How to get delisted from Spamhaus after being listed for email marketing practices?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 22 Jul 2025
Updated 18 Aug 2025
7 min read
Finding your domain or IP address on a major email blocklist like Spamhaus can be a significant setback, especially when it impacts your email marketing efforts. It means your meticulously crafted campaigns might not reach their intended recipients, leading to lost opportunities and damaged sender reputation. Understanding why you were listed is the first crucial step toward resolution.
Email marketing practices often walk a fine line between legitimate outreach and perceived spam. Even with the best intentions, certain actions or oversights can trigger blocklist algorithms, placing your sending infrastructure under scrutiny. This can be frustrating, as it directly impedes your ability to connect with your audience.
The good news is that being listed by Spamhaus isn't a permanent sentence. It's a signal that something in your sending process or list management needs attention. Getting delisted involves a systematic approach: identifying the root cause, rectifying the issues, and then formally requesting removal. While the process requires diligence, it's entirely manageable with the right steps.
Understanding Spamhaus blocklists and their impact
Spamhaus is a leading authority in fighting spam and related cyber threats. They maintain several highly influential blocklists (also known as blacklists) that internet service providers (ISPs) and mail servers use to filter incoming email traffic. Being listed on one of these lists means your emails are likely to be rejected or routed directly to spam folders by a large number of recipients.
For email marketers, a Spamhaus listing can be devastating for deliverability. Whether it's your IP address or domain that's been flagged, the result is the same: your campaigns won't perform as expected. This makes understanding their various lists and how they operate essential for any sender aiming for optimal inbox placement. You can always check if you are listed with the Spamhaus IP and Domain Reputation Checker.
Spamhaus compiles its lists based on various criteria, from confirmed spam activity to compromised systems or even certain business models they deem high-risk. While some listings might be due to technical issues, many stem directly from email marketing practices that fall short of industry best standards. This includes issues like poor list acquisition, lack of consent, or infrequent list hygiene.
Blocklist
What it lists
Common cause (marketing context)
SBL (Spam Block List)
IP addresses sending spam
Sending unsolicited email, high spam complaints.
PBL (Policy Block List)
IPs that should not be sending direct email to the internet
Dynamic IP addresses, misconfigured servers.
DBL (Domain Block List)
Domains used in spam or phishing
Spammy content in emails, phishing links, poor domain reputation.
CSS (Combined Spam Sources)
IPs with poor reputation across various Spamhaus lists
Accumulated negative sender behavior, high bounce rates.
Common reasons for listing in email marketing
When your email marketing efforts lead to a Spamhaus blocklist (or blacklist) listing, it's typically due to one or more factors related to how you manage your lists, engage with subscribers, or configure your sending infrastructure. Understanding these common culprits is key to preventing future issues and successfully getting delisted.
A primary cause is often the quality of your email list. Sending to outdated, purchased, or unengaged lists significantly increases the risk of hitting spam traps, which are email addresses specifically designed to identify spam senders. Additionally, high bounce rates or a surge in spam complaints from recipients are clear indicators to Spamhaus that your sending practices are problematic.
Another often overlooked reason is a compromised system or website. If your website is infected with malware, it could be sending spam without your knowledge, leading to your domain or IP being blocklisted. Similarly, a poorly configured server or a lack of proper email authentication like DMARC, SPF, and DKIM can also contribute to a listing, as it makes your emails appear less legitimate to receiving servers.
Poor practices
Obtaining email lists from third-party sources, leading to spam trap hits and high bounce rates.
Sending emails to unengaged subscribers who haven't opened or clicked in a long time.
Lack of clear consent from all recipients, leading to spam complaints.
Ignoring bounce notifications and continuing to send to invalid addresses.
Using generic or suspicious subject lines and content.
Best practices
Building lists through opt-in methods, preferably double opt-in.
Regularly cleaning your email list to remove inactive or invalid addresses.
Monitoring engagement metrics and segmenting campaigns.
Providing an easy and clear unsubscribe option in every email.
Ensuring your sending server is secure and not compromised.
The delisting process: a step-by-step approach
Once you've identified that you're listed and understand the likely cause, the next critical step is to address the underlying issues before initiating the delisting request. Spamhaus will not delist your IP or domain if the problem that caused the listing still exists, as this would likely lead to an immediate relisting.
