18 High-Converting Subject Lines for eCommerce Emails

Tone: Firm, transparent

By front-loading the decision, customers won’t be left guessing. “See store policy” provides a rationale, which reduces emotional flare-ups.

Usage Tips for Emails

Always link the relevant clause in your return policy, not just the homepage.

Type: Marketing, eCommerce, Product Launch

Tone: Urgent yet friendly

You speak to curiosity and speed at once. “Fresh” signals novelty, “alert” lifts urgency, and “meet” feels personal.

When to Use

Use this subject line right after a big product update, ideally within the first hour of inventory going live.

This Subject Line Can Also Be:

• Just in store, see what landed today
• New arrivals have landed, choose yours now

New Arrival Email Example

Hey [first name],

You asked, we listened.

The latest collection is on the shelf, and the sizes you love are ready.

Stock moves fast, so take a peek while everything is still here.

See you inside,

The Store Team

Type: Promotional, Business, SaaS, Deal Alert

Tone: Urgent, Clever, Benefit-Driven

This line plays with the “Monday mindset” and positions your offer as too good to delay. Use it for software features, exclusive discounts, or upgrades.

Type: Promotional, Lifestyle, Ecommerce, Product Highlight

Tone: Upbeat, Teasing, Suggestive

It makes the reader ask, “Why? What changed?” That curiosity makes this subject line effective. It works for product launches, weekend sales, or surprise drops. Just make sure the email content delivers on the promise.

Type: Retention, Win back, Ecommerce

Tone: Incentive-based, Friendly, Promotional

Direct and heartfelt. Adding a discount can increase clicks by up to 40% in win-back sequences. But what makes this work is the emotional cue.

Use this subject line if the user hasn’t bought something from your site or visited it in the last 60 days. The main body of the email should be gentle and not pushy.

This Subject Line Can Also Be:

• Your loyalty means the world. Here’s 20% off.
• Still here, still saving a spot for you.

Type: Marketing and E‑commerce

Tone: Friendly curiosity with a hint of urgency

Invite readers to peek at something genuinely new, and you promise immediacy, all in one compact line.

Use this email subject line when a single hero item, maybe a sneaker or a gadget, deserves the spotlight.

This Subject Line Can Also Be:

• New Arrivals Alert, [Product Category] Just Landed
• Hot off the Press, [Product Name] Is Here

Everyone loves surprises, and “gift” signals value without spoiling the contents.

Keep the email body tight: reveal the code, outline expiry, and invite feedback.

If you fear spam filters, place brand name first, “[Brand] has a thank you gift inside.”

Be mindful of frequency. Use once per quarter to avoid diluting curiosity.

Side note: GetResponse data shows open rates rise 12.8 percentage points year‑over‑year when emails carry clear benefit language.

Type

E‑commerce Post‑Purchase

Tone

Curious, friendly, incentive‑driven

Gift Email Example

Hey Jordan,
We tucked a 15% off code below to say thanks for choosing our biodegradable notebooks.

Use it any time this month, and drop us a note if the paper feels smoother than last year’s batch.

This onboarding subject line first confirms activation, then shifts to teamwork with the word “let’s.”

Readers feel guided, not lectured.

Quick Tips

• Add a GIF of a moving progress wheel to visualise “momentum.”
• Insert a 10% discount if profile completion happens within 48 hours.

Type

E‑commerce, Subscription Box

Tone

Upbeat, Collaborative

Why I picked it

Most e-commerce shoppers chase free delivery, yet only 31.08% of retail messages get opened on average, per MailerLite’s 2025 benchmarks.

Place the perk first, then a ticking clock. The countdown frame taps that “urgent” cue. It’s a proven hook in promotional lines.

Keeping verbs simple signals clarity and trust, so spam filters stay quiet.

Type

E-commerce Promotion

Tone

Clear, time-sensitive

Why I picked it

Gratitude softens sales talk.

Here I front-load “thank-you” to spark positive emotion, then quantify the perk.

