7 Email Open Rate Statistics For eCommerce Stores

Francesco Gatti
April 20, 2025

Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for eCommerce businesses to connect with customers and drive sales. Understanding your email open rates helps you measure campaign effectiveness and make smart adjustments to your marketing strategy. A good email open rate for eCommerce businesses typically ranges from 17% to 28%, though this varies by industry and campaign type.

For marketers looking to improve their results, tracking email marketing statistics provides valuable insights into what works and what doesn't. The retail sector specifically sees average open rates of 35.90%, making it one of the better-performing industries for email engagement. These benchmarks serve as useful targets when evaluating your own campaign performance.

1) Average open rate for eCommerce emails is approximately 36.59%

Email performance metrics vary across industries, but eCommerce actually boasts some of the highest engagement rates. The average open rate for eCommerce emails sits at approximately 36.59%, making it one of the stronger performing sectors.

For marketers struggling to meet this benchmark, it's time to reconsider your strategy. Open rates between 31-37% typically indicate alignment with industry standards for retail and online stores.

These numbers matter because they directly impact your bottom line. Every percentage point increase in email marketing engagement metrics can translate to additional revenue opportunities and better ROI on your campaigns.

2) Automated winback emails achieve an open rate of around 42.51%

Winback emails are powerful tools for reconnecting with customers who haven't purchased in a while. Data shows that automated winback emails experience impressive open rates of 42.51%, significantly outperforming regular marketing emails.

These emails also achieve an 18.27% click-through rate and a 10.34% conversion rate. This performance is 2.5 times better for opens and 7.9 times better for clicks compared to industry averages.

Marketers should prioritize these campaigns because of their effectiveness. The high eCommerce email marketing statistics demonstrate that customers are receptive to well-crafted winback messages, even after periods of disengagement.

Timing these emails properly is crucial. They should be sent when a customer shows clear signs of reduced engagement or hasn't made a purchase within their typical buying cycle.

3) Retail category email open rate averages 35.90%

The retail category has an impressive average email open rate of 35.90%. This statistic includes both retail ecommerce stores and home goods suppliers, making it relevant for many online businesses.

For marketers in the ecommerce space, this benchmark provides a solid target to aim for when evaluating campaign performance. Comparing your open rates against this industry standard helps determine if your email strategy needs adjustment.

Recent email marketing benchmarks for 2025 show that the overall average open rate across all industries sits at 25.10%, making retail's 35.90% significantly higher than the general average.

To improve your retail email open rates, focus on compelling subject lines and proper list segmentation. These tactics can help your campaigns meet or exceed the category average.

4) Median email open rate across all campaigns is about 42.35%

Recent data shows that the median email open rate across all industries is 42.35%. This benchmark gives marketers a solid reference point to evaluate their campaign performance.

For eCommerce stores, this number serves as a useful comparison tool. If your open rates fall below this median, it may be time to revise your subject lines or sender information.

Industry variations exist, with open rates ranging from 22.57% to 59.70% depending on the business sector. The email marketing benchmarks for 2025 indicate these figures come from analysis of over 3.3 million email campaigns.

Marketers should track their open rates against this median to identify potential opportunities for improvement in their email strategy.

5) Segmented email campaigns tend to have higher open rates by 65%

Dividing your email list into specific segments yields significant results for marketers. Research shows that segmented email marketing campaigns drive 30% more opens and 50% more click-throughs compared to non-segmented campaigns.

When messages are tailored to specific customer groups based on behavior, demographics, or purchase history, open rates can increase by up to 65%. This dramatic improvement occurs because recipients receive content that directly addresses their needs and interests.

Effective segmentation strategies include dividing customers by purchase frequency, cart abandonment status, or browsing behavior. Each segment responds differently to email marketing approaches, making personalization essential for maximizing engagement.

6) Retail businesses experience an average email engagement rate of 33.1%

Retail businesses stand out with strong email performance metrics. According to recent data, retail email engagement rates reach an impressive 33.1% on average.

This high engagement level gives retail marketers a significant advantage when planning their email strategies. For comparison, many other industries struggle to achieve even 25% engagement.

The timing of these emails also matters greatly. Research shows that email campaigns see highest open rates within the first hour of delivery, with 21.2% of all opens happening during this critical window.

Marketers should leverage this knowledge by scheduling retail emails when their audience is most likely to be checking their inbox.

7) eCommerce brands send roughly 16.68 emails per month on average

Email frequency plays a crucial role in eCommerce marketing strategies. According to research, eCommerce brands send an average of 16.68 emails per month to their subscribers.

This monthly average helps marketers strike a balance between staying top-of-mind and avoiding inbox fatigue. Too few emails might result in missed sales opportunities, while too many can lead to unsubscribes.

Different types of emails make up this monthly count, including promotional campaigns, abandoned cart reminders, and automated winback emails with higher open rates of around 42.51%.

Marketers should test different sending frequencies based on their specific audience engagement patterns to find their optimal cadence.

Email Open Rate Trends

Email open rates vary widely across industries and are influenced by multiple factors. Recent data shows significant changes in how recipients interact with marketing emails.

Benchmarks for eCommerce Store Open Rates

The retail and shopping category has an impressive average open rate of 35.90%, higher than many other industries. This provides a solid benchmark for eCommerce stores to measure their performance against.

