GITNUXREPORT 2025

Cold Call Statistics

Cold calls face low response but remain essential, with persistence and research increasing success.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

70% of prospects say they have been contacted by sales reps more than five times

Statistic 2

77% of buyers prefer to buy from someone they trust

Statistic 3

60% of decision-makers prefer to be contacted via email rather than cold calls

Statistic 4

69% of prospects say they prefer to be contacted by phone rather than email

Statistic 5

92% of all customer interactions happen over the phone, email, or in person

Statistic 6

75% of buyers have failed to respond to cold outreach entirely

Statistic 7

67% of buyers prefer to be contacted by a sales rep via phone rather than social media

Statistic 8

72% of prospects say no to cold calls because they don’t want to be sold to

Statistic 9

70% of decision makers prefer to receive a cold call in the early morning, before 9 am

Statistic 10

59% of buyers say they prefer to be contacted by a sales rep who has done prior research

Statistic 11

30% of cold calls are made from mobile phones, increasing the chance of reaching prospects on the go

Statistic 12

55% of buyers are more likely to respond if the sales call is introduced via referral

Statistic 13

78% of decision-makers have refused to take a cold call

Statistic 14

Cold calling conversion rates average around 2%

Statistic 15

92% of calls are unanswered

Statistic 16

63% of sales professionals find cold calling the most effective lead generation tactic

Statistic 17

The average length of a successful cold call is 5.4 minutes

Statistic 18

85% of conversations with prospects are unprepared, leading to lower success rates

Statistic 19

48% of cold calls are never returned

Statistic 20

The average call-to-appointment rate for cold calling is approximately 8%

Statistic 21

78% of cold calls are ignored or dismissed outright

Statistic 22

The median success rate for cold calls is approximately 2.5%

Statistic 23

The success rate of voicemails left during cold calls is around 15%

Statistic 24

85% of sales appointments are scheduled during the first five minutes of a cold call

Statistic 25

55% of sales professionals say they get the best response to cold calls between 4 pm and 5 pm

Statistic 26

60% of cold calls go unanswered, but persistence can improve success rates

Statistic 27

The average length of a cold call window that results in a meeting is approximately 3 minutes

Statistic 28

Cold calling generates an ROI of approximately 1000%, making it a highly effective sales tactic

Statistic 29

Companies that implement targeted cold calling campaigns see up to a 40% increase in appointment setting success

Statistic 30

Less than 20% of cold calls result in a meeting

Statistic 31

Calling during the first hour of business hours increases contact rate by 15%

Statistic 32

40% of cold calling leads lead to a meeting or further contact

Statistic 33

68% of salespeople who follow a scripted call script report higher success rates

Statistic 34

75% of cold calls are made without any prior research on the prospect, reducing effectiveness

Statistic 35

Cold calling costs an average of $300 per lead

Statistic 36

80% of sales require five follow-up calls to close

Statistic 37

82% of buyers accept meetings after multiple contacts

Statistic 38

Companies that excel at lead nurturing generate 50% more sales-ready leads at 33% lower cost

Statistic 39

The likelihood of closing a deal with a follow-up call is over 70%

Statistic 40

82% of buyers accept meetings with salespeople after multiple contacts

Statistic 41

Follow-up calls increase the likelihood of conversion by 20%

Statistic 42

83% of buyers trust salespeople who follow up systematically

Statistic 43

60% of sales people report cold calling as the most challenging part of sales

Statistic 44

42.5% of salespeople say prospecting is their biggest challenge

Statistic 45

65% of sales reps say cold calling is the most difficult part of their job

Statistic 46

55% of salespeople say they make between one and 20 cold calls per day

Statistic 47

51% of salespeople say they don’t have enough time to make the necessary number of cold calls

Statistic 48

40% of salespeople do not prepare before making cold calls, negatively affecting success rates

Statistic 49

78% of salespeople believe cold calling is the most effective way to generate new business

Slide 1 of 49

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

78% of decision-makers have refused to take a cold call
80% of sales require five follow-up calls to close
82% of buyers accept meetings after multiple contacts
70% of prospects say they have been contacted by sales reps more than five times
Cold calling conversion rates average around 2%
60% of sales people report cold calling as the most challenging part of sales
92% of calls are unanswered
77% of buyers prefer to buy from someone they trust
63% of sales professionals find cold calling the most effective lead generation tactic
The average length of a successful cold call is 5.4 minutes
85% of conversations with prospects are unprepared, leading to lower success rates
42.5% of salespeople say prospecting is their biggest challenge
Companies that excel at lead nurturing generate 50% more sales-ready leads at 33% lower cost

Despite cold calling’s reputation as a challenging and often ignored tactic, statistics show that when executed with persistence, research, and proper timing, it can still yield a remarkable ROI of up to 1000%, proving that cold calling remains a vital yet complex tool in the modern sales arsenal.

