What Is the Best Time to Send Email Newsletters?

Timing can make or break your email marketing success. You might have the best subject line and compelling content, but if your email lands in inboxes at the wrong time, it might go unread, ignored, or buried under dozens of other messages.

So, when should you send your email newsletters for maximum open rates? The answer depends on your audience, industry, and email type. Let’s break it down.

What Do Studies Say About the Best Time to Send Emails?

Multiple studies have analyzed email open rates, and while there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, general trends suggest:

📌 Best days to send emails:
✔️ Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday tend to have the highest open rates.
✔️ Mondays can work but are often crowded due to weekend backlog.
✔️ Fridays see lower engagement as people prepare for the weekend.
✔️ Weekends can be unpredictable—good for leisure content but less effective for B2B.

📌 Best times to send emails:
✔️ Morning (8 AM – 10 AM) – People check emails first thing in the morning.
✔️ Midday (11 AM – 1 PM) – Catch professionals during lunch breaks.
✔️ Afternoon (2 PM – 4 PM) – Works well for engagement-focused emails.
✔️ Evening (6 PM – 9 PM) – Great for consumer brands and newsletters.

💡 Key insight: Emails sent at mid-morning (9–11 AM) on weekdays generally perform best across industries.

Best Email Sending Time by Industry

While general trends exist, each industry has its own best practices based on audience behavior.

1. B2B & Professional Services

✔️ Best days: Tuesday – Thursday
✔️ Best time: 9 AM – 11 AM (business hours)
✔️ Why? Professionals check emails in the morning but may ignore them after work.

2. E-Commerce & Retail

✔️ Best days: Tuesday – Thursday, Sunday (for sales)
✔️ Best time: 10 AM – 1 PM or 7 PM – 9 PM
✔️ Why? Consumers browse online during lunch breaks and after work.

3. SaaS & Technology

✔️ Best days: Wednesday – Thursday
✔️ Best time: 10 AM – 12 PM or 2 PM – 4 PM
✔️ Why? Decision-makers engage when planning purchases or researching solutions.

4. Health & Wellness

✔️ Best days: Monday – Wednesday
✔️ Best time: 6 AM – 9 AM or 6 PM – 8 PM
✔️ Why? Fitness and wellness audiences engage early morning or after work.

5. Media & Entertainment

✔️ Best days: Thursday – Sunday
✔️ Best time: 6 PM – 9 PM
✔️ Why? Leisure content is consumed more in the evenings and weekends.

Other Factors That Affect Email Open Rates

Beyond timing, these factors also impact whether your emails get opened:

✔️ Subject Line Optimization – Short, compelling, and curiosity-driven subject lines boost opens.
✔️ Sender Name Recognition – Emails from a real person or trusted brand name perform better.
✔️ Mobile-Friendly Formatting – Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices.
✔️ List Segmentation & Personalization – Targeted emails improve engagement.
✔️ Avoiding Spam Triggers – Too many salesy words or excessive exclamation marks can land emails in spam folders.

How to Find the Best Sending Time for YOUR Audience

Every audience is different, so testing is key to finding your perfect email timing.

✔️ A/B Test Different Times & Days – Split-test your emails to see what gets the highest open rates.
✔️ Analyze Your Data – Use Google Analytics or your email platform’s reports to track performance.
✔️ Segment by Behavior – Identify when your subscribers are most active and adjust accordingly.

Timing Matters, but Quality Wins

While sending emails at the right time increases open rates, it won’t help if your content isn’t compelling. The best strategy is to combine great timing with engaging subject lines, valuable content, and audience insights.

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