How long does it take to warm up an IP address for sending 25 million emails per day?

Summary

Warming up an IP address to send 25 million emails daily is a complex process with no fixed timeline. Experts and documentation agree that the duration hinges on factors like sender reputation, list quality, recipient engagement, and infrastructure. A gradual ramp-up is universally recommended, starting with a small, highly engaged segment and incrementally increasing volume over weeks or months. Close monitoring of deliverability metrics—bounce rates, spam complaints, sender reputation, and spam trap hits—is crucial. It's also important to note factors like the number of Mailbox Providers you are sending to. The goal is to establish a positive sending history and avoid being flagged as spam, which takes longer for new senders.

Key findings

  • Variable Timeline: There's no set time; the duration varies considerably.
  • Engagement is Key: High recipient engagement is paramount for a faster, smoother warm-up.
  • Gradual Approach: A slow, measured increase in sending volume is critical.
  • Monitoring Essential: Continuous tracking of deliverability metrics is necessary for success.
  • Existing Reputation: Existing sender reputations can make IP Warming faster than those with no IP reputation.

Key considerations

  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean, up-to-date email list to minimize bounces and complaints.
  • New vs. Existing Senders: New senders should be extra cautious and plan for a longer warm-up period.
  • Infrastructure: Ensure your infrastructure supports the gradual increase in volume.
  • Authentication Setup: Authentication such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are critical for establishing trust with Mailbox Providers.
  • ISP Limitations: Be aware of potential rate limitations imposed by various ISPs.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

Warming up an IP address for sending 25 million emails per day is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. The duration varies significantly depending on factors like sender reputation, list quality, engagement levels, and the number of destinations. It is generally agreed that a gradual ramp-up is essential, starting with smaller volumes and progressively increasing over weeks or months. User engagement is crucial, as sending large volumes to unengaged recipients can negatively impact deliverability. Close monitoring of deliverability metrics such as bounce rates, spam complaints, and sender reputation is necessary to adjust the warming schedule. Some experts suggest a timeframe of several weeks to months, while others emphasize that a faster warmup is possible with excellent engagement but still gradual. Ultimately, the ideal timeframe depends on the specific circumstances of the sender and their recipients.

Key opinions

  • Engagement Matters: High user engagement is essential. Low engagement can negatively impact your reputation and delay the warming process.
  • Gradual Ramp-Up: A slow, steady increase in sending volume is crucial for building a positive reputation with ISPs.
  • Timeframe Varies: The warmup period can range from several weeks to months, depending on your specific situation.
  • Destination Counts: The number of Mailbox Providers you are sending to can increase the warm up time.

Key considerations

  • Sender Reputation: Your existing sender reputation will impact the speed of the warm-up process. New senders will take longer.
  • List Quality: Ensure your email list is clean and up-to-date to minimize bounce rates and spam complaints.
  • Monitoring Deliverability: Continuously monitor key metrics like bounce rates, spam complaints, and sender reputation to make informed adjustments to your sending schedule.
  • ISP Limitations: Some ISPs have limitations on how quickly they accept emails from a single IP address, impacting the overall process.
  • Segmentation is Important: Segment your sending to only send to the most engaged users first to build a good reputation.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that if you have great engagement, a faster warmup is possible, but still gradual. If you're starting from scratch, even with good engagement, it's likely to take at least a month or two. Prioritize quality data and monitoring

November 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that warming up an IP address for a consistent, large volume like 25 million emails daily involves a structured process. They suggest starting with a smaller, highly engaged segment and gradually increasing volume over several weeks, while constantly watching deliverability metrics and adapting your strategy to ensure good sender reputation.

May 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps recommends the need for gradual increases in email volume when warming up an IP address. This involves spreading out the sending volume over a number of weeks or months. Volume increases should be calculated as small percentages of the previous total and should be applied no more than once every 7-10 days.

October 2021 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares if targeting only a single MBP, that may take longer, meaning the number of destinations may increase the warm up period.

October 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks notes that some ISPs just don't accept emails fast enough from a single IP address. So it also depends on what's on your list.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that the volume of emails is less important than user engagement. Sending a large campaign with low engagement is bad for ISPs. Sending 25M/day through 1 IP requires every user to be highly engaged and also notes that 1 IP for 25M is a bottleneck.

January 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid mentions that the duration for warming up an IP address for high-volume sending is influenced by the sender's reputation, list quality, and engagement levels. It’s crucial to monitor bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribe rates, adjusting the sending schedule accordingly. A gradual increase in volume over several weeks to months is a general practice.

January 2024 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity (ReturnPath) shares the importance of list segmentation and reputation building for a smooth IP warm-up. When dealing with high-volume email programs, warm up the IP with the most engaged recipients as this builds your reputation and ensures higher deliverability.