Numbers stand out in crowded inboxes, and they stay readable. Klenty’s research found that open rate can nearly double when a name or pain point feels personal; a genuine thanks builds that same closeness.

I also added “today” to curb procrastination yet keep pressure gentle.

Type

Customer Appreciation Promotion

Tone

Warm, appreciative, mildly urgent

A two-hour window sounds wildly tight, and that scarcity pushes clicks.

Global averages show only 19.21% of broadcasts get opened, so stacking “flash,” a firm timeframe, and an emotional adjective (“crazy”) can vault you above the norm, based on WebFX 2025 email benchmarks.

I avoid symbols, lean on rhythm, and break the rule of perfect form just a touch, because that imperfection reads human.

Type

Flash Sale

Tone

High-energy, urgent

This subject line can also be

• Two-hour sale, prices melt fast
• 120-minute deal drop, hurry in

For SaaS, lead with the benefit (“upgrade”) and quantify savings. The specificity sidesteps vague hype, and “Pro Plan” clarifies scope.

Personalized versions lift opens by roughly 22%, so adding a first name token can bump performance further. Because B2B buyers weigh ROI, a direct dollar figure satisfies the analytical side, while “save” strokes the emotional side.

Type

SaaS Subscription Promotion

Tone

Professional, value-driven

You can trust scarcity. Words like “urgent” or “expires” push opens because they spark fear of missing an offer.

I keep the line short, so mobile previews don’t clip the promise. The phrase “24 hours” states a clean deadline, and “heads up” feels conversational, not pushy.

Together, clarity and urgency create a gentle nudge, and clarity also steers clear of spam triggers.

Type

Limited-Time Sale

Tone

Urgent, direct

Behavior-triggered sends crush broadcast averages. 

This subject line promise exclusivity up front (“early access”) and then confirm the timeline (“tomorrow”).

Shoppers plan wardrobes or wish lists; a clear drop date starts that mental countdown.

No fancy adjectives, no hype. Just timing and privilege, backed by data that shows exclusivity fuels curiosity.

Type

Exclusive Preview

Tone

Excited, respectful

Cart-rescue messages stay inbox royalty. I lean on “last call” to set urgency but soften with “reminders vanish,” hinting that you, not I, control the outcome.

Noon offers a specific anchor rather than a vague “soon,” making the threat real.

The subject line nudges action and mirrors the gentle prod tone used in the body copy.

Type

Abandoned Cart Recovery

Tone

Supportive, urgent

Midnight hints at exclusivity, almost like a secret after-hours shopping pass.

Anchor the benefit (for example, 40% off) to set clear value, since specific numbers beat vague savings.

Curiosity plus certainty plays well with late-night scrollers who treat email like a deal hunt.

Short clauses, active verbs, and no fluff keep spam filters calm.

Type

Flash Sale, Lifestyle Retail

Tone

Clear, slightly mysterious

Triggered messages, such as purchase receipts, have the highest engagement rates in email marketing.

GetResponse’s 2024 benchmark shows an average open rate of 45.38 percent for triggered messages, which is nearly six points higher than the rate for generic newsletters.

Since customers scan quickly, I keep the opener specific. “Order confirmed” provides context, and the thank-you strikes a balance between utility and warmth. Include the brand name or order number in the preview text, not the subject line, to maintain scannability.

Type: Transactional and eCommerce

Tone: Clear, Friendly

Tone

Friendly curiosity

Why this line works

I speak directly to you in the present tense and add a light question to spark engagement.

Abandoned cart nudges often have a higher success rate because the customer has already expressed interest in making a purchase.

This subject line can also be

• Your items are saved, ready when you are
• A small reminder, your basket is one click away

Example email

Hi [First Name],

I noticed a few goodies lounging in your cart.

Here’s a quick path back to checkout, plus a surprise 5% thank you discount valid till midnight.

Jordan from StoreCo

Extra tip

Using urgent phrases can increase open rates by 22%. However, use them sparingly to avoid fatigue.