GITNUXREPORT 2025

Cold Email Statistics

Personalized cold emails significantly boost open, reply, and conversion rates effectively.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Less than 15% of cold email campaigns surpass a 20% open rate

Statistic 2

49% of cold email campaigns fail due to poor list quality

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Personalized cold emails are 22% more likely to be opened

Statistic 4

55% of cold emails are ignored due to lack of personalization

Statistic 5

Recipients are 4 times more likely to respond to cold emails with a personalized video

Statistic 6

The use of prospect’s name in the first sentence increases engagement by 20%

Statistic 7

The average cold email length is approximately 150 words

Statistic 8

85% of cold email recipients say they are more likely to open if the email is personalized

Statistic 9

Sending fewer but highly targeted cold emails results in a 3x higher conversion rate

Statistic 10

Cold email response rate peaks at 20-25% when personalized with recipient's recent achievements

Statistic 11

40% of sales calls convert into opportunities when followed up with a personalized cold email

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The likelihood of getting a reply increases by 34% when cold emails mention a mutual connection

Statistic 13

Including a compelling story within a cold email increases response rates by 19%

Statistic 14

The average open rate for cold emails is about 15-28%

Statistic 15

The click-through rate (CTR) for cold emails averages 2-5%

Statistic 16

Sending follow-up emails can increase response rates by up to 21%

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47% of recipients open cold emails based solely on the subject line

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Emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened

Statistic 19

The average response rate for cold emails is around 1%

Statistic 20

B2B cold emails have an average CTR of 2.5%

Statistic 21

Using an eye-catching preview text increases open rates by 3-4%

Statistic 22

The average cold email reply rate is approximately 8%

Statistic 23

Including a clear call-to-action in a cold email increases response likelihood by 35%

Statistic 24

Email subject lines with numbers outperform those without by 45%

Statistic 25

The average cost per cold email is $0.10, making it one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies

Statistic 26

56% of companies report cold email outreach as their top-performing outbound sales tactic

Statistic 27

Shorter cold emails (around 50 words) have a higher response rate, averaging 8%, compared to longer emails, which average 4%

Statistic 28

The use of emojis in cold emails can increase open rates by 20%

Statistic 29

A/B testing subject lines can improve open rates by up to 40%

Statistic 30

The average bounce rate for cold email campaigns is 2%

Statistic 31

Incorporating social proof in cold emails can boost response rates by up to 50%

Statistic 32

Cold emails that include a question in the subject line have a 12% higher open rate

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Adding a PS at the end of cold emails increases response rates by 16%

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Responders are 30% more likely to engage when the email includes an offer or incentive

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The best subject line length for cold emails is between 6-10 words

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Up to 70% of cold emails are deleted within 3 seconds due to unappealing subject lines

Statistic 37

Including customer testimonials in cold emails can increase response rates by 26%

Statistic 38

Using professional email addresses (e.g., [email protected]) results in 15% higher open rates than generic addresses (e.g., [email protected])

Statistic 39

69% of recipients report email as spam based on the subject line alone

Statistic 40

80% of professionals prefer to be contacted through email rather than social media

Statistic 41

30% of cold emails are ignored because they lack relevance to the recipient's needs

Statistic 42

65% of cold emails are opened on mobile devices

Statistic 43

The most common reason for not opening a cold email is an unrecognized sender, cited by 50% of recipients

Statistic 44

73% of recipients say they prefer personalized emails over generic ones

Statistic 45

Nearly 60% of sales reps see cold emailing as the most effective outreach method

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The optimal time to send cold emails is Tuesday at 10 AM

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50% of cold emails are opened within the first hour

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The majority of cold email responses happen within 24 hours of sending

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Cold emails sent on Thursday have the highest open rates at 22%

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61% of cold emails are not opened due to poor timing

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Emails sent between 8-10 AM have the highest open rate of 18%

Statistic 52

Follow-up emails with a 3-day interval yield the highest response rate, around 25%

Statistic 53

Including a calendar link in your cold email can increase meetings booked by 30%

Statistic 54

Cold emails sent during holiday seasons have a 10-15% higher open rate, especially around New Year and Christmas

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Sources

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Key Highlights

69% of recipients report email as spam based on the subject line alone
Personalized cold emails are 22% more likely to be opened
The average open rate for cold emails is about 15-28%
The click-through rate (CTR) for cold emails averages 2-5%
80% of professionals prefer to be contacted through email rather than social media
55% of cold emails are ignored due to lack of personalization
Sending follow-up emails can increase response rates by up to 21%
The optimal time to send cold emails is Tuesday at 10 AM
47% of recipients open cold emails based solely on the subject line
Emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened
50% of cold emails are opened within the first hour
The average response rate for cold emails is around 1%
B2B cold emails have an average CTR of 2.5%

Did you know that while 65% of cold emails are opened on mobile devices and personalized subject lines boost open rates by 26%, less than 15% of campaigns surpass a 20% open rate—highlighting the critical strategies and pitfalls that can make or break your cold emailing success?

