When does using a dedicated IP address solve sending issues?

Summary

A dedicated IP address helps resolve email sending issues primarily when the goal is to gain greater control and responsibility over sender reputation. This is particularly useful when migrating from a shared IP, wanting a clean sending reputation, or needing to implement specific authentication protocols like DKIM and SPF. High-volume senders (often cited as over 50,000 emails per month) benefit most because they can establish and maintain a positive IP reputation. While Google tracks reputation at lower volumes and emphasizes domain reputation, sufficient volume is still important. However, a dedicated IP requires a proper IP warming strategy and consistent adherence to email best practices. It won't solve underlying problems with list hygiene or email content and can even harm deliverability if sending practices are poor or volume is too low to establish a good reputation.

Key findings

  • Reputation Control: Dedicated IPs provide control over sender reputation, independent of other senders.
  • Clear Responsibility: Dedicated IPs make senders directly responsible for their delivery issues.
  • High Volume Benefit: High-volume senders benefit most from dedicated IPs.
  • Authentication Flexibility: Dedicated IPs allow for implementation of custom authentication protocols (DKIM, SPF).

Key considerations

  • IP Warming Required: A proper IP warming strategy is critical to avoid deliverability problems.
  • Best Practices Essential: Consistent adherence to email best practices is necessary for success.
  • Volume Threshold Important: While reputation can be established at lower volumes, sufficient volume is still needed to maintain it.
  • Doesn't Fix Core Issues: Dedicated IPs will not solve underlying problems with list hygiene or email content.
  • Potential for Harm: Poor sending practices or low volume can harm deliverability, even with a dedicated IP.

What email marketers say
8Marketer opinions

Using a dedicated IP address can resolve email sending issues primarily related to sender reputation. It provides control over your reputation, independent from other senders on shared IPs. This is beneficial for high-volume senders (e.g., over 50,000 emails per month) who consistently follow email best practices. However, a dedicated IP requires a warm-up period to establish a positive reputation, and it won't solve problems stemming from poor list hygiene or content issues. Low-volume senders may not see significant benefits from a dedicated IP.

Key opinions

  • Reputation Control: Dedicated IPs allow senders to manage their reputation independently.
  • High Volume: Dedicated IPs are most beneficial for high-volume senders.
  • Best Practices: Dedicated IPs require consistent adherence to email best practices.
  • Shared IP Issues: Dedicated IPs mitigate negative impacts from other senders on shared IPs.

Key considerations

  • Warm-up: Dedicated IPs require a warm-up period to build a positive reputation.
  • Content & List: Dedicated IPs do not solve issues related to poor list hygiene or content.
  • Low Volume: Low-volume senders may not see a significant benefit from a dedicated IP.
  • Commitment: Requires committment to manage and maintain the IP to get positive results.
Marketer view

Email marketer from MailerLite explains that a dedicated IP address grants complete control over your sending reputation and enables faster email delivery if your sending practices are in good standing.

April 2022 - MailerLite
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass explains that using a dedicated IP solves the issue of being affected by other senders' bad practices only if you send enough volume to maintain a good reputation. Low volume senders might not see a significant benefit.

October 2023 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow mentions that dedicated IPs require a warm-up period to establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs and that improper warm-up can lead to deliverability problems.

May 2021 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares that dedicated IP address usage can help address deliverability issues if they are stemming from the negative sending behaviour of other senders on a shared IP, it will not solve issues related to poor email list hygiene or bad content.

June 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from SMTP2GO explains that a dedicated IP allows you to manage your sender reputation independently from other senders, which can improve deliverability if you maintain good sending practices.

May 2022 - SMTP2GO
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that a dedicated IP is beneficial when you want to control your sender reputation, especially if you have a consistent sending volume and follow email best practices.

January 2025 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that a dedicated IP is useful for senders who send high volumes of email (typically over 50,000 emails per month) and want more control over their sender reputation.

January 2024 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that a dedicated IP allows senders to build their own reputation with mailbox providers, giving them more control over deliverability, and is beneficial for senders sending a high volume of emails.

June 2022 - Mailjet

What the experts say
6Expert opinions

Using a dedicated IP primarily helps when you want to establish clear responsibility for delivery issues and control over your sender reputation. It forces senders to address their own problems. While high volume is beneficial for maintaining a good IP reputation, Google tracks and assigns reputation even at lower volumes (around 5000 per day), and increasingly considers domain reputation. However, if you don't have sufficient volume or fail to follow best practices, a dedicated IP might not improve or could even harm deliverability.

Key opinions

  • Accountability: Dedicated IPs clearly assign responsibility for delivery issues.
  • Reputation Control: Dedicated IPs provide control over sender reputation.
  • Lower Volume Impact: Google can track reputation with lower volumes.
  • Domain Reputation: Domain reputation is increasingly important.

Key considerations

  • Volume Threshold: Sufficient volume is still needed to maintain a good IP reputation.
  • Best Practices: Following email best practices is crucial for dedicated IP success.
  • Potential Harm: Poor practices can harm deliverability even with a dedicated IP.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains there is no faster way to make it clear THEY have to make changes than to put them on a dedicated IP.

November 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that dedicated IPs make it clear that delivery problems are the sender's responsibility.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that using a dedicated IP is beneficial when you have enough volume to establish and maintain a good sending reputation; otherwise, it might not significantly improve deliverability and could even hurt it.

February 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares Google can track 5000 a day and give reputation for that.

April 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that a dedicated IP provides senders with control over their sending reputation, allowing them to manage it independently and potentially improve deliverability by adhering to best practices.

April 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains you don't need as much volume for reputation as you did 15 years ago, particularly at Gmail, who does domain reputation even when the IPs are shared.

April 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

A dedicated IP address resolves email sending issues when a clean sending reputation is needed, such as when migrating from a shared IP address or wanting to isolate your reputation. It enables control over your sender reputation and allows implementation of custom authentication protocols like DKIM and SPF. However, it's crucial to implement a proper IP warming strategy, as you become solely responsible for managing and maintaining that reputation.

Key findings

  • Clean Reputation: Dedicated IPs provide a clean reputation, beneficial during migration.
  • Reputation Management: Dedicated IPs enable control and management of sender reputation.
  • Authentication: Dedicated IPs facilitate custom authentication protocols.

Key considerations

  • IP Warming: Proper IP warming is essential to avoid deliverability problems.
  • Responsibility: Senders are solely responsible for managing their IP's reputation.
Technical article

Documentation from AWS explains that using a dedicated IP address helps when needing to manage your own sender reputation. It is also helpful if you want to implement custom authentication protocols such as DKIM or SPF.

July 2023 - Amazon Web Services
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that a dedicated IP solves sending issues when you need a clean reputation or are migrating from a shared IP, but requires a proper IP warming strategy to avoid deliverability issues.

November 2021 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that dedicated IP solves sending issues relating to shared IP reputation - but it also means you're entirely responsible for your own sending reputation.

May 2021 - Google Postmaster Tools