How to Build Responsive HTML Email Templates

Email templates are still the key tools for work and brands in HTML. A simple email can reach many people, but a poor design can ruin the message. So a clear HTML email template helps share content the right way and fit any screen.

What is the HTML Email Template

An HTML email template is a coded layout for text, images, and links. Brands use it to keep one style and speed up campaigns.

Users open mail on phones and desktops. A fixed layout fails on some screens. A responsive template adapts to all devices and keeps readers.

Email code must stay simple with HTML and inline CSS. Many apps block new tags and advanced styles. Inline rules handle font, size, color, and spacing safely.

Most apps reject modern layout tags. Templates use tables for header, body, and footer. With CSS, each part resizes for the screen.

Mobile-first starts from small screens and grows wider. Desktop-first starts wide and shrinks. Mobile-first works better since most mail is read on phones.

Media queries detect screen size. They change font, move blocks, and adapt layout for each device.

Examples

Simple two-column email with fallback

<table width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td width="50%">Left block</td>
    <td width="50%">Right block</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
@media (max-width:600px){
  td {display:block; width:100%;}
}
</style>

This code builds a two-block layout with equal parts. On the desktop, both blocks stay side by side. On a small phone each block moves under the other.

Mobile-first design with single column focus:

<table width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td style="font-size:18px;">Main title text</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="font-size:14px;">Body text goes here</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
@media (min-width:601px){
  td {font-size:20px;}
}
</style>

This code starts from phone screens with smaller text and one column. On large screens the text grows in size to match more space.

Responsive email with header, body, and footer:

<table width="100%">
  <tr><td>Header block with logo</td></tr>
  <tr><td>Body block with main text</td></tr>
  <tr><td>Footer block with links</td></tr>
</table>
<style>
@media (max-width:600px){
  td {padding:10px; font-size:14px;}
}
</style>

This layout holds three main blocks. Each block has its own role. On phones, the text shrinks and the padding grows small. On desktops, the space looks wide.

Hybrid responsive email with image and text:

<table width="100%">
  <tr>
    <td width="40%"><img src="image.jpg" width="100%"></td>
    <td width="60%">Text block with product info</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
@media (max-width:600px){
  td {display:block; width:100%;}
  img {width:100%;}
}
</style>

This code shows you an image and text together. They are in the same row for big screens, and converted to two rows for the tablets and phones.

Wrapping Up

You learned what an HTML email template is and why it must adapt to many screens.

Here is a quick recap:

• An email template must stay simple, work on tables, and apply queries to adapt for both phone and desktop.

FAQs

<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
  <tr>
    <td align="center">
      <table width="600" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
        <tr>
          <td>Your content here</td>
        </tr>
      </table>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

<style>
@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
  .container {
    width: 100% !important;
  }
}
</style>

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Example" style="width:100%; height:auto;">

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