Time Spent on Email Calculator
Calculate how much time you spend on emails and discover productive alternatives
Email Activity Details
Skip spam and promotions you don't read
Include web and mobile checks
Choose your most common behavior
How many require responses?
Average response time per email
Potential time reduction percentage
Personal Details (Optional)
Time Spent on Emails
Time Breakdown
What You Could Do With 20% Less Email Time
Weekly Exercise
Walking: 710 calories
Jogging: 1419 calories
Cycling: 1622 calories
Reading
86 pages per week
0 books per week
~0 books per year
Outdoor Activities
11.6 km hiking per week
602 km per year
Like walking across a small country!
Example: Typical Office Worker
Email Habits
Emails received: 121 per day (industry average)
Inbox checks: 11 times per day
Reading style: Regular speed (11.1 seconds per email)
Responses: 30 emails, 3 minutes each
Time Calculation
Reading time: 121 × 11.1 seconds = 22.4 minutes
Response time: 30 × 3 minutes = 90 minutes
Recovery time: 11 × 64 seconds = 11.7 minutes
Total daily time: ~2 hours 4 minutes
Email Statistics
Average Emails
121 emails received per day
According to industry research
Recovery Time
64 seconds per interrupt
Time to refocus after checking
Reading Time
11.1 seconds average view time
Based on Litmus research
Reading Speeds
Email Efficiency Tips
Be concise and actionable
Avoid unnecessary back-and-forths
Use tags instead of folders
Mute notifications for focus
Batch process emails at set times
Understanding Email Time Calculation
How We Calculate Email Time
Our calculator considers three main time components: reading time, response time, and recovery time. The recovery time (64 seconds per check) is based on research showing how long it takes to refocus after an email interruption.
Research-Based Metrics
- •Average viewing time: 11.1 seconds (Litmus 2016)
- •Recovery time: 64 seconds per interrupt
- •Daily average: 121 emails received
- •Typical checks: 11 times per day
Calculation Formula
Total Daily Time =
(Emails × Reading Time) +
(Responses × Response Time) +
(Checks × 64 seconds)
Time Investment Perspective
Did you know? The average office worker spends 28% of their workweek managing email. That's over 2 hours per day that could be redirected to more productive activities.
The Cost of Email Interruptions
Productivity Impact
- • Breaks focus and concentration
- • Requires mental context switching
- • Reduces deep work quality
Financial Cost
If you earn $50/hour, spending 2 hours daily on email costs $100 in opportunity cost per workday.
Alternative Communication Methods
Instant Messaging: For quick questions and real-time collaboration.
Phone Calls: For complex issues that require immediate clarification.
Project Management Tools: For task assignments and progress tracking.