Email width and height

How wide can my HTML email design be?

The majority of email clients and Web-based email providers don't use the full width of your screen to display an email message. In addition, many email clients have a "preview pane" area which is even smaller than the area displayed when actually opening an email.

Using a wide design for an HTML email forces horizontal scroll bars to display for many email clients... and most users find horizontal scroll bars annoying.

Since it's usually best to avoid annoying your subscribers, it's a good idea to keep your emails to a fixed width of no more than 550 to 600 pixels. In most cases, this should ensure that your subscribers can view your email marketing campaign as you intended. ThinkSend designs typically use a pixel width of 550.

What about height?

Obviously, the height of each email you send will vary depending on the amount of content you have. 

However, it's always good to keep in mind that many of your recipients may scan your email in a preview pane before they decide to read the entire thing. Since the average preview pane is around 300-500 pixels high, we suggest including any important parts of your email in this area. Remember: first impressions count.