When should I consider getting a dedicated IP?

Dedicated IPs make sense when you have consistent, high volume. Most ESPs recommend at least 100,000 emails per month as a baseline, though some suggest higher thresholds. Without steady volume, the IP can't maintain the sending history that mailbox providers use to assess reputation.

Other triggers: you need to isolate transactional mail from marketing to protect critical messages. Your industry requires compliance controls that demand traceability to a single sender. You've experienced deliverability issues caused by other senders on shared pools.

If your sending is sporadic, seasonal, or below the volume threshold, shared IPs typically perform better. The established reputation of the pool outweighs the control benefits of dedication.

Don't commission your own ship until you have enough cargo to justify the voyage.