How are sending limits calculated?

Every account has a sending limit that represents the total number of emails that can be sent from the account in any 7-day period. See also: Sending Limits

Sending limits are calculated using a 7-day lookback period. This means the sum of the number of emails sent in the prior 7 days is used to determine how many additional emails could be sent from any account before a warning message appears informing the user the current campaign exceeds their sending limit.

If a user needs to send more emails than their current sending limit would allow, they can request an increase to their sending limit.

Sending Limit Calculations and Lookback Period Examples

Scenario 1:

• User has a sending limit of 10,000 emails
• Today is Saturday
• The lookback period is the past 7 days, including today (Days 1 thru 7)
• The sum of the number of emails sent in the lookback period = 8,500 (2,100 + 0+ 1,800 + 0 + 0 + 4,600)
• The difference between the sending limit and the number of emails sent in the lookback period = 1,500
• This means user can send up to 1,500 emails today without needing to request an increase to their sending limit
• If the user needs to send more than 1,500 emails today, they will need to request an increase to their sending limit 

Scenario 2:

• User has a sending limit of 10,000 emails
• Today is Sunday
• The lookback period is the past 7 days, including today (Days 2 thru 8)
• The sum of the number of emails sent in the lookback period = 7,800 (0+ 1,800 + 0 + 0 + 4,600 + 1,400)
• The difference between the sending limit and the number of emails sent in the lookback period = 2,200
• This means user can send up to 2,200 emails today without needing to request an increase to their sending limit
• If the user needs to send more than 2,200 emails today, they will need to request an increase to their sending limit 

Scenario 3:

• User requested a sending limit increase, and their sending limit was adjusted to 15,000 emails
• Today is Monday
• The lookback period is the past 7 days, including today (Days 3 thru 9)
• The sum of the number of emails sent in the lookback period = 10,300 (1,800 + 0 + 0 + 4,600 + 1,400 + 2,500)
• The difference between the sending limit and the number of emails sent in the lookback period = 4,700
• This means user can send up to 4,700 emails today without needing to request an increase to their sending limit
• If the user needs to send more than 4,700 emails today, they will need to request an increase to their sending limit