Email Marketing
Analytics

Best Time to Send Email: Data-Backed Optimal Send Times (2026)

Discover the best time to send marketing emails based on data. Includes optimal days, times by industry, time zone strategies, and how to find your best send time.

best time to send email
Best Time to Send Email?

Sending at the right time can boost open rates by 20% or more. But the “best” time depends on your audience, industry, and content type. Here’s what the data says — and how to find your personal optimal send time.

The Data: Best Send Times

Best Days (by open rate)

  1. Tuesday — 18.3% average open rate (highest)
  2. Thursday — 18.0%
  3. Wednesday — 17.8%
  4. Monday — 17.1%
  5. Friday — 16.2%
  6. Saturday — 15.5%
  7. Sunday — 15.1%

Best Times (by engagement)

  1. 9:00-10:00 AM — Morning inbox check (highest opens)
  2. 1:00-2:00 PM — Post-lunch browsing
  3. 8:00-9:00 PM — Evening catch-up
  4. 6:00-7:00 AM — Early risers, commuters

Best Times by Industry

IndustryBest DayBest Time
B2B/SaaSTuesday-Thursday9-10 AM
EcommerceTuesday, Thursday10 AM, 8 PM
RetailThursday, Saturday10 AM
FinanceTuesday-Wednesday8-9 AM
EducationTuesday10 AM
HealthcareWednesday9 AM
RestaurantsThursday-Friday11 AM, 5 PM
NonprofitsTuesday10 AM, 3 PM

Best Times by Email Type

Email TypeBest TimeWhy
NewsletterTuesday 9-10 AMStart of work day
PromotionalThursday 10 AMBefore weekend shopping
Abandoned cart1 hour after abandonMaximum recall
Welcome emailImmediately4x higher open rate
B2B outreachTuesday-Wednesday 8-9 AMBefore meetings

How to Find YOUR Best Send Time

Step 1: A/B Test Send Times

Split your list and test different times:

  • Test #1: Morning (9 AM) vs Afternoon (2 PM)
  • Test #2: Winning time vs Evening (7 PM)
  • Test #3: Tuesday vs Thursday

Use Brevo’s A/B testing feature to automate this.

Step 2: Analyze Your Data

Check your email analytics for patterns:

  • Which sends got the highest open rates?
  • What time do most opens occur?
  • Do certain segments prefer different times?

Step 3: Use Send Time Optimization

Brevo and other platforms offer AI-powered send time optimization that automatically sends each email when each individual subscriber is most likely to engage.

Step 4: Consider Time Zones

If your audience spans time zones:

  • Segment by location
  • Use time zone-adjusted sending
  • Or send at a time that works across zones (10 AM EST = 7 AM PST)

Common Send Time Mistakes

  1. Sending at the same time every week — Test and rotate
  2. Ignoring time zones — 10 AM in NYC is 7 AM in LA
  3. Following generic advice blindly — Your audience may differ
  4. Not testing — The only “best” time is the one your data proves
  5. Sending too early/late — Before 6 AM or after 10 PM hurts trust

Quick Recommendations

Just starting? Send on Tuesday at 10 AM in your primary time zone.

Ready to optimize? Run A/B tests for 4-6 weeks, then implement send time optimization based on your data.

Using Brevo? Enable “Best Time” sending to let AI choose the optimal time for each contact automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to send marketing emails?
Tuesday through Thursday, between 9-11 AM in your recipient's time zone consistently performs best across industries. However, your optimal time depends on your specific audience — always A/B test.
What is the best day to send emails?
Tuesday is the #1 best day for email marketing, followed by Thursday and Wednesday. Monday emails compete with inbox overload. Friday through Sunday generally see lower engagement.
Should I send emails on weekends?
Generally no for B2B. For B2C, Saturday morning (9-10 AM) can work well for retail, entertainment, and lifestyle brands. Weekend emails have lower open rates but less competition.
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