Best Time to Send Marketing Emails: What the Data Shows in 2025

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In a world where email marketing is more competitive than ever, timing is everything. You might have the perfect subject line, an irresistible offer, and a finely tuned list—but if your email lands at the wrong time, it may never get opened.

So, what is the best time to send marketing emails in 2025?

Let’s dig into the most recent data, best practices, and real-world insights to help you boost your open rates, click-through rates, and ultimately—your sales.

⏰ Why Timing Matters in Email Marketing

The average person receives over 100 emails per day. That means your email is competing for attention in a crowded inbox. Send it at the wrong time, and it might be buried before it even has a chance.

Studies continue to show that send time can significantly impact engagement:

  • Open rates can fluctuate by over 30% based solely on time of day

  • Click-through rates (CTR) are often higher at certain times depending on the audience and industry

  • Emails sent at the right time can lead to higher conversions and lower unsubscribe rates

In short, better timing = better results.

📊 What the Data Says: 2025 Insights

While industry benchmarks can vary, here are some general findings from 2025 email performance data across multiple platforms and industries:

🕘 Best Time of Day to Send Marketing Emails

Time Block Engagement Summary
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Consistently strong performance across most B2B and B2C sectors. People check email as they settle into work.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Good time for follow-ups; open rates rebound after lunch.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Surprisingly effective for B2C campaigns; inboxes are less saturated late in the day.
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Performs well for retail and eCommerce. Consumers check personal emails after dinner.

Avoid early morning (before 7 AM) and late night (after 9 PM) unless you’ve A/B tested and proven it works for your audience.

📅 Best Day of the Week to Send Marketing Emails

Day Engagement Summary
Tuesday Top performer for B2B and B2C. Open and CTR are highest.
Wednesday Another strong day with stable engagement.
Thursday Great for promotions and reminders.
Monday Hit-or-miss; works well for professional audiences.
Friday Lower open rates but better conversions for some B2C offers.
Saturday/Sunday Risky—low engagement overall unless you’re in eCommerce or events.

🧠 How Audience Type Affects Email Timing

Not all audiences are the same. Here’s how timing strategies may differ by audience segment:

🧑‍💼 B2B Email Marketing

  • Best Times: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Tuesday through Thursday

  • Why: Your audience is at work, checking their inboxes during core business hours

🛒 B2C Email Marketing

  • Best Times: Early evenings (4 PM – 8 PM) and weekends (if well-targeted)

  • Why: Consumers engage more with personal email outside of working hours

👴 Medicare or Senior Leads

  • Best Times: Mid-morning or early afternoon, weekdays

  • Why: Seniors tend to keep regular schedules and check emails during daytime hours

📱 Cold Email Campaigns to Purchased Lists

  • Test multiple times. Deliverability and engagement depend on warming up your domain, segmentation, and smart subject lines more than timing alone

📬 How to Find the Best Time for Your Audience

While industry benchmarks are helpful, the best way to find your ideal send time is to test it yourself.

🔁 Run A/B Tests

Try sending the same email to different segments at different times. Compare open and click rates to find what resonates best.

🧩 Segment Your List

Break your list into time zone-based segments if you're sending nationally. You don’t want 9 AM emails hitting inboxes at 6 AM on the West Coast.

📈 Analyze Past Campaigns

Most email marketing platforms—like Constant Contact, Mailchimp, or our own email deployment services at Gemstone Data—let you track open/click rates by time sent.

Use this data to refine your strategy.

🔥 Advanced Tips for Better Email Timing in 2025

Here are some bonus tactics to help maximize your email marketing results:

1. Use Send Time Optimization (STO)

Many email platforms now offer AI-powered send time optimization, which customizes delivery to each recipient’s past behavior. If your platform offers this, test it.

2. Time Your Emails Around Promotions

If you're promoting a sale, service, or event, time your emails in a sequence:

  • Day before = Reminder teaser

  • Morning of = Main announcement

  • Afternoon = Last chance follow-up

3. Include a Second-Chance Send

Resend your email to non-openers 24–48 hours later with a slightly tweaked subject line. This is a proven way to boost opens and CTRs.

✉️ Don’t Forget: The List Matters More Than the Clock

Here’s the truth: Even perfectly timed emails will flop if your list is weak.

That’s why we help our clients at Gemstone Data build high-quality, compliant email lists using consumer data, industry filters, and proven segmentation.

Our email marketing clients also get access to:

  • Real-time list generation tools

  • Custom email deployment

  • Open/click tracking

  • Campaign consulting

Because the best time to send is only one piece of the puzzle.

✅ Final Thoughts: Is Timing Everything?

While no single time guarantees success, the right send time can give your email a significant edge. When combined with:

  • A strong subject line

  • Clean, targeted lists

  • Smart content

  • Clear CTAs

…timing helps make your marketing emails more effective and more profitable.

📅 Ready to boost your open and response rates? Let Gemstone Data help you find the right audience, at the right time, with the right message.

Explore Our Email Marketing Services »