Sending LinkedIn messages at the right time can significantly improve your reply rates. Research shows that Tuesday to Thursday mornings are the best times to send messages, with Tuesday leading at an 18.49% response rate. In contrast, weekends perform poorly, with Saturday seeing the lowest engagement at just 2.65%. Here’s what you need to know:
- Best Days: Tuesday (18.49%), Thursday (20.32%), and Monday (up to 20.30%).
- Worst Days: Saturday (2.65%) and Sunday (6.47%).
- Best Times: Mornings, especially 10:00 AM local time.
To maximize your LinkedIn outreach:
- Focus on Tuesday to Thursday mornings.
- Avoid weekends and late Fridays.
- Personalize your cold messages for higher engagement.
SS – 56 – The Best Time To Send DMs On LinkedIn
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LinkedIn Response Rates by Day of the Week
Timing matters when it comes to LinkedIn outreach. Research shows that messages sent earlier in the workweek perform better than those sent later or over the weekend, with Monday and Tuesday leading the charge.
"Professionals are most likely to review and respond to messages early in the workweek, when their schedules are more structured and motivation is higher. As the week goes on, mental fatigue and shifting priorities (e.g., deadlines, meetings) reduce responsiveness."
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- Yuriy Boyko, Head of Account Management, Belkins [5]
Take Tuesday, for instance – response rates can hit 18.49%, while Saturday lags far behind at just 2.65%. That’s nearly a 7× difference in engagement [1]. Here’s how each day measures up.
Monday Response Rates
Mondays are a strong contender for outreach, with response rates ranging from 6.85% to 20.30% and connection request acceptance as high as 22.04% [5] [1]. While inboxes may be fuller from weekend activity, professionals are often in "networking mode" as they start their week. For direct messages, focusing on existing connections can help cut through the clutter.
Tuesday Response Rates
Tuesday takes the top spot for LinkedIn responses, with rates between 6.90% and 18.49%, peaking mid-morning around 10:00 AM [5] [1]. By this point, professionals have typically cleared their Monday backlog but haven’t yet been bogged down by midweek tasks. Sending messages between Tuesday and Thursday mornings can increase results by 8% [6].
Wednesday and Thursday Response Rates
Midweek performance remains strong, with Wednesday and Thursday response rates hovering around 19.77% and 20.32%, respectively [5] [1]. Thursday afternoons often see a slight uptick in engagement as professionals wrap up their day. Connection acceptance rates are also solid, sitting at 19.58% on Wednesday and 19.83% on Thursday [1]. The trick? Reach out before recipients fully dive into their internal deadlines and priorities.
Friday Response Rates
By Friday, response rates start to dip slightly to around 18.48%, with engagement dropping 4% below average [1] [4]. As the weekend approaches, professionals are less inclined to respond to new outreach, particularly cold messages. If your message isn’t urgent, it might be better to hold off until Monday morning. However, for ongoing conversations or follow-ups with warm leads, Friday can still work.
Weekend Response Rates
The weekends are a quiet time for LinkedIn activity, with response rates falling to 2.65%–6.40% [5]. This reflects a clear boundary between work and personal life as professionals step away from their devices to focus on rest, family, or hobbies. Use weekends sparingly, perhaps for follow-ups or highly personalized messages, rather than initial outreach.
Response Rate Data Summary
LinkedIn Response Rates by Day of Week: Best and Worst Times to Send Messages
Looking at the numbers, it’s clear that early-to-midweek outreach consistently outshines late-week and weekend efforts. Tuesday emerges as the top performer, with Thursday and Monday trailing closely behind. On the other hand, Saturday shows the weakest results, with response rates dipping as much as 8% below the average [4].
To put this into perspective, Tuesday boasts response rates around 18.49%, while Saturday plummets to just 2.65% – a staggering 7× difference in engagement [1]. Even Friday, still part of the workweek, sees response rates drop 4% below the average as many professionals begin mentally winding down for the weekend [4]. This weekly pattern is a key factor when planning LinkedIn outreach strategies. The table below breaks down these daily insights for easy reference.
Daily Response Rate Comparison Table
| Day | Average Rate Range | Peak Times | Key Insights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 6.85%–20.30% [5][1] | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | High motivation and strong connection acceptance (22.04%), but messages risk getting buried in weekend backlog [1][3]. |
| Tuesday | 6.90%–18.49% [5][1] | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Best overall performance; professionals are focused, settled into their routine, and catching up on tasks [5][3]. |
| Wednesday | 6.62%–19.77% [5][1] | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Midweek stability; engagement peaks during lunch breaks, though attention shifts to internal priorities [5][3]. |
| Thursday | 6.63%–20.32% [5][1] | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Strong engagement late in the day as users wrap up their tasks for the week [3][7]. |
| Friday | 6.58%–18.48% [5][1] | 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Noticeable drop-off after midday; response rates are 4% below average [4][3]. |
| Saturday | 2.65%–6.40% [1][5] | N/A | The lowest response rates of the week, as professionals disconnect and focus on personal time [4][7]. |
| Sunday | 6.47% [5] | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Slight improvement as users prepare for the upcoming week, but still falls short of midweek performance [4][5]. |
What does this mean for your outreach? Focus your efforts between Tuesday and Thursday for the best results. If sending messages on Monday, aim for mid-morning to avoid getting lost in the post-weekend rush. As for Friday afternoons and weekends, it’s best to avoid them unless you’re following up with warm leads. Timing is everything when it comes to maximizing visibility and engagement.
