Creating engaging, on-brand email designs is an essential part of successful marketing—but Outlook can make things a bit more challenging. Thanks to its unique rendering engine, emails that look great elsewhere may not appear as expected in Outlook. Below are some common design issues specific to Outlook, along with practical solutions to help ensure your emails remain polished and professional.
The issue: Images sometimes stretch unnaturally, expanding beyond the layout and distorting your design.
The fix:
Keep all image widths at or below 600px.
If using multiple images in a row, ensure their combined width doesn’t exceed 600px.
Consider using image blocks or layout structures designed to enforce width limits.
The issue: Random white lines may appear in the body of the email, disrupting the visual flow.
The fix:
Add padding above or below the affected section.
Change the background color of that section to white.
Insert a paragraph break to create distance from the white line.
These approaches won’t always eliminate the issue completely but can significantly reduce its visibility.
The issue: Outlook versions don’t consistently support background images, leading to gaps in your design.
The fix:
Add a fallback background color that closely matches your intended background image.
Use solid-color backgrounds when possible to ensure a consistent appearance across all versions of Outlook.
The issue: Outlook may block images by default and display a security message instead.
The fix:
Add alt text to all images. This helps Outlook interpret image content and also supports accessibility best practices.
Use descriptive alt text that aligns with the image’s function or purpose within your message.
The issue: Outlook’s mobile view often renders differently than other email clients, sometimes breaking layouts.
Why this happens: Outlook uses Microsoft Word as its rendering engine, which handles code in a less web-friendly way than modern browsers or mobile clients.
The fix:
Stick to the recommendations above—particularly image sizing and fallback colors.
Test your email in Outlook mobile to catch any unexpected issues early.
When possible, use responsive design techniques supported by Outlook’s rendering limitations.
If you’re running into design issues not covered here, our support team is here to help. We can connect you with a designer who’ll work with you to troubleshoot and find the best solution for your unique needs.