In this article, you’ll learn the difference between hard and soft email bounces, why they happen, and how Stampede handles them. Understanding these bounce types can help improve your email deliverability and maintain a healthy subscriber list.
What Is an Email Bounce Back?
An email bounce back happens when an email fails to reach the recipient’s inbox. The system returns a message to the sender explaining why it couldn’t be delivered.
There are two types of bounce backs:
- Hard Bounce – a permanent failure
- Soft Bounce – a temporary issue
Hard Bounce
A hard bounce means the email address is invalid or undeliverable. These are permanent failures.
Common reasons:
- The email address doesn’t exist
- The domain is incorrect or inactive
- Your email or IP has been blocked
Examples:
- Sending to a non-existent address:
user@nonexistentdomain.com - Typo in the address:
johndoe@gmial.cominstead ofgmail.com
🛠️ Stampede automatically removes hard bounce addresses to keep your list clean and accurate.
Soft Bounce
A soft bounce is a temporary issue—your email might still reach the recipient once the problem is resolved.
Common reasons:
- Recipient's mailbox is full
- The email server is temporarily down
- The message is too large or contains large attachments
Examples:
- Sending to a full inbox
- Email server is undergoing maintenance or facing technical issues
⏳ Stampede keeps soft bounce addresses in your list, as they may be reachable later.
Summary
Knowing the difference between hard and soft bounces helps you manage your campaigns effectively. While hard bounces are removed from your list, soft bounces are monitored for future delivery. Keeping track of your bounce rates ensures better inbox placement and protects your sender reputation.