Email deliverability benchmarks 2026
An annual look at email data quality trends: invalid rates, disposable usage, catch-all behaviour, and role-based addresses across major provider categories.
Email data quality varies dramatically by provider category. These benchmarks give you a baseline for what to expect when you verify a list, and where to focus your list-hygiene efforts.
| Category | Invalid rate | Disposable rate | Catch-all rate | Role rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2B custom domains | 8–12% | 1–3% | 15–25% | 25–35% |
| Consumer webmail | 5–9% | 2–4% | <1% | 5–8% |
| Privacy / alias providers | 2–5% | 10–20% | <1% | <1% |
| Regional providers | 6–11% | 1–2% | 1–3% | 5–10% |
| ISP / carrier mail | 4–8% | <1% | <1% | <1% |
B2B custom domains
Custom business domains decay quickly as people change jobs. Role-based addresses are common.
Consumer webmail
Large providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo have low catch-all rates but high dormant-mailbox volume.
Privacy / alias providers
Relay and alias addresses are usually deliverable, but marketing engagement can be lower.
Regional providers
Eastern European and Asian providers often greylist unknown senders, creating more unknown results.
ISP / carrier mail
Carrier mailboxes are strict; international senders may see temporary rejection.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does this data come from?
- The ranges are derived from aggregate, anonymized verification patterns across consumer, business, privacy, and regional email providers. Exact rates vary by list source and age.
- Can I use these benchmarks for my own list?
- Yes, as a directional guide. For an accurate read, upload your own list and measure actual invalid, disposable, catch-all, and role rates.
- How often is this report updated?
- We publish a refreshed edition each year and review mid-year if provider behaviour changes significantly.
Measure your own list
Upload a CSV to see how your list compares to these benchmarks. First 2,000 validations are free.
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