Best Practices: Tips to Reduce Email Template Size

When an email is larger than 102 KB, Gmail automatically clips the message and adds a “View entire message” link. This means recipients may not see the full content right away, which can lower engagement and make the email feel incomplete.

Clipping can also affect tracking, since the tracking pixel may be cut off and open rates recorded incorrectly. In addition, larger emails have a higher chance of being flagged by spam filters because of extra code, images, or tracking elements.

By keeping emails under 102 KB, you ensure that the entire message is displayed to recipients, analytics remain accurate, and deliverability is improved.

Creating beautiful emails is important, but keeping them lightweight ensures they load fast, avoid spam filters, and display consistently across clients. Below are proven methods to optimize your Postcards templates.

1. Multiple Modules Increase Email Weight

Splitting content into many modules may look flexible, but it comes at a cost:

Each module adds extra wrappers, styles, and spacing.
File size grows quickly, making emails slower to load.
Heavier templates risk being flagged by spam filters.
Too many layers make alignment and editing more complicated.

Why it matters: Large, cluttered emails don’t just slow down performance – they make collaboration harder, too.

2. Fewer Modules Keep Emails Light

Instead of stacking lots of modules, try using fewer, unified blocks.

A leaner codebase = fewer kilobytes.
Faster loading = better user experience.
Cleaner structure = easier edits and polished design.

Think minimal: less code, more impact.

3. Export as Image

For complex layouts that would otherwise require many modules, use the Export as Image option.

Advantages:

Reduce email size from hundreds of KB to just a few.
Guarantee design consistency across all desktop clients.
Ensure your layout looks exactly as intended.

Limitations:

Text won’t be selectable or copyable.
Interactive elements (like real buttons) won’t work.
You can only apply one link to the entire image.

Best for: one-off campaigns where exact design fidelity matters more than interactivity.

How to Use Export as Image

Select a Module → Click on the block you want to convert into an image.
Locate the Option → In the right panel, just under the Anchor option, you’ll find Export as Image.
Enable It → Toggle the switch.

A light-blue info box will appear with the message:

“Please note that enabling this feature will disable links, buttons, text selection, and mobile view settings in the exported template.”

This box can be hidden if you don’t want it to distract you.

Choose Resolution → Pick the right option for your needs:
- 1x (No Retina Support):
  - Standard resolution, smallest file size.
  - Good for simple layouts or when file weight is the top priority.
- 2x (Retina Support):
  - Balanced choice – higher clarity on modern displays without being too heavy.
  - Recommended for most cases.
- 3x (Hi-HDPI Support):
  - Ultra-sharp on high-density screens.
  - Ideal for designs with lots of detail, but file size increases significantly.

4. Remove Unnecessary Fonts

Fonts add weight too.

Limit font variants (only Regular & Bold if possible).
Avoid linking to external fonts (like Google Fonts).
Stick to system fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Verdana) for best performance.

Lightweight fonts = faster load + consistent rendering.

5. Grids: Powerful but Heavy

Why grids are great:

Easy horizontal layouts.
Containers stay neat and balanced.
Mobile-friendly (collapse into stacks).

The trade-off:

Every grid adds HTML code.
Nesting grids = rapid file size growth.

Best practice:

Use grids only where they add real value.
Keep structures simple to balance flexibility and performance.

Summary

Use fewer modules where possible.
Avoid excessive use of grids, items, tables, and other elements that necessitate extensive coding.
Export heavy designs as images if consistency matters.
Limit custom fonts.
Use grids strategically.

Your emails will be lighter, faster, and more reliable – without sacrificing design quality.