Follow up timing data from 100K emails. The optimal gaps between emails
robdata · 2026-01-30 · 2,230 views
Analyzed 100K cold emails across multiple campaigns. Here is the optimal follow-up timing data.
Email 1 to Email 2: 2-3 days (not 1 day, too aggressive)
Email 2 to Email 3: 4-5 days
Email 3 to Email 4: 7 days
Email 4 (breakup): 10-14 days after Email 3
Emails sent on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning (9-11am recipient local time) had the highest open and reply rates. Monday emails get buried. Friday emails get ignored.
The data is clear: patience between follow-ups increases reply rates. Aggressive daily follow-ups annoy prospects and increase spam reports.
Comments (3)
outboundomar · 2026-01-31
this matches my experience almost exactly. the 2-3 day gap between email 1 and 2 is crucial. I used to send next-day follow ups and people would literally reply just to tell me to stop emailing them
nickgrowth · 2026-01-31
the Tuesday-Thursday finding is interesting. I've been sending on Mondays thinking people check email first thing. going to shift my schedule based on this
jenoutbound · 2026-02-01
what about the breakup email? do you find that 10-14 day gap actually gets replies or is it just a formality at that point?