What time can I text?
US federal rules allow sales texts from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the recipient’s local time, and a few states end earlier. Pick where the person lives to see the hours that apply, the source, and whether now is a good time.
- Hours that apply
- 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- The window we suggest
- Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Right now for them
- Checking the time
US federal rules bar sales texts before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in the recipient’s local time. We haven’t read New York’s own statute, so check it if you text there often. 47 CFR 64.1200(c)(1)
It sits inside every federal and state rule we have read, in the person’s local time.
The rules this checker uses
The federal rule covers every state: US federal rules bar sales texts before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in the recipient’s local time. These states set their own hours, read on the statute:
| State | Hours | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; three in 24 hours on the same subject | Fla. Stat. 501.616(6) |
| Oklahoma | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; three in 24 hours on the same subject | 15 O.S. 775C.4 |
| Maryland | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; three in 24 hours on the same subject | Md. Code, Com. Law 14-4502(c) |
| Connecticut | 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Conn. Gen. Stat. 42-288a(c) |
| Washington | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | RCW 80.36.390(8) |
Lists online name other states, such as Texas, Utah and New Jersey, and disagree on their hours. We haven’t read those statutes, so the checker shows the federal rule for them and says so. In Canada: CASL sets no hours for commercial texts. The CRTC’s telemarketing rules use 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, and some provinces set tighter hours. Keeping texts inside them is a sensible default.
For the full rules, with quotes from each statute and how to set sending hours across time zones, read texting quiet hours. On Textually, every campaign has sending days and hours. This checker is not legal advice.
Questions
What time can a business send text messages?
US federal rules bar sales texts before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in the recipient’s local time. Florida, Oklahoma and Maryland end at 8 p.m., and Connecticut allows 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time fit every rule we have checked.
Do texting hours apply to appointment reminders?
The federal hours rule covers telephone solicitations. A reminder or account update with no sales purpose is outside that definition, so send it at an hour the person would expect.
Are there texting hours in Canada?
CASL sets no hours for commercial texts. The CRTC’s telemarketing rules use 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, and keeping texts inside them is a sensible default.
Whose time zone counts?
The recipient’s. Every hours rule here is in the local time where the person is, so a list that spans time zones needs sending hours set per person, or a window that fits all of them.