How to Prevent Email Clipping (Inbox Clipping)

What does “email clipping” mean?

Email clipping occurs when the recipient’s email service — such as Gmail — automatically shortens a message that is too long.

In these cases, the user only sees part of the email, along with a message like:

“[Message clipped] View entire message”

This happens when the total size of the email exceeds the limit defined by the email provider (for example, 102 KB in Gmail).

Although the full message is delivered, part of its content remains hidden until the recipient clicks to view the entire email.

Why does this happen?

The main reasons why an email gets clipped are:

• Total message size: The HTML, text, tracking code, and other elements add up and may exceed the size limit (around 102 KB in Gmail).
• Excessive code or formatting: Complex HTML, multiple nested tables, or formatting copied from other sources (such as Word or Google Docs) increases the message size.
• Too many images or emojis: Each additional element takes up space and contributes to the total message weight.
• Threaded conversations: Gmail, for instance, groups emails with the same subject line, and the thread may become long enough to trigger clipping.

What are the impacts of a clipped email?

• Loss of important information: The recipient might not see key content such as call-to-action buttons, offers, or instructions.
• Hidden links: The unsubscribe link might be cut off, which could affect compliance and increase the risk of being marked as spam.
• Distorted metrics: If the tracking pixel is clipped, open and click rates may be recorded inaccurately.
• Negative user experience: The recipient may think the email is incomplete or unreliable.

Best practices to prevent email clipping

1. Keep your email lightweight

Reduce the total size of your message by using a clean, simple layout.

Avoid complex HTML or CSS and limit the number of sections and inline styles.

2. Compress images and visual assets

Use optimized images with appropriate dimensions.

Whenever possible, host images externally instead of embedding them directly in the email body.

3. Avoid pasting formatted content

If you write your text in another program (such as Word or Google Docs), copy only the plain text.

Hidden formatting can add unnecessary code and increase the email’s HTML size.

4. Use fewer emojis and special characters

Each additional character increases the total email size.

Only use emojis when they add real value to your message.

5. Split long content

If your email contains a lot of information, consider sending multiple messages or include only a short summary with a “Read more” button linking to a full page on your website.

6. Check the message size before sending

Send a test email and, if you use Gmail, select “Download message” to check the actual file size.

Ideally, keep it under 90 KB to ensure a safety margin.

7. Change the subject line between sends

When sending multiple tests or similar campaigns, slightly modify the subject line to prevent the email client from grouping them into a single conversation thread.

Avoiding email clipping is essential to ensure that your entire message is delivered and displayed correctly to recipients.

By following these best practices keeping content light, optimizing images, and simplifying code you’ll ensure better visibility, engagement, and a smoother reading experience.

Updated on: 06/11/2025