30-Day IP Warmup Schedule
Need a concrete plan to warm a new IP? Here's a practical 30-day schedule you can adapt to your list size — plus the rules that make it work.
TL;DR
Start at ~50/day and roughly double every few days over 30 days, sending to your most engaged contacts first. Adjust to your list. Full context in our IP warmup guide.
The 30-day schedule
| Day | Daily volume | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 50 → 150 | Most engaged 30-day openers |
| 4–7 | 300 → 800 | Engaged subscribers |
| 8–12 | 1,500 → 5,000 | Active list |
| 13–18 | 8,000 → 20,000 | Broaden gradually |
| 19–25 | 30,000 → 75,000 | Most of the list |
| 26–30 | 100,000+ | Full volume, monitor |
These numbers assume a sizeable, engaged list. Smaller lists should ramp slower and may take longer than 30 days.
Rules that make warmup work
- Engagement first. Opens and clicks build reputation fastest.
- Consistency beats spikes. Send every day; avoid gaps and sudden jumps.
- Throttle per ISP. Use PowerMTA domain rules so no single provider gets flooded.
- Authenticate first. SPF/DKIM/DMARC and rDNS must be live before day 1.
What to monitor daily
Track bounces (<2%), complaints (<0.1%) and reputation via Google Postmaster Tools. If metrics dip, hold volume steady for a day or two before climbing again.
Don't forget the domain
New domains need warming too — see domain warmup.
AutoPMTA automates warmup curves per VMTA so you don't track spreadsheets. View plans.
Key takeaways
- Start ~50/day and ramp steadily over 30 days.
- Send to engaged contacts first; consistency beats spikes.
- Authenticate and set rDNS before day one.
- Hold volume if bounces or complaints rise.
Frequently asked questions
How long does IP warmup take?+
A typical warmup runs 30 days for a healthy, engaged list, but high-volume senders or smaller lists may take 6–8 weeks. The key is ramping steadily rather than hitting a fixed deadline.
How much should I send on day one of warmup?+
Start small — around 50 emails on day one — sent only to your most engaged recent openers. Then roughly double the volume every few days while monitoring bounces and complaints.
What happens if I skip IP warmup?+
Sending high volume from a cold IP looks like a spam attack to mailbox providers, which throttle or block you. Skipping warmup often causes lasting reputation damage.