125+ best Christmas email subject lines for 2024

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As the 2024 year-end holiday season approaches, prioritizing Christmas email subject lines is essential for your email marketing strategy. Inboxes are already brimming with festive offers and holiday greetings, so your email needs to stand out.

In this article, we’ll explore what makes Christmas email marketing subject lines effective, and provide examples of the best Christmas email subject lines and tips for boosting your campaign’s performance.

Whether you’re promoting a sale or launching a festive newsletter, you’ll find the best Christmas email subject lines to capture attention and maximize results. 

We’ve also included some click-worthy Christmas email subject lines to inspire you so your emails don’t get lost in inboxes this season.

Top 10 words used in Christmas email subject lines

After performing a semantic word analysis, we have some more insights to share:

• For a few years in a row, the most common words in Christmas subject lines were “off” and “sale,” showing that deal offers continue
• “Christmas” is much more popular than “holidays”
• When it comes to a “Merry Xmas,” “Merry Christmas,” and “Happy Holidays” comparison, none of these three combinations were very popular
• “Merry Christmas” was mentioned in less than 2% of all subject lines, while the other two phrases were used even less
• Although action words mostly didn’t make it into the top 10, the most popular examples were “get,” “save,” and “don’t miss”
• And while “shipping” was left down in the #11 position, it also played a significant role in Christmas email subject lines

Top 22 Christmas email subject lines

Subject line	Open rate	Industry
Holiday Special	48%	Food and beverages
Hydras Back in Stock this Saturday!	48%	Jewelry and accessories
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from (Brand)	46%	Computer and electronics
A note from Santa’s Workshop	40%	Jewelry and accessories
Exciting Last Minute Christmas Ideas and Offers!	40%	Computer and electronics
You’ve Got a Present from (Brand)	43%	Fashion and apparel
Order Now for Delivery by Christmas!	39%	Computer and electronics
Merry Christmas, Let’s Thank You	39%	Jewelry and accessories
Today Only! Green Monday Apple Sale!	37%	Computer and electronics
Gold is for the Holidays!	37%	Jewelry and accessories
Giving Tuesday — Buy One, Give One	35%	Fashion and apparel
Have You Seen Christmas Gifts Guide?	35%	Jewelry and accessories
Christmas Sale has started plus a few new fabrics and ideas for you	34%	Fashion and apparel
Want It by Christmas	34%	Jewelry and accessories
Last-minute delivery	34%	Toys and games
Hohoho Wonder What Pens Santa Will Bring	33%	Jewelry and accessories
SHOP YOUR SIZE	33%	Fashion and apparel
LAST DAY FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING! ✈️	32%	Fashion and apparel
Last Chance to get your orders before Christmas- Free Domestic Shipping!!	32%	Jewelry and accessories
40% OFF Ending at Midnight!	31%	Fashion and apparel
Reindeer fly fast. So do these offers!!	31%	Fashion and apparel
Sale Starts 11 am ⏲️	30%	Fashion and apparel

The key takeaway is that the subject lines mentioning delivery by Christmas performed significantly better than the competition. Customers are interested in last-minute offers and urgent delivery. That’s why it would be wise to consider investing in urgent shipping possibilities and clearly communicate that in your Christmas sales subject lines.

Also, it would be wise to use scarcity — “only today,” “ends at midnight,” “last minute,” etc. These power words help retailers generate great open rates.

And don’t forget to share the holiday mood with emojis if they fit your brand identity. These small icons can help subject lines to stand out and convey positivity.

General Christmas email subject lines

These all-purpose Christmas email lines can be used by anyone to spruce up their holiday email campaigns:

1. Celebrate the Season: Unwrap Our Special Christmas Offers!
2. ✨ Sparkle and Shine with Our Festive Deals!
3. The Perfect Gift Awaits: Discover Our Holiday Collection!
4. Santa’s Secret: Exclusive Discounts Just for You!
5. Light Up Your Christmas with Dazzling Offers!
6. Winter Wonderland Awaits: Cozy Up with Our Deals!
7. Jingle All the Way to Savings — Shop Now!
8. Peace, Love, and Holiday Savings: Our Gift to You!
9. Deck Your Halls with Our Festive Finds!
10. Silent Night, Sparkling Offers — Unwrap Yours Today!
11. A Season of Joy: Embrace the Christmas Spirit with Us!
12. Countdown to Christmas: Daily Deals to Delight!
13. Warm Wishes and Hot Deals: Your Holiday Guide Inside!
14. Season’s Greetings: Special Offers for a Special Time of Year!
15. Holiday Magic Inside: Make This Christmas Unforgettable!