Start by thoroughly auditing your email marketing practices. This might involve cleaning your subscriber lists to remove unengaged users or spam traps, implementing double opt-in for new subscribers, and reviewing your email content for anything that could be flagged as spam. For technical issues, ensure your servers are secure and that email authentication records (like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) are correctly configured. If your IP is listed on Spamhaus PBL, you might need to contact your ISP.
Before requesting delisting
It's imperative to resolve the root cause of the listing first. Spamhaus checks for persistent issues, and a premature request without addressing the problem will likely be denied, potentially delaying your actual delisting. Ensure you have concrete evidence that the issues have been fixed.
After resolving the issues, visit the Spamhaus Blocklist Removal Center. Enter your IP address or domain name to see its status and follow the specific removal procedure outlined. Each blocklist has slightly different requirements, but generally, you'll need to fill out a form detailing the steps you've taken to remediate the problem. Transparency and honesty are critical here. While Spamhaus processes most requests quickly (often within minutes to a few hours), it can take up to 24 hours for changes to propagate across the internet.
Preventing future listings
Getting delisted is a victory, but the real goal is to prevent relisting. Maintaining a healthy sender reputation and robust email marketing practices is an ongoing commitment. Proactive measures are far more effective than reactive delisting efforts.
Maintain a clean list: Regularly remove inactive subscribers, bounces, and addresses that hard bounce. Implement double opt-in to ensure consent and minimize spam trap hits.
Monitor engagement: Segment your audience based on engagement and consider suppressing or re-engaging less active subscribers. Low engagement signals can hurt your sender reputation over time.
Implement email authentication: Ensure your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly set up and aligned. These protocols help verify your emails and protect against spoofing, which can inadvertently lead to blocklistings. If you need help, our DMARC record generator can assist.
Monitor blocklists: Regularly check your IP and domain status on major blocklists. Early detection allows you to address issues before they significantly impact your deliverability. Consider using a blocklist checker to stay informed.
Educating your team on email marketing best practices is also vital. From content creation to list management, every aspect of your email program contributes to your sender reputation. A consistent, well-managed sending strategy reduces the likelihood of future Spamhaus (or any other blocklist) listings and ensures your email marketing continues to be effective.
Moving forward with stronger deliverability
Getting delisted from Spamhaus, especially after being listed for email marketing practices, is a clear signal to reassess your entire email program. It’s an opportunity to strengthen your sending hygiene, improve subscriber engagement, and reinforce your commitment to deliverability best practices. This incident should serve as a catalyst for a healthier, more compliant email strategy.
A proactive approach to email deliverability, including continuous monitoring and adherence to consent-based marketing, ensures that your messages reach the inbox consistently. By understanding the intricacies of email blocklists and implementing robust prevention strategies, you can safeguard your sender reputation and maximize the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always prioritize cleaning your email lists regularly to remove unengaged subscribers and potential spam traps.
Implement double opt-in for new subscribers to confirm their consent and reduce spam complaints.
Ensure all your email authentication records like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured.
Actively monitor your IP and domain against major blocklists to catch issues early.
Common pitfalls
Ignoring initial warnings or a sudden drop in email deliverability rates can lead to prolonged blocklisting.
Requesting delisting without fully resolving the underlying issue often results in rejections and delays.
Using outdated or purchased email lists significantly increases the risk of hitting spam traps.
Failing to secure your sending infrastructure can lead to compromise and subsequent blocklist listings.
Expert tips
Consider moving DNS hosting if a security breach compromised your existing setup, as a proactive security measure.
If Spamhaus has a 'philosophical' issue with your business model, prepare for a more challenging delisting process.
Document all steps taken to remediate the listing cause, as this will be crucial for your delisting request.
Be patient, as delisting can sometimes take time for the changes to propagate across different systems.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they advised their client that a hacker-induced listing was a blessing, as it was easier to get delisted by proving technical fixes to Spamhaus, rather than issues from email marketing practices.
2020-09-04 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they planned to recommend their client move their DNS hosting due to a prior compromise, aiming to present an airtight case to Spamhaus for immediate delisting.
Spamhaus
0Spam
Cisco
NoSolicitado
URIBL
abuse.ro
ALPHANET
Anonmails
Ascams
BLOCKEDSERVERS
Calivent Networks
EFnet
JustSpam
Kempt.net
NordSpam
RV-SOFT Technology
Scientific Spam
Spamikaze
SpamRATS
SPFBL
Suomispam
System 5 Hosting
Team Cymru
Validity
www.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting Service
ZapBL
2stepback.dk
Fayntic Services
ORB UK
technoirc.org
TechTheft
(Spam Block List)
