What is the ideal word count for cold emails?

Cold email length affects both readability and response rates.

Recommended ranges:

Optimal: 50 to 125 words

Acceptable: Up to 150 words for complex offerings

Too short: Under 40 words often lacks context

Too long: Over 200 words rarely gets read completely

Why brevity works:

Busy professionals scan, they don't study

Mobile reading makes long emails harder to consume

Shorter messages appear less demanding

Conciseness demonstrates respect for time

What affects appropriate length:

Complexity of offering (technical products may need more explanation)

Stage in sequence (initial emails often shorter than follow-ups)

Recipient role (executives prefer shorter; technical buyers may accept more detail)

Relationship warmth (warmer introductions can be briefer)

Length optimization:

Write the message, then cut 30%

Remove every word that doesn't add value

Use short sentences and paragraphs

Test different lengths for your audience

Say what needs saying, nothing more. Excess words sink the message.