The Best Times to Send Cold Emails to Improve Open Rate [Infographic]

Your email staying Unread in someone’s inbox is the equivalent of digital purgatory. Seriously, it's worse than being ghosted by the person you've been texting for weeks. 

At least with ghosting, you can take solace in the fact that they were probably never that interested in you to begin with. 

But being completely ignored and left for dead unread? 

That's just cold.

You've put in the effort, crafted the perfect email, and hit Send only to have it disappear into the digital abyss. 

So, what gives? Is there a best time to send cold emails?

There are a few things that can contribute to your emails being left unread (forever), but one of the most common reasons is timing. 

Sending an email at the wrong time can mean the difference between getting read and getting deleted. 

There's nothing worse than putting all your time and effort into an email campaign only to have it go to waste because you hit Send at the wrong time.

So, when is the best time to send a cold email?

The answer, unfortunately, is that it depends. It depends on your industry, your recipient's location, and a whole host of other factors.

But don't worry, we've got you covered.

We did some digging and compiled a list of the best times to send cold emails for the highest open rate. 

There are a few things that can affect email open rates:

• The subject line
• The sender
• The time of day
• The security of the email

Sending your email at the wrong time is a big one, but there are others to be aware of as well. Let's take a look at some of the factors that can influence whether or not your email gets opened.

The subject line

The email subject line is often the first thing your recipient will see. It's what will determine whether or not they open your email. 

So, it's essential to make sure that your subject lines are clear, concise, and interesting.

For instance, "360° market overview for {Company name}" is a lot more likely to get opened than "Can I pick your brain?" 

The first subject line offers value to the recipient and is personalized. The second subject line, on the other hand, comes across as needy and self-serving.

You want to avoid sounding sales-y, spammy, or pushy. Instead, focus on creating email subject lines that are direct, benefit-focused, and make it clear what the email is about.

The sender

Another thing that can affect email open rates is the sender.

If your recipient doesn't know who you are, they're less likely to open your email. That's why it's crucial to include your name and contact information in the email signature.

You should also avoid using generic email addresses like info@ or sales@.

Instead, use a real person's name and email address. This will make it more likely that your recipient will open the email.

Read also: How to End a Sales Email to Boost Response Rate

The time of day

As we so clearly pointed out above, the time of day can also affect email open rates. If you're sending an email outside of regular business hours, your recipient is less likely to see it.

That's why it's important to consider your recipient's time zone when you're sending cold sales emails.

You should also avoid sending emails early in the morning or late at night. These are times when people are less likely to be checking their email.

Unless, of course, you're explicitly targeting night owls or early risers. Or, the person you're emailing is notorious for being glued to their inbox.

But let’s assume that's not the case.

Instead, aim to send your email during normal business hours. This is when people are more likely to be checking their email and, as a result, more likely to see your message.

We'll touch on this later, but just keep it in mind for now.

The security of the email

Another thing that can affect email open rates is the security of the email.

If your recipient sees that your email is from an unknown sender or that it's not been adequately secured, they're less likely to open it. 

This is why it's essential to ensure that you're using a secure email service and that your recipient knows who you are.

If you're unsure how to do this, we recommend using a service like Mixmax. Mixmax is a sales engagement and email productivity tool that makes it easy to send secure and personalized emails.

It also has a bunch of other features that can help you improve and even track your email open rates.

Now that we've gone over some of the things that can affect email open rates, let's talk about the best days to send cold emails.

There's no magic day to send an email. It's going to vary depending on your recipient and their schedule.

However, there are some general times and days that are more likely to work than others.

Let's talk about certain days of the week.

The days

According to various studies, Tuesday and Thursday are the best days to send cold emails, closely followed by Wednesday.

Sundays are for family, and Saturdays are for fun, which means that Tuesday and Thursday are the best days for getting things done. (We didn't mean to rhyme there, it just happened.)

Mondays are tough because people are trying to catch up from the weekend and get back into the swing of things.

Friday is when people are getting ready for the weekend and may not be as focused on work.

Of course, this isn't set in stone. If you know that your recipient is more likely to check their email on a different day, by all means, send it then. 

But, generally, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the best days for sending a cold email.

Fun fact: November is the month when people are the most likely to unsubscribe from your mailing list. Learn more here.

Taking a calculated approach to when you send your cold email can make a big difference in your open and response rates. It's not just about choosing the best day of the week, though. 

You also need to select the best time of the day to send your email.

According to studies, the best times to send cold emails are between 8.00 to 11.00 am in the recipient's time zone.

This is because officials usually start their work day early and have more time to check their email before things get too hectic. The same goes for students who are usually up early for classes.

In addition, smartphones have made it easier for people to check their email anytime. So, even if your recipient is out of the office, they're still likely to see your message first thing in the morning.

Pro tip: You can also try sending out your cold email at 5.00 am as it ensures your email will be at the top of your recipient’s inbox.

You want to stay away from the end of the day. This is when people are winding down and may not have the time or energy to respond to a cold email. 

Plus, they're more likely to see your message as an interruption and throw their phone across the room in frustration. (Or, you know, just delete it.)

You also want to avoid lunchtime. This is when people are, well, eating lunch. They're not thinking about work, and they're not going to be in the mood to respond to a cold email. 

Plus, they might get food all over their keyboard, which would be unfortunate.

While we're at it, we should mention that holidays are also a bad time to send cold emails.

We don't really have to explain why, but we will say that people are likely to delete your email if they're sipping piña coladas on a beach instead of sitting at their desks.

Now that you know the best times to send cold emails, it's time to put that knowledge into practice. 

Mixmax is the leading sales engagement platform for sales and customer success teams. With Mixmax, you can schedule your emails with precision, so you always know when your message will arrive in your recipient's inbox.

In addition, Mixmax tells you the optimal time to send, so you don't have to guess. 

Click "Send Later" on any email, and you'll see a recommended send time when your recipient will most likely engage with your message. 

These recommended send times are based on your prior interactions with the recipient, and if you haven't emailed them yet, it suggests times from similar people.

Discuss this feature (and a ton of other email enhancements) with one of our team members here.

So, to recap, the best time to send cold emails is between 8.00 am, and 11.00 am in the recipient's time zone.

And the best days of the week to send a cold email are Tuesday and Thursday. 

If you want to take your cold email game to the next level, sign up for Mixmax.

Our feature, Recommended Send Times, will tell you the best time to send your email so you can get the highest open rate. And that's a goal we can all get behind.

Is the morning a good time to send an email?

Yes, weekday mornings are the ideal time to send emails. Between 8.00–11.00 am is when most workers check their emails.

Should you send cold emails on weekends?

No, weekends are not an ideal time to send cold emails as most people don’t want to be bothered on Saturdays and Sundays.

Is Friday a good day to cold email?

Friday isn’t a good day to send a cold email because people are getting ready for the weekend and may not be as focused on work. Tuesdays and Thursdays work best.