How long should an email, domain or IP warmup be for?

The duration of a warmup for an email account, domain, or IP can vary based on factors like past usage, the sending volume you need, and the desired inbox placement.

In summary:

• Email warmup: 2–4 weeks
• Domain warmup: 4–8 weeks
• IP warmup: 4 to 9 weeks

Here’s a general guide:

1. Email warmup

• Duration: Typically, email warmup takes 2–4 weeks.
• Process: Begin with low daily sends (e.g., 10-20 emails) and gradually increase volume by 10–20% every few days. Focus on sending to highly engaged recipients to establish positive signals with ESPs.
• Key factors: Email engagement (opens, clicks, replies) and low complaint rates are important. This method builds up the sender reputation specifically for the email address, making it suitable for cold outreach or new sender accounts.

2. Domain warmup

• Duration: Warming up a new domain generally takes 4–8 weeks.
• Process: Similar to email warmup, start with small volumes and increase slowly, but the focus is on building domain-wide credibility. Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records is essential to establish domain trustworthiness early on.
• Key factors: ESPs monitor domain history closely, so consistency and steady volume increases are crucial. A longer warmup is needed for entirely new domains or those used infrequently in the past​.
  

3. IP warmup

• Duration: Warming up a new IP can take anywhere from 4 to 9 weeks..
• Process: Start with a low volume (e.g., 50–100 emails per day) and gradually double every few days as long as engagement remains high. ISPs monitor new IP addresses closely, so this gradual increase builds trust without triggering spam filters.
• Key factors: ISPs focus heavily on sending patterns and engagement levels during IP warmup, making metrics like low bounce rates and consistent volume critical to success. For large-scale sending (e.g., 50,000+ emails per month), dedicated IPs may need an extended warmup.

Following these durations helps build a strong reputation with ESPs, ensuring consistent inbox placement and high deliverability.