Best Time to Send Emails?(Backed By Data From 1M Email Sends)

You write the perfect cold email. Crisp subject line, clear value, strong CTA. Everything’s on point.

You hit send sharp at 9 AM on a Monday.

You’re thinking, “Great, my prospect’s going to open their inbox and the first thing they’ll see is my email.”

But hours go by.

No open. No reply. Just silence.

The problem? It’s not your email. It’s your timing.

On a Monday morning, your recipient might be buried under weekend backlog, firefighting internal issues, or just trying to survive their first coffee.

That’s why timing matters way more than you think.

I have sent and analyzed over 1 Million emails, and in this blog, I’ll share exactly what I learned.

Jump in and find out!

TLDR: Best Time to Send Emails in 2025

If you’re just here for the quick answer, here you go:

• Best Days: Tuesday and Thursday
• Best Time Slots:
  • 10 AM to 11 AM
  • 1 PM to 3 PM
• Worst Day: Mondays and Weekends
• Worst Time: After 4 PM

These timings saw the highest open and reply rates in my analysis of 1 million+ emails.

But if you want to know why these times work and how to find your perfect send time, keep reading.

Why Timing Your Emails Matters

You could have the best subject line, the sharpest copy, and the perfect CTA, but if your email lands when your recipient isn’t paying attention, it might as well not exist.

Think about it.

Your recipients’ inboxes are flooded constantly with emails during and after work hours.

Internal updates. Sales pitches. Meeting notes. Newsletters. It all piles up fast.

If your email shows up at the wrong time, there’s a good chance they’ll miss it entirely.

Or worse, they’ll see it and think, “I’ll get to this later”… and never come back.

But when you do send it at the right time, there is a high chance you can catch them when they’re actually checking their inbox and ready to engage.

Which Are The Best Days of the Week to Send Emails

Based on my analysis, Tuesday to Thursday consistently performed the best in terms of both open and reply rates.

Here’s why it works:

• Tuesday is when people are finally out of Monday mode and ready to take action.
• Wednesday is peak productivity for most teams, so emails don’t get ignored.
• Thursday still works because people are wrapping things up before the weekend.

On the other hand, Mondays are chaotic. People are catching up on missed work, and your email just adds to the clutter.

Fridays? They’re mentally already in weekend mode.

And weekends? Almost always a no-go unless you’re in ecommerce or B2C.

So, stick to the middle of the week if you want better engagement.

What is The Best Time to Send Marketing Emails

For newsletters, product updates, or general marketing emails, timing is everything.

Here’s what worked best from the data:

• Late mornings — 10 AM to 11 AM
• Early afternoons — 1 PM to 3 PM

These are windows when people usually check their inbox after finishing meetings or lunch.

Avoid sending right at 9 AM — it’s inbox chaos.
Avoid sending after 4 PM — your email gets buried.

Also, marketing emails tend to perform better midweek. Tuesday to Thursday is your best shot.

What is The Best Time to Send Cold Outreach Emails

Cold emailing is a different game altogether.

You’re not just sending an update — you’re asking for attention from someone who doesn’t know you.

The best time slots I found for cold emails:

• 8 AM to 10 AM — Catch them as they’re scanning their inbox first thing
• 1 PM to 2 PM — A quieter window after lunch

Avoid Monday mornings and Friday afternoons. People are either overwhelmed or mentally out the door.

And if you’re targeting execs or founders, early mornings (even 7 AM) can work well — they tend to check emails before the workday begins.

What is The Best Time to Send Emails Based on Industry

Email timing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different industries = different rhythms.

Here’s what I found:

So if you’re running campaigns in a specific industry, adjust your send times to match your audience’s workflow.

Which is The Worst Time and Days to Send Emails

Let’s talk about what not to do.

Worst Days:

• Saturday and Sunday — most people don’t check work emails on weekends
• Monday — inbox overload, low engagement

Worst Times:

• After 4 PM — your email gets buried
• During lunch hours (12 PM to 1 PM) — people are away from their inbox
• Late nights (after 7 PM) — unless you’re targeting night owls or global teams

Sending at these times often leads to lower open rates and near-zero replies.

How to Find the Best Time to Send Emails for Your Audience

While benchmarks help, the best results come from testing your own audience.

Here’s how you can do that:

1. Segment your audience
   Try different timings for different segments — like job roles, time zones, or engagement levels.
2. A/B test your send times
   Run the same email at two different times and see what gets better results.
3. Use email tools with send-time optimization
   Some tools use AI to send emails based on when each contact is most active.
4. Look at your own data
   Your past campaigns can tell you a lot. Open rates, reply rates, click-throughs — look for patterns.
5. Account for time zones
   If you have a global audience, use smart scheduling to match local times.

Bottom line?

The “best time” is the one that works for your specific list. Use the data as a starting point, then fine-tune it.

Best Time to Send Emails FAQs

1. Is there a universal “best time” for sending emails?

Tuesday to Thursday and mid-morning slots perform well on average, the best time depends on your audience, industry, and even region. The key is to use benchmarks as a starting point, then test what works for your list.

2. Should I time my email sends differently for B2B vs B2C?

Yes. B2B emails usually work better during business hours on weekdays, especially mornings or early afternoons. For B2C, you can experiment with evenings or even weekends — that’s when people are more likely to check personal emails.

3. Can I automate the optimal send time for my emails?

Absolutely. Many email platforms now offer “send time optimization” features that use machine learning to send emails at the time each recipient is most likely to open them. It’s a great way to take guesswork out of the equation.

4. What are the best times to send emails during holidays or special events?

Avoid sending emails on major holidays unless it’s a time-sensitive promo.

Instead, try sending a few days before the event when inboxes are less crowded and people are still paying attention. For example, send your Diwali email 3–4 days in advance, not on the morning of.

5. Should we send emails on weekends?

In most cases, no, especially for B2B. On weekends, open rates tend to dip because people aren’t checking their work inboxes. That said, B2C brands sometimes do well on weekends, especially Sunday evenings, when people are winding down.