A solid 68% of holiday shoppers pay more attention to emails from companies during Christmas. A generic Christmas email subject line doesn’t stand out.
Your biggest challenge is making sure your subject line doesn’t get instantly deleted. If your message fails to stand out, you lose the sale.
That’s why in this article, we’ve shared 100 of the best Christmas email subject lines for 2025, grouped by intent.
Boost open rates and recover more sales this spooky season effortlessly with Retainful’s customizable Halloween email templates
4 Key elements of a winning Christmas email subject line
Your Christmas email subject lines are locked in a fierce battle for attention during the holiday rush. To stand out and drive sales, you can’t rely on generic greetings.
Here are the 4 key elements you must master for writing a perfect Christmas email subject line:
- Prioritize a mobile-friendly character count
- Always personalize (It’s proven to work!)
- Leverage the power of preview text
- Master the art of the emoji 🎄🎁
Contact our expert team to set up your entire Christmas workflow effortlessly – Schedule your call NOW
1. Prioritize mobile-friendly character count
A majority of consumers check email on their phones, and a long subject line is a hidden message. If the most compelling part of your offer is cut off, you lose the open.
- Keep it short: The ideal length to ensure full visibility on most devices is 30–50 characters.
- The proof: During the holiday season, mobile email accounts for a significant portion of traffic, with some reports showing that users open 44.2% more emails on mobile than the rest of the year.
- Actionable tip: Front-load the value (the discount, the urgency) because on platforms like the Gmail app on Android, the visible character count can be as low as 33 characters.
Related reading: Responsive email: How to Design + Tips
2. Always personalize (It’s proven to work!)
Personalization is the single most effective way to cut through the noise. An email addressed to a specific person feels more relevant and less like a mass-marketing blast.
- Use dynamic fields: Include the recipient’s [First Name] or a reference to their past purchase history directly in the subject line.
- The proof: Personalized email subject lines can lead to a 26% higher open rate during the holiday season. Some data even suggests that email personalization can boost open rates by as much as 50%.
- Consumer expectation: Up to 74% of consumers appreciate receiving personalized recommendations during their holiday shopping journey.
Related reading: Difference Between Email Segmentation and Personalization
3. Leverage the power of preview text
The preview text (or preheader text) is your subject line’s powerful, secondary headline. Use this space to add context, reinforce urgency, or provide a clear call-to-action.
- Extend the message: Use the preview text to complete the thought or promise made in the subject line. Do not repeat the subject line.
- The proof: Emails that combine a strong subject line with well-crafted preview text can achieve an average click-through rate (CTR) of 3.12%.
- Strategic tease: Use this space to reveal a critical detail (e.g., “Free shipping on all orders” or “Up to 70% off!”) that convinces the hesitant reader to click. The preview text is the third most-looked-at element when a recipient decides whether to open an email.
Related reading: 10 Email Design Best Practices for 2025
4. Master the art of the emoji 🎄🎁
In a visually saturated inbox, a relevant, well-placed emoji acts as a powerful visual trigger. It instantly breaks up the monotony of text and conveys festive emotion in a single character.
- Use sparingly and relevantly: Stick to 1–2 festive emojis (like 🎄, 🎁, or 🎅). Overuse can look unprofessional or trigger spam filters.
- The proof: Subject lines containing emojis have been shown to increase open rates by up to 56% compared to those without, proving their ability to instantly capture attention.
- Why it works: Emojis are effective because the brain processes images up to 60,000 times faster than text, making them an immediate way to spark emotion.
Santa delivered something special. – Christmas Playbook
Download the 2025 Christmas Holiday Playbook to unwrap:
✔ Essential Christmas ecommerce trends
✔ A complete store readiness checklist
100 Best Christmas email subject lines for a successful campaign
To drive conversions and repeat purchases during the Christmas holidays, you need subject lines that are wintery, urgent, and irresistible.
Here we’ve curated a list of 100 Christmas email subject lines in 10 categories:
- Creating urgency & FOMO (last-minute Christmas sale)
- Direct & benefit-oriented subject lines
- Christmas-themed abandoned cart recovery subject lines
- Christmas newsletter subject lines
- Inspiring action (Christmas gift guides & wishlists)
- Injecting humor & curiosity (witty wordplay)
- Christmas email subject lines for product launch
- Personalized Christmas email subject lines
- Post-Christmas email subject lines
- Professional/B2B Christmas subject lines
Create, schedule, and personalize your Christmas email sequences in minutes using Retainful’s pre-built workflows.
1. Creating urgency & FOMO (last-minute Christmas sale)
In e-commerce marketing, leveraging urgency and FOMO is vital to encourage customers to take immediate action.
- Last Chance! 🎁 Final Hours to Save Before Christmas!
- Only 48 Hours Left for Guaranteed Holiday Delivery! 🚚
- Hurry! Your 50% Off Sale Ends Tonight at Midnight ⏰
- Tick Tock… Don’t Miss Your Last-Minute Gift Window!