How Closely Improves LinkedIn Outreach Timing
Closely takes the guesswork out of LinkedIn outreach by automating the process with data-driven precision. It doesn’t just help you figure out the best times to send messages – it ensures your outreach happens at the right moment, every time. By using smart delays that mimic natural human behavior, Closely boosts engagement by 35% by targeting peak response windows effectively [8].
Scheduling Messages for Peak Response Days
Closely allows you to create automated LinkedIn outreach sequences that include connection requests, profile visits, and follow-up messages – all timed for maximum impact. The platform’s auto-pause feature stops follow-ups as soon as a prospect responds, giving you the chance to take over and engage personally. You can also design multichannel campaigns that combine LinkedIn messaging with targeted email steps. With built-in analytics, you can track reply rates for DMs and InMails to pinpoint the days and times that drive the best results [8].
AI Personalization for Higher Reply Rates
Timing is important, but personalization is what makes your outreach stand out. Generic messages often fall flat, while personalized messages can increase reply rates by 15–20%. If you take it further with deep personalization, responses can jump by 40–300% [9]. Closely’s AI taps into LinkedIn profile data and company details to craft messages that feel authentic and tailored. For instance, sending a personalized message on a Tuesday morning – one of the best times for outreach – can significantly boost engagement. The platform also supports A/B testing, so you can tweak and improve your messaging based on real-world performance data [8][9].
Managing Campaigns from One Dashboard
Closely’s unified inbox simplifies your workflow by pulling LinkedIn DMs, InMails, and email replies into one place. This eliminates the hassle of switching between platforms. You can assign conversations to team members, use shared templates, and tag leads to keep follow-ups organized. The platform also includes teammate presence indicators to avoid duplicate contact with the same lead. Detailed analytics track everything – from connection acceptance rates to meetings booked – while integrations with tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and GoHighLevel ensure all LinkedIn activity is captured. These features save users an average of 10 hours per week on manual prospecting and help generate 45% more pipeline opportunities [8].
"Closely is a powerful tool for anyone looking to enhance their sales engagement. The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it accessible even for those who are not tech-savvy." – Antonio D., Digital Strategist & Coach [8]
Recommendations for LinkedIn Message Timing
Optimal Days and Times for LinkedIn Messages
Data suggests that Tuesday (6.90%) and Monday (6.85%) lead the pack with the highest reply rates, closely followed by Wednesday (6.62%) and Thursday (6.63%) [5]. Saturdays, however, see the lowest engagement at 6.40%. For timing, aim for mid-morning (9:00 AM–12:00 PM) – a period when professionals are typically settled into their day [2]. If you’re sending messages on Friday, consider scheduling them for Monday morning instead, as recipients are often more responsive at the start of the week [4].
Track Performance and Personalize Messages
After identifying the best times to send messages, fine-tune your strategy by keeping an eye on performance metrics. Track open rates, response rates, and conversion rates, and experiment with A/B testing to optimize factors like send times, message length, and calls-to-action [2]. Personalization plays a key role here – personalized connection requests see reply rates jump to 9.36%, compared to 5.44% for generic ones [5]. Even AI-generated messages show an edge, earning a 4.19% response rate, compared to 2.60% for non-AI messages [5].
Use Automation to Scale Your Outreach
To expand your efforts, leverage automation tools. These allow you to schedule messages during peak engagement times and keep them concise – messages under 400 characters see a 22% higher response rate [4]. Automation can also adjust for time zones, ensuring messages arrive during local business hours [2]. Additionally, using multi-touch nurturing sequences – combining direct messages with profile visits and interactions on posts – can significantly improve reply rates, increasing them from 1.07% to 5.26% [5].
FAQs
Do response rates vary by industry or job role?
Yes, LinkedIn response rates can differ greatly depending on the industry and job role. For instance, professionals in HR tend to experience higher reply rates, averaging around 12.08%, whereas those in competitive fields like software development often see lower rates, closer to 4.77%. One key factor is personalization – customized outreach tends to perform better, achieving reply rates of 9.36%, compared to just 5.44% for generic messages. Adjusting your messaging to align with the specific industry or role can make a big difference in boosting engagement.
How should I handle time zones when messaging people in other states?
To get better response rates on LinkedIn, it’s smart to send messages based on the recipient’s local time, not yours. Why? Because this way, your outreach hits their inbox when they’re most likely to engage – usually during regular business hours.
If you’re reaching out to prospects across different U.S. time zones (with differences of 1–3 hours), use tools or scheduling strategies to adjust your send times accordingly. Well-timed messages are more likely to be seen and responded to, giving your efforts a better chance of success.
How many follow-ups should I send before stopping?
Research shows that sending up to four follow-up messages within a 14-day period strikes the right balance. Keep these messages concise – under 300 characters – and focus on delivering value or useful insights, rather than making direct requests. Going beyond four follow-ups can lower engagement and may irritate your prospects. Staying within this guideline ensures you remain professional while boosting your chances of a response.