While Black Friday is your biggest revenue opportunity of the year, it is also a season when customer inboxes are filled with promotional emails. Hence, your Black Friday email subject lines must be compelling enough to stand out from the rest.
You’ll discover in this blog 120+ proven black friday email subject lines that are used by most successful ecommerce brands over the years.
In addition, to help you get an edge, we have also given AI prompts for personalization and testing strategies for optimization to help you run the best black friday email campaign in 2025.
Automate winning Black Friday campaigns with personalized subject lines that convert with Retainful
Best practices for Black Friday email subject lines
Here are some best practices you need to know before choosing the subject line of your next black friday email.
1. Ideal length, preview text & emojis
Your Black Friday subject lines should be 30-50 characters so that they’re clearly visible, even on mobile. Since most users check email on their phones, it’s essential to keep your subject line concise and mobile-optimized.
Furthermore, preview text works as your subject line’s helper. Hence, you can use it to expand your message without repeating the subject line.
For example:
- Subject: “🔥 50% OFF Everything”
- Preview: “Last 24 hours to save big on BFCM”
Emojis boost open rates by 56% for sale email subject lines. Hence, use them strategically. You can include one or two at the most.
AI Prompt for Subject Line Personalization:
Create 5 Black Friday email subject lines under 40 characters using [PRODUCT CATEGORY] and [DISCOUNT PERCENTAGE]. Include one relevant emoji and personalize for [CUSTOMER SEGMENT].
2. Personalization (VIP, cart item, location)
Usually, generic black friday sale email subject lines get ignored. However, email personalization can help increase open rates by 26%.
Therefore, use customer data to create targeted messages:
- Purchase history: "Sarah, your favorite brand is 40% off."
- Location: "NYC Flash Sale: 2 hours only"
- VIP status: "Exclusive preview for our VIPs"
AI Prompt for Subject Line Personalization:
Write personalized black friday email subject lines for [VIP/NEW/RETURNING] customers who previously bought [PRODUCT TYPE] in [LOCATION]. Include their purchase behavior.
3. A/B testing ideas
You can test multiple elements in your best black friday email subject lines and so find out which helps with good returns. Furthermore, to understand this, you can closely monitor email marketing metrics.
Pre-Black Friday subject lines for emails
You can use these email subject lines to send emails when you are prepping your customers for BFCM season. This includes sending early access, teaser launches, etc.
Subject lines for early access for VIPs
Early black friday subject lines create exclusivity and reward loyal customers. Thus, you can easily retain customers.
- 🎟 VIP Pass: Your Black Friday starts tonight
- Shhh… Black Friday doors just opened for YOU
- 24-Hour Head Start: Shop before the crowd rushes in
- Loyalists only: Early Black Friday unlocked
- First in line: Your private Black Friday preview
AI prompt for Black Friday line personalization:
Create early black friday email subject lines for VIP customers who spent over $[AMOUNT] last year. Make them feel exclusive and valued.
Teasers & product launches subject lines
For teasers and launches, you have to create anticipation with your subject lines in email.
- Black Friday preview: You're not ready
- Countdown begins: Black Friday sneak peek
- Something BIG drops this Friday 👀
- Black Friday spoiler: You’ll want this
- The countdown is ticking… 3 days left
AI prompt for BFCM subject line personalization:
Write black friday subject lines for a teaser email campaign that hints at [SPECIFIC PRODUCT] launch without revealing details. Create mystery and anticipation.
Countdown subject lines
Time-sensitive emails need catchy subject lines to create urgency before the sale starts.
- 3 days until Black Friday madness
- Mark your calendar: Black Friday is coming
- 48 hours to Black Friday
- Save the date: Black Friday 2025 preview
- Almost here: Black Friday countdown
AI prompt for email subject line personalization:
Generate countdown black friday email headlines mentioning [DAYS LEFT] until the sale starts. Include [TOP PRODUCT CATEGORY] as a preview.
Black Friday day subject lines for discounts & offers
Discount and offer subject lines
Include percentage or dollar amounts in the subject line based on your price points.
- 🚨 Today Only: 80% OFF sitewide
- Black Friday = 70% savings across the store
- Spend $100, save $50 – Black Friday math 🧮
- Black Friday Mega-Deal: Prices crash to 2009
- $25 OFF your next order – Black Friday gift inside
AI prompt for Cyber Monday subject line personalization:
Create sale email subject lines using [PERCENTAGE] or [$AMOUNT] off for [PRODUCT CATEGORY]. Target customers with an average order value of $[AOV].
Free shipping deals subject lines
If you are offering free shipping for Black Friday, then explicitly mention it in your subject line or header.
- Your Black Friday deal ships FREE 🚚
- FREE shipping + 70% OFF? Yes, really.
- Black Friday bonus: FREE shipping on everything
- Skip the shipping costs - Black Friday only
- FREE delivery + Black Friday savings
Gift & BOGO offers subject lines
Gift or bogo email subject lines or bundle offers increase average order value and can have high open rates.