- Stock is Running Low! Grab Yours Before They’re Gone
- Santa’s Not the Only One Rushing: Last Call Deals Inside!
- Blink and You’ll Miss These Final Christmas Steals!
- Final Warning: Our Holiday Sale Disappears in 3 Hours! 🚨
- Last Chance! We Can Still Ship Your Gifts on Time.
- Only a Few Spots Left! Unlock Our Exclusive Holiday VIP Sale.
Related reading: 10 Best Back in Stock Email Examples (Tips + Free Templates)
2. Direct & benefit-oriented subject lines
Sometimes, the best email marketing strategy is to state the value clearly. These subject lines immediately highlight the discount, appealing to customers who prioritize savings.
- 50% Off Everything: Merry Christmas, Unwrap Your Savings Now!
- Free Express Shipping on All Orders Through Christmas Eve 🚚
- $20 Gift Inside: Our Christmas Present is Ready for You! 🎁
- Introducing: Your Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide is Here!
- Tree-mendous Savings: Deals Starting at Just $10 Today.
- The Merriest Deal: Buy One, Get One Free on All Stocking Stuffers.
- New Arrivals: Discover Santa’s Favorite Picks Inside!
- Give the Perfect Gift: See Our Top 10 Picks for Every Budget.
- Save Big! Deck the Halls with Unbelievable Holiday Discounts.
- Last Day for 30% Off Our Entire Holiday Collection
Related reading: 10 Best Discount Email Templates + Examples
3. Christmas-themed abandoned cart recovery subject lines
Recovering abandoned carts is critical during high-volume shopping periods. These cart recovery subject lines use a little festive fear or urgency to encourage them to complete their purchase.
- Did You Forget a Gift? 🎅 Your Cart is Waiting to be Wrapped!
- Don’t Be a Grinch: Your Items Are Waiting for Christmas Checkout!
- Santa’s Holding Your Order: Finish Before They’re Out of Stock! ⏳
- Still Thinking? Your Cart Items Want to Go Under the Tree! 🎄
- A Little Christmas Magic Just For You: Get Back to Your Cart!
- We Found a Gift for You! 🎁 Free Shipping Added to Your Cart.
- Sleigh Your Shopping List: Your Items Are Still Right Here!
- Did the Elves Get Distracted? Finish Your Order Now!
- Last Chance to Ship: Your Cart is Counting Down to Christmas! ⏰
- A Nudge from Rudolph: Your Saved Items Are Waiting to Sparkle ✨
Related reading: 15 Cart Abandonment SMS Templates to Recover Lost Revenue
4. Christmas newsletter subject lines
An email newsletter is perfect for updates, content roundups, and general holiday communications.
- Warm Wishes & Festive Reads: Your Official Christmas News🎄
- Unwrap the Latest: Our Special Holiday Newsletter is Here! 🎁
- Cozy Up! Our Christmas Gift Guide & December News Is Inside.
- Jingle All the Way to Your Inbox: Our Favorite Holiday Stories ✨
- Season’s Greetings: A Special Note From Our Entire Team
- Don’t Miss Out! Everything You Need to Know This Christmas Week
- A Little Christmas Magic, Just For You: Our Holiday Update!
- Deck the Halls: Tips, Recipes, and Cheer in Our Newsletter!
- From Our Family to Yours: Happy Holidays and Exciting News!
- Your December Dose of Cheer: The Christmas Newsletter You Need.
Related reading: 15 Best Ecommerce Newsletters to Follow in 2025
5. Inspiring action (Christmas gift guides & wishlists)
- Your Christmas Gift Guide is Here! Find the Perfect Present 🎁
- Stumped on Gifts? See Santa’s Top Picks Inside!
- Your Wishlist is Ready! Share it with the Family (Hint, hint) 😉
- Be the Best Gift Giver: Our Curated List Starts Now!
- Stop Guessing! Shop the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide by Budget.
- Need Ideas? 10 Perfect Gifts for Everyone on Your List.
- Sleigh Your Shopping with Our Foolproof Gift Guide! 🎅
- Discover What’s Inside: Your Personalized Holiday Recommendations
- Early Access: Unwrap Our Holiday Gift Finder Tool!
- Only the Best: Gifts That Are Guaranteed to Impress This Year ✨
6. Injecting humor & curiosity (witty wordplay)
These subject lines focus on excitement around preparing for the holiday.
- Don’t Be a Rebel Without a Clause 🎅 (Our Sale is On!)
- You’ll Never Believe These Discounts! Open to See the Savings.
- Santa Called. He Said You Need These Gifts. 😉
- Why Was Rudolph’s Nose Really So Red? Find Out Inside…
- What’s the Last-Minute Gift Crisis Solution? This Email!