December 2023 - Validity
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot shares that it is not possible to warm an IP to send 25 million emails quickly. Warming an IP requires a large sending history built slowly to show ISPs a positive reputation. If you're working with an existing email marketing program, you can add to that positive reputation slowly by adding volume over a period of a few months, and building your reputation

December 2022 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares academically, 25M/day on a single IP could take 180-190 day warmup, if every user is highly engaged. It could take 150 days if users crave emails. Stating it is just extrapolated math and may not be realistic.

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that when warming up a new IP address, especially for high volumes, a gradual and carefully planned approach is required. Monitor sender reputation closely during the warmup period. Starting with your most engaged users, and gradually increasing volume over several weeks is essential. The specific timeframe depends on response rates and list hygiene.

November 2021 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that IP warmup duration is not fixed and highly depends on the specific sender. With a good reputation and clean list, a faster warmup is possible. If starting from scratch, be prepared for a longer process, potentially several months, to establish a positive sending history.

January 2022 - Email Marketing Forum

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Experts agree that warming up an IP address for sending 25 million emails daily is not a fixed process and heavily depends on several factors. List hygiene, sender reputation, and recipient engagement are critical elements that influence the duration, which can range from weeks to months. A cautious and strategic approach is essential, especially for new senders. Monitoring deliverability and closely watching authentication setup are also crucial for successfully increasing sending volume.

Key opinions

  • Variable Duration: IP warmup duration is not a fixed number; it varies based on several factors.
  • List Hygiene & Engagement: Clean email lists and high recipient engagement are crucial for a successful IP warmup.
  • New Senders: New senders should be particularly cautious and strategic in their approach.

Key considerations

  • Authentication: Proper authentication setup is important during the IP warmup process.
  • Monitoring: Closely monitor deliverability metrics and engagement patterns during the ramp-up.
  • Strategic Approach: Approach IP warming cautiously and strategically, especially with large volumes.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that when warming up an IP, particularly for high volumes like 25 million emails per day, the duration isn't a fixed number. It depends on various factors including list hygiene, sender reputation, and recipient engagement. Starting with a small, engaged segment and gradually increasing volume while monitoring deliverability is essential. The exact timeframe can vary from weeks to months.

October 2021 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise (Laura Atkins) responds that new senders warming up IPs for very large volumes (like 25 million/day) need to approach it cautiously and strategically. Factors such as authentication setup, list quality, and engagement patterns all heavily influence how quickly you can ramp up. Plan for a long warmup phase and monitor very closely.

January 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Official documentation emphasizes that IP warmup duration for sending 25 million emails per day is highly variable, depending on factors such as list quality, engagement, infrastructure, and sender reputation. A gradual ramp-up is crucial, with consistent monitoring of deliverability metrics to avoid being flagged as spam. Utilizing tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to track spam rates, IP reputation, complaint rates, and spam trap hits is highly recommended to address issues promptly and ensure successful deliverability.

Key findings

  • Variable Duration: The IP warmup timeframe is not fixed and varies based on several factors.
  • Gradual Ramp-Up: Gradually increasing sending limits is essential.
  • Monitoring is Critical: Continuous monitoring of deliverability metrics is crucial for success.

Key considerations

  • List Quality & Engagement: Prioritize list quality and recipient engagement to improve deliverability.
  • Sender Reputation: Your sender reputation significantly impacts the warmup process.
  • Utilize Monitoring Tools: Use tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to track key metrics and address issues promptly.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft SNDS explains that during IP warmup, particularly for high-volume sending, you should utilize the Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) to monitor your IP reputation. Pay attention to complaint rates and spam trap hits. A successful warmup involves maintaining low complaint rates and avoiding spam traps.

May 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools recommends closely monitoring your sender reputation using their tools during IP warm-up, especially when planning for high-volume sending. Track spam rates, IP reputation, and feedback loop complaints. Addressing any issues immediately is critical for successful deliverability and avoiding blocks.

December 2024 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from AWS explains that for sending large volumes of emails, such as 25 million per day, the best practice is to gradually increase sending limits. AWS recommends starting with a small volume and steadily increasing it based on engagement metrics. Monitoring deliverability and adjusting the schedule is critical to avoid being flagged as spam. The exact timeframe depends on the sender's reputation and engagement quality.

April 2024 - AWS
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that for sending 25 million emails per day, the IP warmup duration can vary significantly. It depends on factors like list quality, engagement, and infrastructure. A gradual ramp-up is crucial, starting with smaller volumes and progressively increasing over weeks or months. Consistent monitoring of deliverability metrics is essential to adjust the warming schedule.

December 2024 - SparkPost