Two-Column Email Layout
Two-column layouts let you display content side by side—great for product showcases, feature highlights, or image + text combos.
But in email development, you can’t rely on modern CSS like flexbox or grid. Instead, you’ll use <table>-based layouts to make sure everything works across email clients, especially Outlook.
✅ Why Use a Two-Column Layout?
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| More visual flexibility | Show image + text, or product + description side by side |
| Still mobile-friendly | Stack columns on small screens using hybrid techniques |
| Great for content balance | Use space more efficiently in wider layouts |
🔧 Sample Markup (Stackable Columns)
Here’s the basic structure for a single-column layout:
See the Pen Two-Column Layout by Email Code Camp (@EmailCodeCamp) on CodePen.
🧠 Layout Tips
- Use percentages (
width="50%") to keep it flexible - Add padding inside each
<td>to space out content - For mobile responsiveness, combine this with media queries or hybrid layout techniques to stack columns on smaller screens
- Always test in Outlook and Gmail—they can render side-by-side layouts differently
📐 Common Use Cases
- Image + text content blocks
- Product listings with description and price
- Icon with explanation
- Side-by-side callouts
💡 Want to Make It Responsive?
On smaller screens, these two columns won’t stack unless you use:
- Hybrid coding (table-based structure + inline block)
- Media queries with
display: blockoverrides