- Sleigh All Day: Your Next Shopping Fix Is Here! 🛷
- We Have a Bone to Pick with Your Empty Shopping Cart 🦴
- Did You Hear? The Eggnog is Strong in This Email…
- Warning: May Cause Excessive Holiday Cheer (and Shopping)!
- A Very Merry PEEK! Your Christmas Surprise Awaits…
7. Christmas email subject lines for product launch
- Just Unwrapped! Meet Our Newest Holiday Collection 🎁
- The Perfect Gift Is Here: Introducing Our New Product Launch!
- Surprise! Our Christmas Gift to You is Officially Here (New Product)
- Get Ready to Shine: Introducing Our Limited Edition Holiday Launch!
- Be the First: Unwrap Early Access to Our New Product Line 🔑
- Santa Delivered Early! See Our Brand New Items Inside 🎅
- New for the Holidays: The Must-Have Gift Everyone Will Want!
- Stop the Presses: You Need to See Our New Festive Launch! 🎉
- Don’t Buy Gifts Yet! Our New Product is Your Best Option.
- Fresh Out of the Workshop: See Our New Holiday Creation! 🔨
8. Early Christmas email subject lines
- Beat the Rush: Early Bird Christmas Deals Start Now! 🛍️
- Shhh… Get a Head Start on Holiday Shopping with 20% Off!
- Unwrap Early Bird Holiday Deals Before Anyone Else! 🔑
- No Stress Shopping: Your 2025 Christmas Plan is Here!
- Exclusive: VIP Early Access to Our Holiday Collection!
- Sleigh Your List Early! Our First Look at Christmas Gifts.
- Don’t Wait! Our Christmas Sneak Peek is Now Live.
- Get a Jump on Gifts: Introducing Our Holiday Prep Guide! 🎁
- It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (and Savings)!
- The Clock is Ticking (But You Still Have Time): Early Deals! ⏰
9. Post-Christmas email subject lines
The sale isn’t over when the purchase is made. These subject lines nurture the customer relationship and prepare them for future holidays.
- Christmas is Over, But the Deals Aren’t! 🎄
- Boxing Day Blowout! Shop the Biggest Deals of the Season 🎁
- Santa’s Leftovers: Shop Post-Holiday Steals and Sales!
- Missed Christmas? The Savings Continue Here!
- Time to Treat Yourself: Use Your New Gift Card!
- Need a Break? Our Post-Holiday Relaxation Guide (and Sale) is Here.
- Final Clearance: Everything Must Go to Make Room for New Year!
- Unwrap Even More! Extra 20% Off All Sale Items.
- Last Call! Our End-of-Year Sale Ends Tomorrow. ⏰
- Ready for the New Year? Shop Our Freshest Arrivals Now!
Related reading: 9 Best Post-Purchase Email Examples With Proven Retention
10. Professional/B2B Christmas subject lines
- Year-End Planning: A Special Gift to Optimize Your 2026 Strategy 🎁
- Season’s Greetings: Thank You for Your Partnership in 2025.
- Last Call: Final Chance to Use Your Budget Before Year-End.
- 2026 Prep: How We Can Help You Hit the Ground Running Next Year.
- Happy Holidays from [Your Company Name]—A Brief Client Update
- [Name], Our Holiday Gift to Your Business is Inside.
- Final Reminder: Essential Tools to Close Out the Quarter Strong.
- Warm Wishes and a Strategic Offer for the New Year.
- Don’t Let This Opportunity Lapse: Year-End Solution Offer.
- Scheduling Note: Our Holiday Hours & Essential Contact Info.
Related Reading: 15 Best Email Marketing Examples for 2025
Customize your Christmas email alerts and reminders effortlessly using Retainful’s ready-to-use templates to land more sales.
🧑🎄Wrap up!
Your Christmas campaign’s success starts with one powerful line — your email subject line.
A well-crafted subject line isn’t just festive flair. It’s the hook that drives open rates, conversions, and repeat sales during the busiest shopping season of the year
Use festive themes, urgency, and a touch of personalization to capture attention and acquire customers while keeping your brand voice consistent.
Remember, your subject line is the first thing customers see; make it worth opening.
Also read:
What is Behavioral Targeting? (Examples + How to do)
What is Behavioral Segmentation? (Types + Examples)
100 Best Halloween email subject lines for 2025 (AI Prompts+sign-off ideas)
Black Friday Sales: Deal Ideas, Trends & Strategies
Frequently asked questions
Catchy subject lines are short, personalized, and action-driven — designed to spark curiosity or urgency, prompting readers to open your email instantly.
The subject of a holiday email should reflect the theme — such as Christmas deals, greetings, or last-minute offers — while aligning with your brand’s tone.
Phrases like “Sleigh the Season,” “Unwrap Joy,” or “Merry Deals Await!” are catchy and festive, adding personality to your emails.
You can say “Season’s Greetings,” “Wishing You a Joyous Holiday Season,” or “Happy Holidays from [Your Company Name]” for a professional yet warm tone.
