An email column is a vertical segment within a row that allows side-by-side content, such as an image next to text or a multi-product grid. Columns enable richer layouts, but they also increase the risk of client-specific rendering issues if they are not designed conservatively.
How Columns Behave Across Clients
If your audience is mostly mobile, prioritize stacking behavior over perfect desktop symmetry. A layout that stacks cleanly and keeps the primary CTA prominent usually outperforms a visually complex grid that becomes cramped on phones.
Columns are interpreted differently by each email client. Some clients handle stacking elegantly, while others struggle with complex structures. Mobile behavior is especially important because a mobile email client may force columns to stack, resize images, or change spacing in ways that alter hierarchy.
Designing Columns That Degrade Well
If you must support complex grids, consider simplifying to two columns for most emails and reserving larger grids for clients with strong support. A smaller number of robust patterns usually outperforms a large number of fragile layouts.
The safest approach is to limit complexity. Avoid deep nesting, keep column counts reasonable, and design for stacking from the start. Validating columns against gmail rendering and apple mail rendering covers a large portion of real-world inbox behavior and helps you catch common edge cases.
Keeping Column Content Readable
For dense information, consider converting a grid into stacked cards on mobile. This preserves hierarchy and keeps interaction targets large, while still allowing a compact layout on desktop.
Columns often fail when content becomes too dense. Use clear spacing, avoid tiny text, and ensure buttons have enough room. If a column layout makes scanning harder on mobile, it is usually better to stack the content vertically.
Email Column and Topol
Topol helps teams use columns safely by generating stable email structures and encouraging layout patterns that render consistently across clients. Learn more at Topol or create an account at Topol signup.