If you've ever had Gmail clip one of your newsletters with that "[Message clipped]" link at the bottom, you know it's frustrating. Not only does it look bad, but it can actually break your tracking pixels and cut off your footer (including your unsubscribe link, which is kind of important).
The Email Love Figma plugin shows you your file size right in the preview screen, so you can catch this issue before you send. And if you are over the limit, there are a couple of straightforward ways to fix it.
This guide covers:
- Why Gmail clips emails (and why you should care)
- How to check your file size in the plugin
- Two methods to reduce file size—one takes about 5 minutes, the other takes 30 seconds
- Some tips for keeping your emails efficient from the start
Gmail's limit is 102 KB. If you're anywhere close to that, these techniques will help you stay under it without sacrificing your design.
It’s worth noting that image file size does not impact email file size. The email file size is determined by the amount of HTML used in your email.
Checking Your Email File Size
When you preview your email in the plugin, look at the top right corner of the preview screen. You'll see the current file size displayed in kilobytes (e.g., "21 KB").
Rule of thumb: Aim to keep your emails under 95 KB to give yourself some buffer room.
Method 1: Optimize Your MJML Structure in Figma
The Email Love plugin uses MJML, an email framework that structures your design using wrappers, sections, and columns. Understanding this structure helps you build more efficient emails.
Understanding MJML Structure
- Wrapper: The container/table for your email section
- Section: The row within the wrapper (think of this as a horizontal slice)
- Column: The vertical divisions within a section (you can have up to 4 columns)
- Content: Images, text, and buttons live inside columns
The key insight: Each section adds code to your email. If you're building a single-column layout, you don't need multiple sections—you can combine everything into one section to reduce file size.
Method 2: Minify Your HTML Code
Minification removes all unnecessary spaces and line breaks from your HTML code without changing how it renders. This is a common practice that can reduce file size by 15-20%.
Using the Built-In Minification Button
- Select your email frame and click Export
- Look for the Minify button on the export page
- Enable minification — the plugin will automatically strip unnecessary spaces and line breaks from your HTML
- Export or copy your code as usual — it's already minified
Example results: A 13 KB email can be reduced to around 11 KB through minification.
Important Notes About Minification
- The code will look harder to read (no spaces or line breaks), but it renders exactly the same way in email clients
- You can always export without minification if you prefer readable code for troubleshooting
- This is safe to use and widely practiced in email development
Troubleshooting
Q: My email is still getting clipped after optimization. What do I do?
Try both methods together: First optimize your MJML structure, then enable the Minify button when exporting. If you're still over 102 KB, you may need to shorten your content or split it into multiple emails.
Q: Will minifying my code affect how the email looks?
No! Minification only removes spaces and line breaks that don't affect rendering. Your email will look identical to recipients.
Q: How do I know if Gmail is clipping my emails?
Send a test email to yourself at a Gmail address. Scroll to the bottom—if you see "[Message clipped]" or "View entire message," you're being clipped.
Questions?
If you need help optimizing your email structure or have questions about file size, reach out to our team. We're here to help you send better emails!
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