- Buy 2, get 1 FREE - Black Friday special
- Black Friday bundles: Save 60%
- Free gift with every Black Friday order
- BOGO Black Friday: Double the savings
- Gift sets 50% OFF - Black Friday only
Limited-edition drops subject lines
For scarcity-based offers, you can drive action with exclusive black friday messaging.
- Black Friday exclusive: Limited quantities
- Only 100 available - Black Friday special
- Limited drop: Black Friday exclusive items
- Rare finds - Black Friday limited edition
- Collector's Black Friday: Limited release
Flash sales & extended hours subject lines
You can create multiple touchpoints throughout Black Friday with flash offers.
- 2-hour Black Friday flash sale
- Black Friday lightning deal: 4 hours only
- Extended hours, bigger Black Friday savings
- Black Friday flash: 90 minutes left
- Midnight Black Friday flash sale starts now
Emotion-driven email subject lines for BFCM
FOMO-driven BFCM subject lines
Including fear of missing out can drive immediate action from customers.
- Everyone else is already shopping… are you?
- Black Friday’s hottest deal is almost gone 🔥
- Your friends will brag if you miss this
- Waiting = Losing. Shop before the shelves empty
- Don’t let Black Friday pass you by 😬
Urgency subject lines for Black Friday
Cyber Monday Email Subject Lines with urgency can easily increase your open rate and lead to conversion.
- Last call: Black Friday ends at midnight
- Black Friday final hours - literally
- Time's up: Black Friday is almost over
- Final warning: Black Friday ends soon
- Black Friday overtime: Extended 6 hours
Scarcity & limited stock subject lines
Stock limitations create buying pressure, so include it in the subject line of the email.
- Almost sold out: Black Friday favorites
- Black Friday inventory alert: Running low
- Only 50 left: Black Friday bestsellers
- Black Friday stock warning: Act fast
- Selling fast: Black Friday limited stock
AI prompt for subject line personalization:
Create scarcity-driven good black friday subject lines for [PRODUCT] with only [QUANTITY] left in stock. Target [CUSTOMER SEGMENT].
Retargeting & abandoned cart subject lines for Black Friday
Abandoned cart recovery subject lines
You can recover abandoned carts with targeted black friday sale email template messages.
- Your Black Friday cart misses you
- Still thinking? Black Friday cart saved
- Complete your Black Friday order: 50% OFF
- Black Friday cart reminder: Don't miss out
- Your cart is seconds from expiring ⏳
- Left behind: Your Black Friday deal is fading
- Still want it? Black Friday discount locked for you
AI prompt for email subject personalization:
Write abandoned cart email subject lines for customers who left [PRODUCT TYPE] worth $[CART VALUE] during Black Friday. Include [DISCOUNT PERCENTAGE] and create urgency for [TIME REMAINING].
Browse/product reminders subject lines
You can re-engage browsers with personalized black friday email content.
- That item you loved on Black Friday is waiting
- Black Friday deal on what you were browsing
- Still available: Your Black Friday wishlist item
- Price dropped: Black Friday deal on your favorite
- Black Friday surprise: That item you checked out
Cross-sell & upsell subject lines
You can maximize Black Friday revenue by strategically cross-selling and upselling products.
- Complete the look: Black Friday add-ons
- Black Friday bonus: Perfect pairings available
- Others bought this with your Black Friday order
- Black Friday upgrade: Add to your order
- Match your purchase: Black Friday extras
AI prompt for subject personalization:
Write a cross-sell black friday email subject for customers who bought [PRODUCT]. Suggest complementary items with Black Friday pricing.
Post-Black Friday subject lines for emails
Sales extended email subject line
You can keep the momentum going with a post-black Friday email campaign for higher sales.
- Sales extended: Black Friday continues
- Surprise! Black Friday just got an encore 🎉
- Missed Friday? Cyber Week says hello
- More time to save: Black Friday extended
- Black Friday encore: Extended through Sunday
AI prompt for BFCM subject header personalization:
Create sales extended email subject lines for [BRAND], extending Black Friday deals for [NUMBER] more days. Target customers who [OPENED/DIDN'T PURCHASE] and use [URGENT/GRATEFUL] tone.
Thank you email subject lines
Build relationships beyond the BFC sale by sending a post-sale email after Black Friday.
- Thank you for your Black Friday order!
- Black Friday success: Your order confirmed
- Receipt + thank you: Black Friday purchase
- Order confirmed: Black Friday shopping complete
- Your order = our Black Friday highlight 💛
- Thank you for making this our biggest Black Friday yet!
Turn Black Friday emails into sales by segmenting customers with Retainful and personalizing every message
Re-engagement subject lines
Win back inactive subscribers with strategic black friday email subject lines for open rates.
- Miss us? Black Friday deals are still available
- We saved your Black Friday deal
- Last chance: Black Friday deals for you
- Still shopping? More deals just unlocked
- Second chance: Black Friday deals waiting
AI prompt for BFCM email subject personalization:
Generate re-engagement subject lines for subscribers who missed Black Friday emails. Offer [SAME/REDUCED] discount for [TIME PERIOD] using [FOMO/CURIOSITY/EXCLUSIVITY] trigger.
