What is email bounce rate?
Email bounce rate is the percentage of sent emails that the receiving server rejected and couldn't deliver. To calculate it, divide the number of bounced emails by the number you sent, then multiply by 100.
Last reviewed .
How to calculate email bounce rate
Divide the number of bounced emails by the number you sent, then multiply by 100.
Percentages in this equation use numeric percent values: 40 means 40%.
Hard bounces and soft bounces
A hard bounce is a permanent failure, such as an address that doesn't exist. A soft bounce is temporary, like a full inbox or a server that's briefly down.
Most email platforms stop sending to hard-bounced addresses automatically, and retry soft bounces a few times.
Why bounce rate matters
Mailbox providers treat a high bounce rate as a sign of a poorly kept list. That can damage your sender reputation and push more of your emails into spam.
How to lower it
Collect addresses with a double opt-in, remove hard bounces right away, and clean out addresses that haven't engaged in a long time. Avoid buying lists, because their addresses are more likely to be invalid.
Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational purposes only, and we don't guarantee the accuracy of its results. You're responsible for verifying any results before relying on them. See our terms of use.
Common questions
How do you calculate email bounce rate?
Divide bounced emails by emails sent, then multiply by 100. For example, 200 bounces out of 10,000 sent is a 2% bounce rate.
What is a good email bounce rate?
Lower is better, and there's no single cutoff that applies everywhere. Watch your own trend, and look into any sudden jump, as it often points to a list problem.
What's the difference between a hard bounce and a soft bounce?
A hard bounce is permanent and the address should be removed. A soft bounce is a temporary issue and the address may work on a later send.
Is bounce rate calculated from sent or delivered emails?
Bounce rate uses emails sent as the base, since bounced emails weren't delivered. Open and click rates usually use delivered emails instead, so check how your platform reports each one.
Want help putting this to work?
Tell us where your marketing stands today, and we'll show you what to do first.