Buyer and Prospect Preferences and Behavior

70% of prospects say they have been contacted by sales reps more than five times
77% of buyers prefer to buy from someone they trust
60% of decision-makers prefer to be contacted via email rather than cold calls
69% of prospects say they prefer to be contacted by phone rather than email
92% of all customer interactions happen over the phone, email, or in person
75% of buyers have failed to respond to cold outreach entirely
67% of buyers prefer to be contacted by a sales rep via phone rather than social media
72% of prospects say no to cold calls because they don’t want to be sold to
70% of decision makers prefer to receive a cold call in the early morning, before 9 am
59% of buyers say they prefer to be contacted by a sales rep who has done prior research
30% of cold calls are made from mobile phones, increasing the chance of reaching prospects on the go
55% of buyers are more likely to respond if the sales call is introduced via referral

Buyer and Prospect Preferences and Behavior Interpretation

Despite the abundance of data suggesting buyers favor trust, personalized outreach, and early-morning calls, the cold call persists as a blunt instrument in sales, often met with silence or resistance—highlighting that in a world of digital preferences, human connection still demands both finesse and timing.

Cold Calling Effectiveness and Conversion Rates

78% of decision-makers have refused to take a cold call
Cold calling conversion rates average around 2%
92% of calls are unanswered
63% of sales professionals find cold calling the most effective lead generation tactic
The average length of a successful cold call is 5.4 minutes
85% of conversations with prospects are unprepared, leading to lower success rates
48% of cold calls are never returned
The average call-to-appointment rate for cold calling is approximately 8%
78% of cold calls are ignored or dismissed outright
The median success rate for cold calls is approximately 2.5%
The success rate of voicemails left during cold calls is around 15%
85% of sales appointments are scheduled during the first five minutes of a cold call
55% of sales professionals say they get the best response to cold calls between 4 pm and 5 pm
60% of cold calls go unanswered, but persistence can improve success rates
The average length of a cold call window that results in a meeting is approximately 3 minutes
Cold calling generates an ROI of approximately 1000%, making it a highly effective sales tactic
Companies that implement targeted cold calling campaigns see up to a 40% increase in appointment setting success
Less than 20% of cold calls result in a meeting
Calling during the first hour of business hours increases contact rate by 15%
40% of cold calling leads lead to a meeting or further contact
68% of salespeople who follow a scripted call script report higher success rates
75% of cold calls are made without any prior research on the prospect, reducing effectiveness

Cold Calling Effectiveness and Conversion Rates Interpretation

Despite a daunting 78% rejection rate and an average success rate of just 2.5%, cold calling remains a surprisingly lucrative and strategic sales tool—especially when tailored, timely, and well-researched—proving that persistence, preparation, and timing can turn a fleeting call into a 1000% ROI, even if most decision-makers are inclined to ignore or dismiss the ring.

Cost, Technology, and Efficiency of Cold Calling

Cold calling costs an average of $300 per lead

Cost, Technology, and Efficiency of Cold Calling Interpretation

With each cold call costing a hefty $300 per lead, it's clear that traditional outreach methods are a costly gamble—perhaps it's time to invest smarter, not harder.

Follow-up Strategies and Impact

80% of sales require five follow-up calls to close
82% of buyers accept meetings after multiple contacts
Companies that excel at lead nurturing generate 50% more sales-ready leads at 33% lower cost
The likelihood of closing a deal with a follow-up call is over 70%
82% of buyers accept meetings with salespeople after multiple contacts
Follow-up calls increase the likelihood of conversion by 20%
83% of buyers trust salespeople who follow up systematically

Follow-up Strategies and Impact Interpretation

While persistence—in the form of multiple follow-ups—may seem like the patience of a saint, these statistics reveal it's actually the secret sauce to turning elusive prospects into loyal customers, proving that in sales, patience isn't just a virtue—it's a proven strategy.

Salesperson Challenges and Attitudes

60% of sales people report cold calling as the most challenging part of sales
42.5% of salespeople say prospecting is their biggest challenge
65% of sales reps say cold calling is the most difficult part of their job
55% of salespeople say they make between one and 20 cold calls per day
51% of salespeople say they don’t have enough time to make the necessary number of cold calls
40% of salespeople do not prepare before making cold calls, negatively affecting success rates
78% of salespeople believe cold calling is the most effective way to generate new business

Salesperson Challenges and Attitudes Interpretation

Despite nearly four in five salespeople claiming cold calling is the most effective way to generate new business, over half cite it as their greatest challenge, often hindered by limited time and inadequate prep—highlighting a paradox where opportunity and obstacle collide in the pursuit of sales success.