Each door takes 15 seconds to 10 minutes depending on resident response. No-answers are fastest. Engaged conversations take longest.
Here's the breakdown per door interaction:
- No answer: 15-30 seconds
- Quick conversation: 1-3 minutes
- Engaged conversation: 5-10 minutes
Average time per answered door: 2-4 minutes. This includes greeting, pitch, questions, and notes.
For detailed productivity benchmarks, read our guide on how many doors per hour in canvassing.
How Long Does It Take to Canvass a List of Doors?
A 25-door list takes about 45-90 minutes to complete. Larger lists require proportionally more time.
Time estimates by list size:
- 25-30 doors: 45-90 minutes
- 40-50 doors: 1.5-2.5 hours
- 60+ doors: 3-4 hours
These estimates include walking between homes, taking notes, and short breaks. Dense neighborhoods complete faster. Rural areas take longer.
What Is the Ideal Canvassing Shift Length?
Most organizations plan 2-3 hour shifts for optimal results. This balances productivity with volunteer energy.
Shift length options:
- Short shift: 1-1.5 hours (quick outreach, limited conversations)
- Standard shift: 2-3 hours (best balance of volume and quality)
- Long shift: 4+ hours (higher burnout risk, less common)
Volunteer effectiveness drops sharply after 3 hours. Quality conversations matter more than door count. Stop before burnout sets in.
Ready to plan smarter field actions? Discover Qomon's Door-to-Door App to mobilize volunteers, track progress, and measure impact in real time.
What Are the Best Times of Day for Canvassing?
Weekday evenings (4-7 PM) yield the highest contact rates. Weekends offer flexible morning and afternoon windows.
Optimal canvassing times:
- Weekdays: 4-7 PM (after work hours)
- Weekends: 10 AM-1 PM or 3-6 PM
Avoid early mornings before 9 AM. Skip late evenings after 8 PM. Residents respond better during reasonable hours.
Protect your team during field actions. Review our canvassing safety tips before heading out.
What Should You Realistically Expect When Canvassing?
Expect 30-50% of residents to answer their doors. Not every knock becomes a conversation.
Realistic canvassing expectations:
- Answer rate: 30-50% of doors
- Conversations per 2-3 hour shift: 20-40
- Quality matters more than quantity
- Some days perform better than others
Track your numbers to improve over time. Every field action builds experience. Consistency beats intensity.
Learn proven techniques in our guide on 10 tips for canvassing effectively.
Want to mobilize volunteers faster? See how organizations use Qomon in our canvassing app case study and start planning smarter field actions today.
How to Plan Your Canvassing Time Effectively
Start with a 2-3 hour block and adjust based on results. Track your pace during the first few shifts.
Step-by-step time planning:
- Choose a 2-3 hour window during peak contact times
- Prepare your door list the day before
- Map your route to minimize walking
- Set a realistic door target (40-50 doors)
- Take a 5-minute break every hour
- Stop before fatigue affects quality
Experienced canvassers complete shifts faster. New volunteers should start with shorter shifts. Build endurance gradually.
The most "Qomon" questions:
How long does door-to-door canvassing take?
A standard canvassing session takes 2-3 hours. Expect to knock 40-50 doors and have 20-40 real conversations during this time.
How many minutes per door when canvassing?
Plan for 2-4 minutes per answered door on average. No-answers take 15-30 seconds. Engaged conversations can reach 5-10 minutes.
What is the best shift length for canvassing volunteers?
2-3 hours is ideal for most volunteers. Shorter shifts work for quick outreach. Longer shifts (4+ hours) increase burnout risk.
How many doors can you knock in 2 hours?
Most canvassers knock 30-40 doors in 2 hours. This includes walking time, conversations, and note-taking. Urban areas allow higher volume.
What time of day is best for canvassing?
Weekday evenings (4-7 PM) work best. Weekend windows include 10 AM-1 PM and 3-6 PM. Avoid very early or very late hours.
