What time of day should you send your emails for better results ?

Your email is ready, your message is clear… but do you really know when to send it so that it gets read? In an ocean of newsletters and solicitations, timing often makes the difference between opening and forgetting. Statistics prove it: certain times of day yield much better results than others. So, what time should you hit “send” to maximize the impact of your campaigns? Read on to discover the ideal time slot according to your objective.

Understanding Recipient Behavior

Before choosing the ideal moment to send an email, it is essential to understand how recipients interact with their inbox throughout the day. Reading behavior varies depending on habits, professional context, and the type of target audience.

Email Checking Habits

Generally, users check their emails several times a day, but three time slots dominate:

Morning (between 8 AM and 10 AM): many start their day by sorting their inbox, especially in a professional context. This time is often associated with heightened attention.
Lunch Break (between 12 PM and 2 PM): a more relaxed time, suitable for opening non-urgent emails or content intended for informative or promotional purposes.
Early Evening (between 6 PM and 8 PM): some internet users glance at their messages before completely disconnecting.

The Importance of Audience Type

Behavior varies depending on whether you are targeting professionals (B2B) or individuals (B2C):

B2B: the best results are often observed early in the morning, when inboxes are cleaned out and the mind is still available.
B2C: afternoons or evenings may be more effective, especially outside of office hours, when recipients are less solicited.

Timing Directly Influences Performance

Recent studies show that emails sent between 9 AM and 11 AM have an average open rate that is 23% higher compared to those sent after 3 PM. This confirms the real impact of timing on the effectiveness of a campaign.

Which Time Slot to Choose Based on Your Goals ?

Now that you better understand the behaviors of your recipients, it’s time to choose the right sending time based on the type of message you are addressing. Not all emails have the same purpose, and each objective calls for a specific strategic moment.

Morning (8 AM–10 AM): Maximum Efficiency and Attention

This time slot is particularly suitable if you are sending:

B2B newsletters;
Important communications (changes, updates);
High-value content.

Professionals open their emails early, often before entering meetings or starting their main tasks. At this moment, attention is more focused, competition is moderate, and serious messages have a greater chance of being read.

Lunch Break (12 PM–2 PM): Mental Availability

Ideal for:

Lighter emails (promotional offers, engaging content);
Gentle follow-ups or nurturing emails.

During this period, recipients are generally more relaxed, sometimes on mobile. The open rate remains good, especially in B2C. However, avoid overly long or complex content at this time.

Late Afternoon (4 PM–6 PM): Reengage or Convert

This time slot is useful for:

Reminders (event registration, abandoned cart);
Limited offers or urgent calls to action.

The idea here is to capture attention just before disconnection. This works well for short and persuasive messages.

Test and Adjust According to Your Audience

Finally, keep in mind that there is no universal rule. Every audience has its specifics. To optimize your performance:

Conduct A/B tests on different sending times;
Analyze the results in your email tool (open rates, clicks, conversions);
Consider time zones if your base is international.

You now know the ideal time slots. All that’s left is to test and refine based on your own data.

Good timing can transform a simple email into a performance lever. With Dripiq, schedule your sequences intelligently and maximize every send. Your campaigns deserve more than approximation: aim for precision, backed by AI.