For general email marketing campaigns across all industries, the average open rate was 21.5% in 2021, showing a 3.5% increase from the previous year. This upward trend suggests consumers are becoming more receptive to email marketing.

When evaluating your own performance, remember that email marketing benchmarks for 2025 indicate click-to-open rates range from 2.93% to 5.63% depending on the industry. This metric measures how many people who opened your email actually clicked on a link.

Industry Factors That Impact Open Rates

Subject lines remain the most critical factor affecting open rates. Emails with personalized, clear, and benefit-driven subject lines consistently outperform generic ones.

Sending frequency significantly impacts engagement. Over-sending leads to fatigue and lower open rates, while under-sending may cause subscribers to forget your brand.

List hygiene plays a vital role too. Regular cleaning of inactive subscribers improves deliverability and subsequently boosts open rates. Many marketers fail to realize that high bounce rates from outdated email lists can damage sender reputation.

Device optimization affects performance as well. With over 60% of emails opened on mobile devices, responsive design is no longer optional for achieving competitive open rates.

Strategies to Improve Open Rates

Boosting your email open rates requires systematic approaches that focus on recipient engagement. The right strategies can dramatically increase how many customers actually see your marketing messages.

Personalization and Segmentation Techniques

Dividing your email list into specific groups helps deliver more relevant content to subscribers. When you segment your email list based on browsing behavior, purchase history, or demographics, open rates typically increase by 14%.

Start by collecting the right data:

  • Purchase history
  • Browse behavior
  • Geographic location
  • Past email engagement

Use this data to create targeted campaigns. For example, send product recommendations based on previous purchases or abandoned cart reminders with personalized discounts.

Behavior-triggered emails perform 70% better than standard batch emails. Set up automatic emails for key customer actions like sign-ups, purchases, or cart abandonment.

Address subscribers by name in both the subject line and email body. Personalized subject lines can increase open rates by up to 26%.

Optimizing Subject Lines for Engagement

The subject line determines whether your email gets opened or ignored. Compelling subject lines that create curiosity or urgency consistently outperform generic ones.

Keep subject lines between 30-50 characters for optimal mobile display. Avoid spam trigger words like "free," "buy now," or excessive punctuation.

Try these proven subject line formats:

  • Questions that spark curiosity
  • Numbers and lists (e.g., "5 Summer Styles You'll Love")
  • Limited-time offers with clear deadlines
  • Personalized recommendations

A/B test different subject lines with small segments before sending to your entire list. Even small tweaks can lead to significant improvements in open rates.

Use preheader text (the preview text visible in inboxes) to complement your subject line. This additional 40-130 characters can reinforce your message and boost open rates by 7-10%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Email open rates remain a critical metric for eCommerce businesses to track performance and optimize campaigns. Below are answers to common questions about these metrics based on current industry data.

What constitutes a strong email open rate in the eCommerce sector?

The average open rate for eCommerce emails is 36.59%. This benchmark helps marketers evaluate their campaign performance relative to industry standards.

For eCommerce businesses, open rates between 31-37% generally meet industry benchmarks. Anything above 40% is considered excellent performance.

Automated campaigns often perform better than regular broadcasts. Win-back emails, for example, achieve around 29% open rates, exceeding the general benchmark of 21.5%.

How do email open rates vary across different industries?

The retail category's average open rate is 35.90%. This places retail and eCommerce near the top of all industry categories.

Service industries like healthcare tend to see higher open rates (40-45%) due to the personal nature of their communications.

B2B emails typically have lower open rates (20-30%) compared to B2C, as they often target busy professionals with crowded inboxes.

What is considered a good click-through rate in email marketing for eCommerce?

A good click-through rate (CTR) for eCommerce emails ranges between 2-5%. This represents the percentage of recipients who clicked on at least one link in your email.

Product recommendation emails tend to achieve higher CTRs (4-7%) when properly segmented and personalized to customer interests.

Promotional emails with clear calls to action and compelling offers typically outperform purely informational content by 25-30% in terms of CTR.

What benchmarks should eCommerce stores use to evaluate their email marketing performance?

Beyond open rates, conversion rate is perhaps the most important metric. Typical eCommerce email conversion rates range from 1-5%, with 2% being the average.

Revenue per email (RPE) helps measure campaign profitability. Top-performing eCommerce stores generate $0.50-$1 per email sent.

List growth rate should be at least 5-10% quarterly to maintain a healthy subscriber base. Unsubscribe rates should remain below 0.5% per campaign.

How have email marketing engagement metrics evolved up to 2025?

Mobile opens have increased to represent over 70% of all email opens, making mobile-responsive design more critical than ever.

AI-driven personalization has boosted engagement metrics, with segmented emails showing 65% higher open rates compared to non-segmented campaigns.

Privacy regulations have changed tracking capabilities, requiring marketers to focus more on first-party data and zero-party data collection strategies.

What strategies can eCommerce stores employ to improve their email open and click rates?

Subject line optimization remains crucial. Subject lines between 30-50 characters with personalization elements increase open rates by up to 30%.

Sending emails at optimal times based on audience behavior patterns can improve open rates significantly. Tuesday through Thursday between 10am-2pm shows the highest engagement.

Segmentation based on purchase history, browsing behavior, and customer lifecycle stage helps deliver relevant content. Emails sent to targeted segments achieve 42% higher open rates than generic broadcasts.

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