What Is the Average Door Rate for Canvassing?
Most canvassers knock 15-20 doors per hour in suburban areas. Urban territories with row houses allow faster pacing. Rural zones cut this rate in half.
Door rate measures raw knocks, not conversations. You may knock 30 doors but speak with only 15 people. This distinction matters when planning volunteer mobilization efforts.
Want to optimize your field actions? Learn 10 tips for canvassing effectively to boost your team's productivity.
What Factors Affect Your Canvassing Speed?
Four factors determine your hourly door rate: neighborhood density, preparation, timing, and shift length.
Neighborhood Density
Dense urban areas minimize walking time between doors. Apartment buildings and row houses let you knock 25+ doors per hour. Suburban neighborhoods with driveways slow your pace to 15-18 doors. Rural territories with spread-out homes may yield only 8-12 doors hourly.
Preparation and Organization
Organized canvassers move faster. Pre-sorted walk lists save decision time. Memorized scripts eliminate hesitation. Disorganization costs 20-30% of productive time.
Essential preparation checklist:
- Route mapped before leaving
- Materials sorted and accessible
- Script practiced until natural
- Objection responses memorized
More details in our guide How to Prepare for Canvassing
Time of Day and Contact Rate
Contact rate varies by timing. Late afternoons (4-7 PM) yield highest response rates. Weekend mornings work well. Midday knocking means more empty homes—faster door rate but fewer conversations.
Shift Length and Fatigue
Productivity peaks mid-shift. First hour includes warm-up and travel. Final hour brings fatigue. Optimal shift length: 4-5 hours. Shifts beyond 5 hours show diminishing returns.
For more planning insights, read our guide on how long canvassing takes.
How Many Doors Should You Knock per Day?
Start with 100 doors per day during your first two weeks. Volume builds skills faster than selective targeting for beginners.
For New Volunteers
High volume serves multiple purposes for newcomers:
- Normalizes rejection through repetition
- Builds muscle memory for scripts
- Reveals what works in your market
- Overcomes approach anxiety quickly
For Experienced Canvassers
After training, goals vary by sector. Roofing appointment setters knock 80-140 doors for 2-3 appointments. Security system reps hit 150+ doors for 1-2 consultations. Political canvassers target 60-80 quality conversations daily.
Ready to mobilize volunteers smarter? Discover Qomon's Door-to-Door App to plan field actions, track progress, and measure impact in real time.
Should You Knock Every Door or Be Selective?
Knock every door as a beginner. Get selective after gaining market knowledge.
Why Volume Comes First
Every conversation builds skills—even rejections. Appearances deceive. A house with new-looking windows may need work elsewhere. Skipping doors means missing opportunities based on false assumptions.
When Selective Targeting Works
After several months, selective canvassing improves efficiency. Experienced canvassers read signals:
- Window replacement: Target older homes with outdated frames
- Roofing: Focus on storm-damaged neighborhoods
- Solar: Prioritize south-facing roofs
- Political campaigns: Use voter data for targeting
Keep your team safe while canvassing. Review our canvassing safety tips before your next field action.
How to Calculate Your Canvassing Conversion Rate
Track pitches, not just knocks. Most canvassers convert 1 in 20 quality conversations.
This ratio transforms rejection into progress. If you convert 1 in 20, every "no" brings you closer to a "yes." Double your income? Double your conversations.
Conversion tracking formula:
- Record doors knocked daily
- Count actual conversations (pitches delivered)
- Track appointments or conversions
- Calculate your personal ratio weekly
Practical Tips to Maximize Your Door Rate
Physical and mental preparation determines daily productivity.
Physical Preparation
- Wear comfortable, supportive shoes
- Pack water and snacks in your vehicle
- Avoid excessive caffeine and energy drinks
- Skip strong perfumes or colognes
Mental Preparation
- Expect awkward first 3-5 doors daily
- Practice objection handling until automatic
- Reframe rejection as progress
- Stay calm with grumpy residents
See real-world results from organizations using mobile canvassing tools in our canvassing app case study.
The most "Qomon" questions
How many doors can you knock in an hour?
Expect 15-20 doors per hour in typical suburban neighborhoods. Urban areas allow 20-25. Rural zones yield 8-12.
How many doors should a beginner knock daily?
Target 100 doors per day during your first two weeks. Volume builds confidence and skills faster than selective approaches.
What is a good canvassing conversion rate?
Most canvassers convert 1 in 20 quality conversations. Track your personal ratio to set realistic income goals.
Should I skip houses with new windows?
Not as a beginner. Knock every door to build skills. After gaining experience, selective targeting based on visible needs improves efficiency.
What time is best for door-to-door canvassing?
Late afternoons (4-7 PM) yield highest contact rates. Weekend mornings also work well. Avoid midday when most residents are away.
