How many emails can I send per dedicated IP address before needing another one?

Summary

The number of emails you can send per dedicated IP address before needing another one is not a fixed limit. It's heavily dependent on building and maintaining a strong sender reputation. Experts and marketers emphasize the importance of gradually warming up the IP by starting with a small, highly engaged audience and consistently increasing volume over time. Key to success is closely monitoring engagement metrics (open rates, bounces, complaints) and proactively managing your email lists by pruning unengaged contacts and correcting errors. While some suggest considering a second IP around 400k-500k emails/day or 1-2 million emails/day, it's more crucial to prioritize a healthy sending reputation and engagement over sheer volume. Proper email authentication is also essential.

Key findings

  • Reputation is Paramount: The number of emails you can send per IP primarily depends on your sender reputation.
  • Gradual IP Warm-up: Gradually increase sending volume to a new IP address to build a positive reputation.
  • Engagement Focus: Prioritize sending to an engaged audience and monitor metrics closely.
  • List Management Crucial: Maintain a clean and segmented email list by removing unengaged contacts and correcting errors.
  • Volume Guidelines Exist: Some sources suggest considering a second IP around 400k-500k/day or 1-2 million/day, but engagement is more important.

Key considerations

  • Ramp-Up Schedule: Implement a structured plan to increase sending volume during the IP warm-up process.
  • Authentication is Key: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is in place.
  • Content Relevance: Send engaging, relevant content that resonates with your audience.
  • Feedback Loops: Monitor feedback from mailbox providers and adjust your sending practices as needed.
  • Redundancy: Having an IP per 500k total mail per day for redundancy.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

The number of emails you can send per dedicated IP before needing another isn't a fixed number, but rather depends on several factors. It's crucial to build and maintain a good sender reputation by sending consistent volume of engaging content to opted-in subscribers. Most experts agree on gradually warming up the IP by starting with small batches to highly engaged users and slowly increasing the volume. Monitor engagement metrics like open rates, bounces, and complaints, and adjust your sending practices accordingly. Considerations include the type of content, the target audience, and adherence to email best practices. Some rules of thumb suggest considering a second IP around 400k-500k emails per day, or at 2 million emails per day. However, it's more important to focus on the quality of your sending practices and your reputation.

Key opinions

  • Reputation Matters: The number of emails per IP depends on your sender reputation, not a fixed limit.
  • Gradual Warm-up: Gradually warm up the IP address by starting with small batches and increasing the sending volume over time.
  • Engagement is Key: Focus on sending engaging content to opted-in subscribers.
  • Monitor Metrics: Closely monitor key metrics like open rates, bounces, and complaints to gauge sender reputation.
  • Rules of Thumb: Some sources consider adding a new IP around 400k-500k/day or 2M/day, but this is highly variable.

Key considerations

  • Content Quality: Ensure the content is engaging and relevant to the recipients.
  • List Management: Maintain a clean and up-to-date email list.
  • Authentication: Authenticate your emails to improve deliverability.
  • Sending Frequency: Establish a consistent sending frequency.
  • Engagement Data: Make sure you are sending genuine emails to real recipients to build up the reputation of your dedicated IP.
  • ISP Relations: Manage your reputation and not send spam and abuse emails as this will greatly reduce the amount of emails you are able to send.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Web Tribunal explains that using a dedicated IP guarantees a much better deliverability rate, provided you maintain a high-quality sender reputation. This can include increasing volume slowly and ensuring your email list is opt-in only.

April 2024 - Web Tribunal
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora user Emily Carter highlights that the number of emails depends on your engagement metrics. If you are seeing good open rates, you can send more. Ensure that you avoid spam traps as this can seriously impact the amount of email you are able to send.

September 2022 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that a dedicated IP is like moving to a new house. You need to build a good reputation by sending a consistent volume of emails that your audience wants, and gradually increase the volume you send, following a dedicated IP warm-up schedule.

November 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains that a dedicated IP lets you control your own sender reputation, meaning you're not impacted by the actions of other senders. The volume you can send depends on how well you manage that reputation.

December 2022 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from Twitter user @EmailGuru advises to ensure you are following best practice when starting with a new IP. Make sure you are sending genuine emails to real recipients to build up the reputation of your dedicated IP.