This email by Rifle Paper Co. is an ideal example of a Christmas email. It communicates a generous discount of 30% on all products and uses a catchy heading along with a Christmas design to capture attention. It also includes a clear yet creative call to action that encourages immediate action:

Early Christmas email subject lines

Planning for and starting your Christmas email campaigns early can help you tap into the excitement of holiday shoppers. With your compelling subject lines, you’ll not only capture attention but also inspire customers to start their holiday planning. Here are 15 early Christmas email subject lines curated just for you:

1. Unwrap Exclusive Early Bird Holiday Deals!
2. Sleigh Your Holiday Shopping Before the Rush
3. Sneak Peek: Gifts That Will Make Everyone Smile
4. Ho-Ho-Hurry! Limited Time Christmas Savings Inside
5. Santa’s Favorite Deals Have Landed Early!
6. Cozy Gifts, Warm Prices — Holiday Preview
7. Jingle All the Way to Spectacular Savings
8. ❄️ First Frost, First Dibs: Holiday Deals Await
9. Deck the Halls with Amazing Discounts
10. Your Ultimate Christmas Wishlist Starts Here
11. Magical Moments, Unbeatable Prices
12. Winter Warmth Meets Wallet-Friendly Prices
13. Reindeer-Approved Deals: Shop Before They Fly!
14. Sweet Holiday Surprises — Early Access Inside
15. Unwrap Joy: Christmas Deals That Can’t Wait

This festive email from Straightforward is a perfect example of an early Christmas email. The design is clean, with a strong focus on the holiday theme. Also, the bold typography draws attention to the key message, which is the Grand Christmas Sale, happening from December 12-14. It also highlights exciting offers, such as discounts and free shipping:

Subject: Exclusive discounts and deals on holiday gifts this 12.12 in Lazada!

Funny Christmas email subject lines

If you want to add a touch of humor to your holiday emails, these funny Christmas email subject lines are perfect for you. Use these to bring a smile to your subscribers’ faces:

1. Ho Ho Ho! Santa’s Got a Joke for You!
2. Unwrap a Chuckle: Our Holiday Sale is No Joke!
3. Yule Laugh Out Loud at These Deals!
4. Let’s be naughty and save Santa the trip!
5. Jingle All the Way to Savings — No Sleigh Required!
6. Making a List, Checking It Twice: Unbeatable Discounts Inside!
7. Elf-Approved Savings: They’re a Real Treat!
8. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Deals
9. Don’t Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle — Shop Stress-Free!
10. Santa’s Not the Only One Coming to Town — Check Our Offers!
11. Sleigh Your Holiday Shopping with Our Discounts!
12. Have a Holly Jolly Shopping Experience!
13. Fa La La La Fabulous Deals Inside!
14. Rudolph’s Red Hot Discounts — Brighter Than His Nose!
15. Naughty or Nice, These Deals are Just Right!

Check out this email example by Uncommon Goods with the subject line “A certain Mr. Claus gets his gift ideas from us.” The subject line and the reverse twist on “Ho Ho Ho” add a touch of humor to an otherwise regular Christmas email:

Merry Christmas email subject lines

These classic Christmas subject lines greet readers with a hearty Christmas wish. If you simply want to spread the holiday joy, these Merry Christmas email subject lines are perfect for you:

1. Wishing You a Merry Christmas and Joyful Holidays!
2. Merry Christmas — Unwrap Our Special Gift to You!
3. It’s Time to Be Merry! Merry Christmas From Us to You!
4. Celebrate the Season — Merry Christmas and Happy Deals!
5. Reindeer-Approved Savings for a Merry Christmas!
6. A Merry Christmas! Stocking Surprise Just for You!
7. Sweet Treats and Merry Christmas Wishes Inside!
8. Merry Christmas — Discover Santa’s Favorite Picks!
9. Pop Open Some Joy with Our Merry Christmas Offers!
10. Feel the Magic — Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
11. Singing Loud for All to Hear: Merry Christmas and Cheer!
12. Merry Christmas — Your Holiday Shopping Starts Here!
13. A Festive Cheer for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
14. Merry Christmas Wishes and Sleigh-loads of Savings!
15. Light Up Your Holiday with Merry Christmas Specials! 

Check out this Christmas email by Withings with the festive subject line “Merry and very bright gift idea.” It’s simple and offers something for the reader to buy for themselves as well as their loved ones:

Last-minute Christmas email subject lines

You can target the last-minute shoppers with Christmas sales subject lines that create a sense of urgency. Here are 15 great examples of last-minute Christmas email subject lines:

1. ⏰ Last Chance! Grab Your Last-Minute Christmas Gifts Now!
2. Quick! It’s Not Too Late for Last-Minute Christmas Magic!
3. Last-Minute Christmas Deals — Hurry, They Won’t Last Long!
4. Tick Tock, Tick Tock — Last-Minute Christmas Countdown!
5. Rudolph’s Rush! Last-Minute Christmas Savings Inside!
6. Santa’s Alert: Last-Minute Christmas Offers End Soon!
7. Sleigh Your Last-Minute Christmas Shopping with Us!
8. Mrs. Claus Recommends: Last-Minute Christmas Lifesavers!
9. Last-Minute Christmas Stars – Deals That Shine Bright!
10. Jingle All the Way to Our Last-Minute Christmas Bargains!
11. Last-Minute Christmas Wishes — Special Offers Just for You!
12. ⛄ Snow Joke — These Last-Minute Christmas Deals Are Hot!
13. Light Up Your Holiday with Last-Minute Christmas Finds!
14. Stocking Up Last Minute? Christmas Deals Inside!
15. Sweet Last-Minute Christmas Treats — Grab Them Before They’re Gone!

