Typically achieved sample sizes
New Zealand and Australia: Ideally surveys achieve a minimum sample of n=400 nationally representative respondents.
United States: For the US, surveys achieve a minimum sample of n=800 to allow for detailed analysis of smaller subgroups, such as by state.
Why does sample size matter?
Population size and accuracy: The size of the population does not impact the accuracy of survey estimates—only the sample size affects accuracy.
Margin of error:
A typical sample of n=400 provides a margin of error of 4.6%.
Doubling the sample size to n=800 reduces the margin of error only slightly, to 3.5%.
Explore statistical significance: Click here to learn more.
Filtering for targeted insights
If you want to survey a specific subset of the population (e.g., 18–34-year-olds), you can:
Use profiling questions to filter your audience.
Speak to our team to ensure your sample size remains robust for the insights you need.
Can I boost the sample size?
In some cases, boosting the sample size may be necessary, such as when targeting a narrow audience segment. Here’s how we can help:
Boosting surveys
How It works: Additional samples can be collected over two (or more) nights of surveying.
Costs: boosted surveys typically cost double the standard sample, though efficiencies may be possible.
Next steps: Contact us at research@goideally.com for more information.
Custom panel integration
Your own customer base: Survey up to 1,000 respondents using Ideally’s Custom Panel integration.
Learn More: Reach out to our team to explore this option further.
Key takeaways
Accurate sampling: Larger sample sizes improve accuracy, but gains diminish as the size increases (e.g., n=400 to n=800).
Targeting options: Filtering and boosting provide flexibility for specific audience insights.
Expert guidance: Consult our team to determine the ideal sample size for your project.