Customer-based subject lines for BFCM emails
VIP & loyalty rewards subject lines
You can reward your best customers with exclusive black friday slogans.
- VIP Black Friday: Extra 20% for you
- Loyalty pays: Black Friday VIP bonus
- Black Friday VIP: Stackable discounts
- Top customer Black Friday reward
- VIP exclusive: Black Friday early extension
New customers' subject lines
You can tailor email subjects for black friday and even messages based on customer type and history.
- Welcome bonus: Black Friday first-timer deal
- New customer Black Friday: Extra savings
- First Black Friday with us? Save more
- Black Friday newbie bonus: 15% extra OFF
- New here? Black Friday welcome gift
Returning customer subject lines
- Welcome back: Black Friday loyalty bonus.
- Returning customer Black Friday perks
- Black Friday return: We missed you
- Back for more Black Friday savings
- Loyal customer, Black Friday, thank you
AI prompt for personalization:
Create segmented Black Friday subject lines for [VIP/NEW/RETURNING] customers in [LOCATION] with [PURCHASE HISTORY]. Personalize offers based on [LOYALTY TIER/SPENDING LEVEL].
Location-based subject lines
Personalize by geography with targeted Friday email subject lines.
- Black Friday NYC: Local pickup available
- California Black Friday: No sales tax
- Black Friday weather update + indoor deals
- Regional Black Friday: Local store hours
- Black Friday shipping: Next-day to [CITY]
AI prompt for personalization:
Create location-specific email subject lines for black friday, targeting customers in [CITY/STATE]. Include local references and shipping benefits.
Creative Black Friday subject lines
Funny black friday email subject lines
Humor can help you break through inbox clutter and increase engagement.
- Black Friday calories don't count, right?
- Relationship status: In love with Black Friday
- Black Friday diet: Shop 'til you drop pounds… from your wallet
- Warning: Black Friday addiction ahead
- Black Friday therapy session: Retail edition
Curiosity-driven subject lines
Clever Cyber Monday email subject lines can spark curiosity and encourage customers to open.
- The Black Friday secret nobody talks about
- What really happens on Black Friday…
- Black Friday plot twist inside
- This Black Friday email is different
- Black Friday mystery: Open to solve
Formal Black Friday subject lines
Premium brands need sophisticated creative black friday email subject lines.
- Exclusive Black Friday collection preview
- Black Friday elegance: Refined savings
- Sophisticated Black Friday selections
- Black Friday luxury: Curated for you
- Premium Black Friday: Elevated discounts
AI prompt for personalization:
Write luxury-toned best black friday subject lines for [PREMIUM PRODUCT] targeting customers with an AOV above $[HIGH AMOUNT]. Maintain sophistication.
Quick testing guide for email subject lines
It is important to test every element in your black friday email subject lines in 2025 in order to find out which works best. You can segment subject lines in the following way:
- Length: Short vs detailed
- Personalization: Name vs generic
- Emoji usage: With vs without
- Discount format: % vs $ amount
- Urgency level: High vs subtle
- Tone: Serious vs playful
Following that, you can monitor these metrics for your best black friday email deal subject line performance:
- Open rate: Industry average is 21.33%. Target 25%+ for Black Friday.
- Click-through rate: Average 2.62%. Aim for 4%+ during Black Friday.
- Revenue per email: Track total sales divided by emails sent.
- Conversion rate: Monitor email-to-purchase conversion.
You can use a test sample size of at least 1,000 subscribers so that you can come up with significant test results.
Rise Black Friday open rates by 40% and increase conversions with Retainful’s smart email automation.
Conclusion
Your black friday email subject line is the first step to reaching your amazing deals to your customers.
Hence, to help with this, we have shared in this blog over 120 proven subject lines and AI prompts to create compelling subjects that can help your conversions.
You can test different approaches with your black friday sale emailer campaigns and always A/B test your subject line for black friday emails for better results.
Further reading
- 18 Black Friday Marketing Strategies to Dominate Sales in 2025
- 15 Diverse Black Friday Email Examples (+Tips) for 2025
- Black Friday Checklist for 2025: For Top E-commerce Stores
- 10 Best WooCommerce Black Friday Plugins
Frequently Asked Questions
A good Black Friday subject line should be short, mobile-friendly, personalized, and target a specific (like offers, launches, VIP, etc). Moreover, a subject line can have numbers, power words, and exclusivity hooks to help grab attention fast.
Length of an optimal black friday subject line is 7–9 words. Thus, it can display well even on mobile devices. Moreover, this can improve open rates while still allowing room for conveying your message.
Yes, when relevant, using emojis in your black friday subject lines can increase visibility and increase open rate. However, don't overuse them as it might look spammy.
You can start sending Black Friday emails by the start of October with teasers and VIP access. Following that, you can start with countdowns, day-of offers, and post-Black Friday offers.
Personalized black friday emails with the customer’s name, location, or browsing history can increase opens and engagement by 45%. Hence, segment customers and send tailored emails that will catch their attention.