This email by Moonshot is a perfect example of a last-minute Christmas email done right. The subject line “Last call for holiday shopping!” and the first heading in the email create a sense of urgency and encourage prompt purchases:

Catchy Christmas email subject lines

Using a catchy subject line immediately grabs your audience’s attention and makes your emails stand out in a crowded inbox. Here are 15 catchy Christmas email subject lines to inspire you for your holiday email marketing campaign:

1. Yule Not Believe These Christmas Deals!
2. Unwrap a Surprise! Exclusive Christmas Offers Inside!
3. Make Your Holidays Shine Brighter with Our Specials!
4. Dash Through Our Holiday Discounts — Faster than Rudolph!
5. Light Up Your Inbox — Sparkling Christmas Offers Await!
6. Treat Yourself! Sweet Christmas Savings Just for You!
7. Sleigh, What? Amazing Christmas Finds You Can’t Miss!
8. Santa-sational Savings This Christmas Season!
9. ❄️ Freeze! Cool Christmas Deals Just Landed!
10. Secrets from Mrs. Claus: Exclusive Holiday Bargains!
11. Jingle Bell Rock Bottom Prices — Christmas Edition!
12. Stuff Your Stockings with Our Christmas Bonanza!
13. Cheers to Festive Fares and Christmas Flares!
14. ⛄ Building the Perfect Holiday Sale — Snow Much Fun!
15. Wrap Up Your Christmas Shopping with a Bang!

Check out this email by Fleur & Bee with the catchy subject line “Straight from Santa’s bag.” It immediately creates excitement in readers to find out what deals the company is offering this holiday season. Here’s the email copy, which offers priority shipping for a limited time to encourage prompt purchases:

Christmas gift newsletter subject lines

There’s no better way to drive more sales for Christmas than to tap into the holiday gifting spirit. These subject lines are perfect for encouraging people to buy gifts for their loved ones during the holidays:

1. Unwrap the Perfect Christmas Gift Ideas in Our Newsletter!
2. Shine Bright This Holiday Season with Our Gift Guide!
3. Find Your Festive: Top Christmas Gifts Revealed!
4. Santa’s Secret List: Exclusive Gift Ideas Inside!
5. Holiday Shopping Made Easy: Christmas Gift Edition!
6. Rudolph Recommends: Unique Gifts for Everyone!
7. Light Up Their Faces with Our Christmas Gift Picks!
8. Mrs. Claus’ Top Gift Choices for a Merry Christmas!
9. Sweet Surprises: Tasty Gift Ideas for Christmas!
10. Cheers to the Season: Wine Lovers’ Christmas Gift Guide!
11. ⛄ Frosty’s Favorites: Cool Gifts for a Warm Christmas!
12. Stocking Stuffer Sensations in Our Latest Newsletter!
13. Harmonize Your Holidays with Musical Gift Ideas!

Here’s an email by Straightforward that taps into the holiday gifting spirit and encourages people to buy gifts for their family and friends. It further encourages purchases with a buy one, gift one offer:

Post-Christmas email subject lines

Don’t let the holiday shopping spirit fade out — offer exclusive discounts to prospects in your post-Christmas emails. Here are some of the best Christmas email subject lines to drive post-holiday purchases:

1. New Year, New Deals: Post-Christmas Savings Inside!
2. Missed Christmas? It’s Not Too Late for Great Deals!
3. The Festivity Continues: Post-Christmas Specials Await!
4. Keep the Celebration Going with Our Exclusive Offers!
5. ❄️ Winter Wonders: Post-Christmas Magic in Every Offer!
6. Santa Might Be Gone, But Our Deals Are Still Here!
7. Brighten Up January with Our Post-Christmas Cheer!
8. Still Craving Holiday Treats? Find More Inside!
9. Sleigh Your Post-Christmas Shopping Blues Away!
10. Toast to the New Year with Our Post-Holiday Sales!
11. The Caroling’s Over, but Our Discounts Play On!
12. ⛄ Snowed in with Savings: Post-Christmas Deals Just for You!
13. Wrapping Up the Holidays with Unbeatable Bargains!

This email by Readdle gets people nostalgic about the past year and provides stats on how people used Readdle to achieve their goals. This helps the company stay connected with its customers and build a sense of community and loyalty:

Christmas email subject lines: Biggest takeaways

Your Christmas email subject lines can determine the success or failure of your holiday campaigns. A catchy subject line will grab people’s attention and get more people to open your holiday emails and make purchases.

Here are some key tips to craft winning Christmas email subject lines:

• Use a hearty Christmas greeting to make the readers feel special
• Use humor to draw attention and bring a smile to people’s faces
• Create a sense of urgency to get last-minute shoppers to make purchases
• Use catchy subject lines to get more opens for your emails
• Tap into the holiday spirit and urge people to buy gifts for their loved ones
• Keep the festivities going with post-Christmas emails

And if you need some design inspiration, check our professional-looking, responsive email newsletter templates for holiday and Christmas emails.