Email Marketing ROI — How to Calculate Email Campaign Returns
Updated October 2026 · 4 min read
Quick start: Open the free Email ROI Calculator — enter campaign cost and revenue to see ROI percentage instantly.
Email marketing consistently delivers the highest ROI of any digital channel — industry estimates put the average at $36 for every $1 spent (3,600% ROI). This guide shows you how to measure your own campaigns accurately.
The Email ROI Formula
Email ROI = ((Revenue generated − Campaign cost) ÷ Campaign cost) × 100
Example: $5,000 revenue, $200 campaign cost → ROI = ($4,800 ÷ $200) × 100 = 2,400%
Campaign cost includes: ESP (email platform) fees, copywriting time, design time and any automation setup cost. Many businesses undercount by forgetting staff time — include it for an accurate figure.
Email Marketing Benchmarks (2026)
| Metric | Average (all industries) | Good target |
|---|---|---|
| Open rate | 21% | 30%+ |
| Click-through rate | 2.6% | 4%+ |
| Conversion rate | 1–3% | 3%+ |
| Unsubscribe rate | 0.2% | Below 0.5% |
How to Improve Email ROI
- Segment your list: Targeted emails get 2–3× higher CTR than blast campaigns.
- Personalise the subject line: First-name personalisation lifts open rates by 10–14%.
- Send at optimal times: Tuesday–Thursday 9–11am performs best for most B2B audiences.
- Clean your list: Removing inactive subscribers reduces ESP costs and improves deliverability.
Calculate Your Email Marketing ROI
Enter campaign cost and revenue — see ROI % and revenue-per-subscriber instantly.
Open Free Email ROI Calculator →