones: If your audience is national or global, segment by location.

Stay Consistent: Once you find a send time that works, stick with it to build audience expectation.

Use Smart Send Features: Platforms like Mailchimp or Klaviyo offer predictive send time optimization based on user behavior.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best time to send marketing emails can dramatically improve your open rates, engagement, and ultimately your ROI. While Tuesday mid-morning might be a safe bet, the best approach is to use your own data and continually test and refine.

Your audience is unique, meet them where they are, not just where the averages suggest.

Want help refining your email strategy? Contact us and let’s boost your opens, at just the right time.