Did you know that the subject line is the most crucial aspect of any emails you send? 

That’s because they determine whether your recipients will open your email, ignore it, or report it as spam. In fact, 47% of recipients will open an email based on the subject line alone, and 69% will report an email as spam depending on the subject line.

So what makes an email subject line effective? 

Here are 69 catchy email subject line examples from various brands you can use as inspiration to increase your open rates:

Curiosity-Invoking Subject Lines

You can capitalize on people’s curiosity by leaving your subject line open-ended, giving subscribers a desire they can only satisfy by opening your email. 

Here are some excellent examples of curiosity-invoking subject lines:

1. “A very ~controversial~ opinion” — BuzzFeed Books
2. “Last Day To See What This Mystery Email Is All About” — GrubHub
3. “10 bizarre money habits making Millennials richer” — Refinery29
4. “Don’t Open This Email” — Manicube
5. “A surprise gift for you! 🎁” — IKEA
6. “9 Disgusting Facts about Thanksgiving” — Eat This, Not That
7. “Hologram Shorts?!” — Chubbies
8. “What They Eat In Prison” — Thrillist
9. “What 1,320 therapists are hearing from patients” — New York Times
10. “The secret’s out!” — Warby Parker
11. “Hey, you’re in!” — Ritual

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) Subject Lines

Hinting at the possibility of missing out on a chance and the idea of exclusivity is a convincing way to persuade subscribers to open your emails. You can use this fear element in your subject lines by adding an aspect of urgency (limited time) or scarcity (limited availability).

Here are some great examples of email subject lines that use the fear of missing out:

12. “Tonight only: A denim lover’s dream” — Guess
13. “Grab a ride pass before they’re gone” — Uber
14. “You’re missing out on points” — JetBlue
15. “Uh-oh, your prescription is expiring” — Warby Parker
16. “[WEEKEND ONLY] Get this NOW before it’s gone…” — Digital Marketer
17. “Billy, Earn double points today only” — Jersey Mike’s Subs
18. “By Invitation Only: Exclusive Rewards Inside!” — JustFab
19. “Barnstable is in high demand for August” — Airbnb
20. “Starbucks — By Invite Only” — Groupon
21. “Click it or miss it, people: Over 500 styles under $25 is ending!” — J.Crew Factory

Pain Point-Driven Subject Lines

You’ll know your target audience’s most significant pain points when you understand their needs. Addressing these issues in the subject line shows your subscribers you’re here to help.

Here are some brilliant examples:

22. “Stop wasting time on mindless work” — Evernote
23. “Wanted: Cute and affordable fashions” — Guess
24. “Your summer outfit dilemmas SOLVED” — J.Crew
25. “Where do all these toys go?” — IKEA
26. “Your beauty issues, solved” — Sephora
27. “Don’t think about saving. Save without thinking.” — Qapital
28. “Get more kitchen space with these easy fixes” — IKEA
29. “Learn a language with only 5 minutes per day” — Duolingo 

Personalized Subject Lines

Personalizing your subject lines is an excellent way to connect with your audience in a way that feels more human.

However, you don’t always have to use the recipient’s first name. Personal subject lines may also imply using a friendly approach when reaching out to your audience. 

Here are some brilliant examples:

30. “You got a message 💌” — Tinder
31. “Happy Birthday Billy – Surprise Inside!” — Rent the Runway
32. “Thanks for helping us” — Revolution Tea
33. “Seriously, who does this?” — Ryan Levesque
34. “Are you coming?” — John Lee Dumas
35. “Quick favor?” — Jon Morrow
36. “Crazy Invitation, I am Going to Buy You Lunch…” — James Malinchak

Last Chance Subject Lines

Another effective strategy is to use subject lines that create a sense of urgency. Your subscribers are likelier to open your emails if it’s the last chance to take advantage of an offer and save on a specific product.

Here are some superb examples:

37. “It’s there and then it’s GONE. POOF. 💥” — The Spinsterz
38. “URGENT: Need by EOD 😉” — Snowe
39. “Time is running out…” — Opodo
40. “Final call to save up to $35 🚨” — UberEats
41. “Your discounts expire soon.” — Poshmark
42. “Say goodbye to your exclusive 20% offer” — Tarte
43. “Shirts for $39 ends at midnight” — Charles Tyrwhitt
44. “Clock’s ticking ⏲ 50% OFF 500+ items” — Urban Outfitters

Black Friday Subject Lines

Black Friday is a busy time for everyone — both marketers and consumers. So, in this massive competition, you need compelling Black Friday subject lines that’ll entice your recipients to open your emails.

Here are some brilliant examples to help you boost your open rates on the busiest shopping day of the year:

45. “25% Off for E-Listers Only 🦃 We’re Thankful for You!” — Estee Lauder 
46. “Black Friday’s Starting Early! 🙈” — Cloth & Paper
47. “Been waiting for Black Friday? TODAY’S THE DAY🤩” — Miss Selfridge
48. “You’re on the nice list – 25% off for you” — Paperchase
49. “Early Access: Up to 30% Off Gifts 💃” — Greetabl 
50. “Black Friday Priority Access: Up to 30% Off” — Ralph Lauren 
51. “Early access to Black Friday deals unlocked.” — Levi’s
52. “❗ Seray, get 25 to 40% off BEFORE. EVERYONE. ELSE.” — Hollister
53. “🦃 🦃 🦃 Black Friday’s here early 🦃 🦃 🦃” — Torrid
54. “Black Friday’s early to the party this year” — Fenty Beauty 

Welcome Email Subject Lines

A welcome email gives subscribers a friendly introduction to your business. It should be exciting and give recipients a hint of what they can expect from you.

Here are some great examples of welcome email subject lines from various brands to inspire your own:

55. “Welcome to the Flock” — Allbirds
56. “Well, Hello There! Welcome To Our Inner Circle” — Stila Cosmetics
57. “Welcome to Food52! Make yourself at home” — Food52
58. “You + Grammarly = The Dynamic Duo” — Grammarly
59. “Welcome. Now the real fun begins” — Redbubble
60. “Welcome to the jolliest club!” — Falviar
61. “Welcome To The MIELLE Family!” — Mielle Organics
62. “Welcome to the world of Magic Spoon” — Magic Spoon Cereal
63. “This was a good decision” — Rue La La

Funny Email Subject Lines

Adding humor to your subject lines requires a little more creativity, but it can pay off big time by boosting your open rates.

Here are some funny email subject lines to make your recipients laugh and open your email:

64. “Look what you did, you little jerk…” — The Hustle
65. “Yes, I’m Pregnant. You Can Stop Staring At My Belly Now.” — Baby Bump 
66. “Boom shakalak! Let’s get started.” — TicTail
67. “Licking your phone never tasted so good” — OpenTable
68. “Need a day at the beach? Just scratch n’ sniff your way to paradise…” — Travelocity
69. “We Like Being Used” — The Muse

Boost Your Open Rates With Eye-Catching Email Subject Lines

There you have it. You can reverse engineer other brands’ strategies and write stunning subject lines for your own business. Select one of the subject line examples above and make it your own to boost your open rates. 

Do you have other eye-catching subject lines we haven’t mentioned? Share the post with your answers.

Author Bio

Skirmantas Venckus is a writer by day and reader by night. He hates talking about himself in the third person. He is also the growth hacker at Sender.net – the email marketing provider that is focused on user-friendliness, affordability, and utility.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skirmantas-venckus-8ba16983/