A good bounce rate for email marketing typically falls within the range of 2% to 5%. This means that for every 100 emails you send, you can expect 2% to 5% of them to bounce. However, the acceptable bounce rate can vary depending on several factors, including the type of email you’re sending, the quality of your email list, and your industry.

Here’s a breakdown of bounce types:

1. Hard Bounces: These are permanent delivery failures and should be kept to an absolute minimum. Common reasons for hard bounces include invalid or non-existent email addresses. Ideally, you should aim for a hard bounce rate of close to 0%.
   
2. Soft Bounces: Soft bounces are temporary delivery issues and may be due to factors like a full inbox or a temporarily unavailable email server. A soft bounce rate of around 2% to 5% is generally acceptable.

It’s important to keep your bounce rates low because high bounce rates can negatively affect your sender reputation and email deliverability. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and email clients use bounce data as one factor in determining whether your emails are legitimate and whether they should be delivered to the inbox or filtered into spam folders.

To maintain a low bounce rate, follow these best practices:

1. Use double opt-in sign-up processes to verify the accuracy of email addresses.
2. Regularly clean your email list to remove invalid or inactive addresses.
3. Monitor bounce rates and investigate the reasons for bounces, addressing any issues promptly.
4. Ensure that you have permission to email your recipients, and avoid sending to purchased or rented lists.
5. Segment your list and send targeted content to improve engagement and reduce the likelihood of bounces.
6. Use a reputable email service provider (ESP) with built-in bounce handling and feedback loops.
7. Comply with email marketing regulations, which often require honoring unsubscribe requests and promptly removing unsubscribed contacts.

Ultimately, while the 2% to 5% range is a good benchmark for bounce rates, the best bounce rate for your email marketing campaigns will depend on your specific circumstances and industry. Continuously monitoring and managing bounce rates is crucial to maintaining a healthy email list and ensuring the success of your email marketing efforts.