What is email open rate?
Email open rate is the percentage of delivered emails that recipients opened. To calculate it, divide unique opens by the number of emails delivered, then multiply by 100. It's usually tracked with a tiny hidden image.
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How to calculate email open rate
Divide unique opens by delivered emails, then multiply by 100.
Percentages in this equation use numeric percent values: 40 means 40%.
How opens are tracked
Most email tools place a tiny invisible image in each message. When the email loads it, the tool records an open.
Why open rate is less exact than it looks
Some mail apps and privacy features load images automatically, which can count an open even if the person never read the email. Others block images, so real opens may go uncounted.
Because of this, treat open rate as a rough guide and compare it with your own history. Clicks and replies are firmer signs of interest.
What affects open rate
The sender name, subject line, send time, and list quality all matter. Deliverability matters too, because an email that lands in spam is rarely opened.
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 open rate?
Divide unique opens by emails delivered, then multiply by 100. For example, 2,000 opens from 10,000 delivered emails is a 20% open rate.
What is a good email open rate?
It depends on your industry, your audience, and how your tool counts opens. Use your own past results as the benchmark and look at trends instead of single sends.
Why is my email open rate unreliable?
Open tracking depends on images loading, and some mail apps load them automatically or block them. That can inflate or hide opens, so pair open rate with click data.
How can you improve email open rate?
Use a recognizable sender name, write a clear subject line, send to engaged subscribers, and protect your deliverability. Test subject lines one at a time.
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