Campaign Performance and Best Practices

Less than 15% of cold email campaigns surpass a 20% open rate
49% of cold email campaigns fail due to poor list quality

Campaign Performance and Best Practices Interpretation

With nearly half of cold email campaigns faltering over list quality and less than a fifth hitting the 20% open rate, it's clear that targeting the right audience isn't just marketing advice—it's the difference between a hit and a miss.

Content and Personalization Strategies

Personalized cold emails are 22% more likely to be opened
55% of cold emails are ignored due to lack of personalization
Recipients are 4 times more likely to respond to cold emails with a personalized video
The use of prospect’s name in the first sentence increases engagement by 20%
The average cold email length is approximately 150 words
85% of cold email recipients say they are more likely to open if the email is personalized
Sending fewer but highly targeted cold emails results in a 3x higher conversion rate
Cold email response rate peaks at 20-25% when personalized with recipient's recent achievements
40% of sales calls convert into opportunities when followed up with a personalized cold email
The likelihood of getting a reply increases by 34% when cold emails mention a mutual connection
Including a compelling story within a cold email increases response rates by 19%

Content and Personalization Strategies Interpretation

In the crowded inbox battlefield, personalized cold emails—especially when wielded with a recipient’s name, recent achievements, or a compelling story—can triple response rates and turn cold contacts into warm opportunities, proving that a little tailored effort beats a thousand generic shots.

Email Effectiveness and Engagement Metrics

The average open rate for cold emails is about 15-28%
The click-through rate (CTR) for cold emails averages 2-5%
Sending follow-up emails can increase response rates by up to 21%
47% of recipients open cold emails based solely on the subject line
Emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened
The average response rate for cold emails is around 1%
B2B cold emails have an average CTR of 2.5%
Using an eye-catching preview text increases open rates by 3-4%
The average cold email reply rate is approximately 8%
Including a clear call-to-action in a cold email increases response likelihood by 35%
Email subject lines with numbers outperform those without by 45%
The average cost per cold email is $0.10, making it one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies
56% of companies report cold email outreach as their top-performing outbound sales tactic
Shorter cold emails (around 50 words) have a higher response rate, averaging 8%, compared to longer emails, which average 4%
The use of emojis in cold emails can increase open rates by 20%
A/B testing subject lines can improve open rates by up to 40%
The average bounce rate for cold email campaigns is 2%
Incorporating social proof in cold emails can boost response rates by up to 50%
Cold emails that include a question in the subject line have a 12% higher open rate
Adding a PS at the end of cold emails increases response rates by 16%
Responders are 30% more likely to engage when the email includes an offer or incentive
The best subject line length for cold emails is between 6-10 words
Up to 70% of cold emails are deleted within 3 seconds due to unappealing subject lines
Including customer testimonials in cold emails can increase response rates by 26%
Using professional email addresses (e.g., [email protected]) results in 15% higher open rates than generic addresses (e.g., [email protected])

Email Effectiveness and Engagement Metrics Interpretation

Despite a modest open rate of just 15-28%, hot strategies like personalized subject lines, compelling preview text, and clear calls-to-action turn cold emails from digital drifts into targeted sparks—highlighting that in the cold email game, a well-crafted spark can illuminate even the coldest of inboxes.

Recipient Preferences and Behavior

69% of recipients report email as spam based on the subject line alone
80% of professionals prefer to be contacted through email rather than social media
30% of cold emails are ignored because they lack relevance to the recipient's needs
65% of cold emails are opened on mobile devices
The most common reason for not opening a cold email is an unrecognized sender, cited by 50% of recipients
73% of recipients say they prefer personalized emails over generic ones
Nearly 60% of sales reps see cold emailing as the most effective outreach method

Recipient Preferences and Behavior Interpretation

While a staggering 69% of recipients dismiss cold email subject lines as spam and nearly half ignore unrecognized senders, the statistics reveal that personalized, relevant messages—especially those optimized for mobile—remain the gold standard, with 73% of recipients favoring tailored content and 60% of sales reps still relying on cold emailing as their most effective outreach tool.

Timing and Optimization Techniques

The optimal time to send cold emails is Tuesday at 10 AM
50% of cold emails are opened within the first hour
The majority of cold email responses happen within 24 hours of sending
Cold emails sent on Thursday have the highest open rates at 22%
61% of cold emails are not opened due to poor timing
Emails sent between 8-10 AM have the highest open rate of 18%
Follow-up emails with a 3-day interval yield the highest response rate, around 25%
Including a calendar link in your cold email can increase meetings booked by 30%
Cold emails sent during holiday seasons have a 10-15% higher open rate, especially around New Year and Christmas

Timing and Optimization Techniques Interpretation

Mastering the perfect timing—like sending cold emails on Tuesday at 10 AM, following up after three days, and sprinkling in holiday cheer—can transform your outreach from a cold shoulder to a warm handshake, since nearly half are opened within the first hour and strategic timing boosts response and booking rates significantly.