August 2021 - Twitter
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that at more than 400K per day, they consider a second dedicated IP to help speed things up, especially when sending to European + global MBPs.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from stackoverflow highlights that you should limit the amount of emails you send on a per connection basis and per time slice. This can reduce risk of hitting any throttling issues with the mailbox provider and will allow your system to continue sending at optimum rates.

July 2024 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares their rule of thumb is 75K per hour, but it is possible to send way more.

January 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user /EmailNoob suggests starting with a small batch of highly engaged subscribers, then gradually increasing the sending volume over a few weeks. Actively monitor the deliverability and adjust the sending schedule based on feedback from mailbox providers.

August 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel Digital emphasizes that a dedicated IP allows you to build your own reputation as a sender, separate from other users of a shared IP. The number of emails you can send depends on how quickly you can build a good reputation with mailbox providers by sending consistent volume and engaging content.

April 2024 - Neil Patel Digital
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass suggests starting with small batches of 50 - 100 emails per day. He adds that the most important part of building your dedicated IP reputation is engaging with your audience and warming up your IP.

January 2022 - Gmass
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks prefers having an IP per 500k total mail per day for redundancy, while acknowledging 2M per IP is doable.

June 2023 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Experts suggest considering an additional dedicated IP when approaching sending volumes of 1-2 million emails per day per IP. However, warming up the IP by focusing on engagement with active list management and careful monitoring are essential for optimal deliverability before reaching these volumes.

Key opinions

  • Volume Threshold: A general threshold for considering another IP is around 1-2 million emails per day per IP.
  • Engagement Focus: When warming up an IP, prioritize engagement by sending to the most active users and monitoring results.
  • List Hygiene: Actively manage your email lists during IP warm-up, correcting errors and segmenting.

Key considerations

  • IP Warm-up: Warming up your IP is essential before sending high volumes to maintain deliverability.
  • Engagement Metrics: Regularly monitor engagement metrics (opens, clicks, etc.) to gauge sender reputation.
  • List Segmentation: Segment email lists for more targeted and relevant content.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that when warming up an IP, you should focus on engagement. Send to your most engaged users first and monitor your results, gradually increasing the volume as your reputation improves.

February 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains their threshold for considering adding a new IP is around 1M / day / IP, but really is 2M.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that during IP warm up you should be actively managing your email lists. Prune out unengaged contacts, correct typos and other errors and segment your lists before you even start.

June 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says that like Laura, they say 2M/day per IP. Above that, you’re likely to see delays.

June 2021 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

All documentation emphasizes the importance of gradually increasing sending volume to new IP addresses. Starting with a small, engaged audience and consistently increasing the amount sent over time is essential for building a positive sender reputation. Continuous monitoring of metrics like bounces, complaints, and overall engagement is critical to ensuring deliverability and preventing negative impacts on sender reputation. Additionally, managing your reputation and ensuring email authentication are critical for maintaining a good reputation with mailbox providers.

Key findings

  • Gradual Volume Increase: Gradually increase sending volume when warming up a new IP address.
  • Engaged Audience First: Start by sending to your most engaged users to establish a good reputation.
  • Monitor Key Metrics: Actively monitor bounces, complaints, and engagement to gauge sender reputation.
  • Reputation Management: Manage reputation by avoiding spam, abuse emails, and unauthenticated emails.

Key considerations

  • Ramp-Up Schedule: Follow a structured ramp-up schedule for increasing sending volume.
  • Feedback Loops: Pay attention to feedback from mailbox providers and adjust sending practices accordingly.
  • Email Authentication: Implement email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve deliverability.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean and engaged email list.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools recommends that you should gradually increase sending volume to Gmail users. Sending too much email too quickly can negatively impact your sender reputation and lead to deliverability issues.

August 2021 - Google Postmaster Tools
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost recommends a gradual increase in sending volume. Start with your most engaged users and ensure they are expecting your messages. Monitor metrics like bounces, complaints, and engagement to assess the health of your sending reputation.

February 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from SendGrid explains the key to properly warming up your IP address is to gradually increase your sending volume as consistently as possible. SendGrid recommends starting small and increasing the volume daily. They provide a sample ramp-up schedule, starting with sending to a small number of recipients and increasing significantly each day, while monitoring your sending reputation.

September 2024 - SendGrid
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft highlights that you should manage your reputation and not send spam and abuse emails as this will greatly reduce the amount of emails you are able to send. They recommend ensuring you authenticate your email.

December 2024 - Microsoft