Email marketing has evolved, but one question still drives both curiosity and performance:
“What’s the best time to send an email?”
Whether you’re launching a product, nurturing leads, or running a flash sale, when you hit “send” can often be as critical as what you send. This guide explores the optimal times, days, and timing strategies to maximize your open rates and click-throughs — with practical tips tailored for marketers in 2025.
⏰ Why Email Timing Still Matters (Yes, Even in 2025)
You may think with smart segmentation and AI-powered tools, timing has become irrelevant. Not quite.
Here’s why timing still plays a central role:
- Inbox competition is real. Your email isn’t landing alone. Hitting the inbox during peak engagement windows increases the chances of being opened before it’s buried.
- User behavior is habit-driven. People check emails in rhythm — first thing in the morning, during lunch breaks, or before they log off.
- Email clients factor engagement history. Regularly hitting inboxes when users are most likely to engage can improve future deliverability.
In short, great content at the wrong time is still a missed opportunity.
🕐 Best Time of Day to Send Emails
Across studies and platform benchmarks, two key time slots consistently deliver higher engagement:
- Morning Peak (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
This is when most professionals check their inbox after starting their workday. It’s ideal for B2B newsletters, content campaigns, and updates. - Midday Window (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
Post-lunch hours see another engagement rise. This works well for promotional emails and product updates, especially in the B2C space.
But remember — these are averages, not rules. For example:
- SaaS audiences may engage better earlier in the day.
- E-commerce shoppers tend to browse during evenings or weekends.
📅 Best Day of the Week to Send Emails
Here’s a snapshot of how different days typically perform:
Day | Performance Insight |
Tuesday | Consistently strong open and click-through rates. Most reliable day overall. |
Thursday | Another top performer, especially for product announcements or newsletters. |
Wednesday | Often steady; ideal for educational content or mid-week nudges. |
Monday | Can be hit-or-miss — inboxes are crowded from the weekend. Avoid early-morning sends. |
Friday | Engagement dips after 3 PM as people log off. Morning sends can still work. |
Weekend (Sat–Sun) | Lower engagement in general, but may work for lifestyle or e-commerce audiences. Test before ruling out. |
🎯 Best Time to Send Based on Campaign Type
Your timing should match the intent of your campaign. Here’s how to think about it:
- Sales & Discounts:
Send between 10 AM and 1 PM on Tuesday or Thursday to drive mid-week conversions. - Newsletters or Educational Content:
Try Wednesday mornings, when people are more open to reading and learning. - Flash Sales / Time-Sensitive Offers:
Use early mornings (8 AM–10 AM) or evenings (6 PM–9 PM), especially for e-commerce. Create a sense of urgency. - B2B Lead Nurturing:
Stick to weekday mornings, avoiding Mondays before noon and Fridays after lunch.
🔄 Does Resending Help? Timing Follow-Ups
Yes — but only if done smartly. A/B tests show that resending to non-openers within 24 to 48 hours can significantly improve reach.
Tips for resending:
- Change the subject line.
- Try a different time slot than the original send.
- Use segments that exclude recent openers.
💡 Bonus Tips to Nail Your Email Timing Strategy
Instead of relying on fixed timings forever, combine best practices with real data and experimentation.
- Use Your Own Engagement Data: Platforms like cmercury track user open times. Use that to your advantage.
- Segment by Time Zone: Especially for global audiences — 10 AM in India is 1:30 AM in New York.
- A/B Test Send Times: Run split tests over different days and times to discover what resonates with your audience.
- Don’t Ignore Mobile Behavior: People check phones early mornings and late nights — test late-evening campaigns.
📬 Final Thoughts: There’s No One-Size-Fits-All
If you’re asking, “When is the best time to send an email?” — the real answer is: test, learn, and adapt.
Use this guide as a foundation, but combine it with:
- Audience insights
- Campaign goals
- A/B tests
- Deliverability metrics
And remember, tools like cmercury offer real-time analytics and behavioral targeting to help you fine-tune your timing strategy — so you don’t have to guess.
👇 FAQs: What Marketers Want to Know
Q: What is the best time of day to send an email?
A: Typically between 9–11 AM or 1–3 PM. But your results may vary based on your industry and audience behavior.
Q: What is the best day of the week to send an email?
A: Tuesday and Thursday are consistently top performers. Avoid Mondays before noon and Friday evenings.
Q: When is the best time to send sales or promotional emails?
A: Midweek mornings — particularly Tuesday or Thursday around 10 AM — work best.
Q: Should I send emails on weekends?
A: Generally lower engagement, but it can work for B2C and lifestyle brands. Always test first.
Q: Can I resend emails to people who didn’t open the first one?
A: Yes! Resend after 24–48 hours with a new subject line and test a different time.
Disclaimer: This blog post was created with the assistance of Human Content Creators, AI and Search tools to help collect information, plan content, and ensure accuracy. We strive to deliver valuable and well-researched insights to our readers.