How Many Doors Can a Canvasser Hit in an Hour?

When managing or working on a door-to-door campaign, one of the most frequently asked questions is: how many doors can a canvasser hit in an hour? The answer, as with most things in political canvassing, depends on several factors: the universe of targeted doors, the density of those doors, the tools a canvasser has at their disposal, and the length of the survey they are conducting.

The Impact of Door Density

Door density is one of the most significant factors influencing how many doors a canvasser can hit in an hour. The door universe—essentially, the physical proximity of houses—determines how quickly a canvasser can transition from one home to the next.

High-Density Areas (Urban and Suburban Neighborhoods) In neighborhoods where houses are closely packed, a canvasser can efficiently move from door to door. They can often walk just a few steps between homes, minimizing travel time. These areas are ideal for maximizing door counts, especially when canvassers are on foot.
Mixed-Density Areas (Micro-Targeted Universes) Some canvassing universes may include both high-density and low-density regions. In these cases, strategic planning is crucial to ensure canvassers work efficiently. Campaigns might dedicate more resources, like scooters or carpooling, to low-density areas while assigning walking routes to urban or suburban neighborhoods.
Low-Density Areas (Rural Communities or Spread-Out Subdivisions) Rural or low-density areas present a challenge. In these environments, canvassers might have to travel longer distances between homes. Even if they’re driving or using a scooter, the time spent traveling cuts into the number of doors they can hit in an hour. Additionally, in rural settings, houses might not be clearly marked or accessible, adding to inefficiencies.

Understanding the density of your targeted door universe is the foundation of accurate canvassing expectations. Without this context, it’s impossible to predict how many doors a canvasser can realistically hit in an hour.

The Tools Matter

The tools a canvasser uses to navigate their route can significantly affect their efficiency and door count. Different modes of transportation and tools have varying impacts:

On Foot In densely populated urban or suburban neighborhoods, canvassers often operate on foot. Walking between houses is simple, cost-effective, and reliable, especially when homes are only a few steps apart. However, canvassing on foot in rural or spread-out areas drastically limits the number of doors hit per hour due to increased travel time.
Electric Scooters Scooters provide a faster way to navigate mid-density neighborhoods or areas where houses are a bit farther apart. They are especially useful for campaigns that need to maximize time while still maintaining a physical presence in neighborhoods. However, scooters require proper maintenance, battery charging, and routes free of difficult terrain (like gravel or uneven roads).
Cars In low-density rural areas or regions with significant gaps between houses, driving is often the only practical option. Cars allow canvassers to cover large distances quickly, but they come with logistical challenges, such as finding safe parking and ensuring that canvassers don’t spend too much time walking back and forth to their vehicle.
Additional Tools Campaigns can equip canvassers with other tools, such as route-mapping apps, to further streamline their work. Digital tools can provide optimized walking paths or clear instructions for navigating rural areas, reducing inefficiencies.

The choice of tools should align with the campaign’s goals and the specifics of the canvassing universe. Urban campaigns may rely heavily on foot canvassing, while rural efforts may prioritize vehicles or scooters.

Survey Length Plays a Role

The survey or script length is another critical factor in determining how many doors a canvasser can hit in an hour. The more detailed the conversation or data collection, the longer canvassers will spend at each door.

Short Surveys Short scripts that ask one or two simple questions or involve leaving literature can be completed in less than two minutes per door. This allows canvassers to move quickly and hit more doors per hour, making short surveys ideal for high-density areas or campaigns focused on broad reach.
Long Surveys Campaigns that require canvassers to collect detailed data or have in-depth conversations with voters may take 5-10 minutes per door. These interactions lower the hourly door count but provide richer insights or persuasive engagement. For example, a detailed survey about voter preferences or policy stances will naturally require more time.

Campaigns should carefully consider the trade-off between the depth of engagement and the number of voters reached. A clear understanding of survey length helps in setting realistic canvassing expectations.

Average for Low- Density, Mixed-Density, and High Density Universes.

Density Type	Average Time/Door	Door/Hour	Doors/8 hour shift
High Density	2.25 Minutes	26 to 27	208 to 216
Mixed Density	5.25 Minutes	11 to 12	88 to 96
Low Density	8.25 Minutes	7 to 8	56 to 64

Methodologies for universes were based on a 25% take rate with 2 minute conversation times with voters, and waiting a minute at houses where voters were not home. Travel times between homes vary by density type. For an in-depth look at our methodologies, please click here.

The Importance of Realistic Expectations for Canvassers

Understanding what canvassers can realistically accomplish in an hour is crucial for any successful door-to-door campaign. While the number of doors a canvasser can hit depends on factors like door density, the survey length, and the tools they’re using, there are clear benchmarks that provide a realistic range. On average, a canvasser can hit 26 to 27 doors per hour and reach approximately 213 to 216 doors in an 8-hour shift under high-density conditions.

However, when canvassers report hitting 350+ doors in an 8-hour shift, it’s almost always a red flag. Achieving such a number would require hitting more than 43 doors per hour, a pace that is nearly impossible even under the most ideal conditions. This kind of false reporting often indicates outright fraud, where canvassers falsely log doors they never visited.

This behavior is not just dishonest—it’s blatant theft. Canvassers who cheat are stealing money directly from the campaign or candidate that is paying them. Campaigns operate on tight budgets, and every dollar wasted on fraudulent work undermines their ability to reach voters and achieve their goals. Beyond the financial impact, this unethical behavior damages the integrity of the campaign and erodes trust among stakeholders.

Cheating in this way is a clear violation of ethical standards and disrespects the hard work of those who are genuinely committed to the campaign’s success. It’s a reminder of why campaigns must implement strict accountability measures to ensure that every canvasser is doing the work they’re being paid to do.

Why Realistic Benchmarks Matter

Setting realistic expectations is vital to maintain the integrity of the campaign. By understanding the real capacity of canvassers, campaign managers can:

Accurately measure performance: Identifying high-performing canvassers and addressing potential fraud.
Optimize resources: Allocating staff and tools efficiently without overburdening the team.
Build trust with stakeholders: Ensuring accurate data and honest reporting strengthens confidence among campaign stakeholders.

Campaigns should adjust their expectations based on the specifics of their canvassing universe, such as rural vs. urban areas, and the resources provided to canvassers, such as transportation tools and high-quality training.

Black Peak’s Commitment to Field Integrity

At Black Peak, we understand the nuances of field operations and specialize in designing canvassing strategies that maximize impact while ensuring accountability. Whether you're targeting urban neighborhoods or rural areas, we focus on making every door count—and making sure those doors were actually knocked.

If you're ready to elevate your field campaign with realistic strategies and integrity-focused operations, let’s get started today. Learn more at www.blackpeakllc.com