Why Gmail Clips Your Emails at 102 KB (and How to Fix It)
November 1, 2026 · 7 min read · Gmail · Deliverability · HTML size
If you have ever seen "[Message clipped] View entire message" at the bottom of an email in Gmail, you have met the 102 KB limit. When the HTML of a message exceeds roughly 102 KB, Gmail shows only the first part and hides the rest behind a link.
Why it matters
- Your footer disappears. The unsubscribe link and postal address usually live at the bottom. If they are clipped, readers who want to leave may mark you as spam instead.
- Tracking can break. Open-tracking pixels are often near the end of the email. If they are clipped, opens may go unrecorded.
- Calls to action vanish. Anything below the cutoff is effectively invisible to most readers.
What counts toward the limit
The limit applies to the HTML code itself, not images. Images are loaded separately and don't count, unless they are embedded as data URIs in the HTML. What adds weight:
- inline styles repeated on every element
- whitespace and indentation
- HTML comments
- long tracking URLs repeated across many links
- code generated by drag-and-drop builders
- personalization logic left in the final output
Remember that your ESP may add code when it sends — tracking links and extra markup — so aim to stay comfortably under the limit, not just under it.
How to fix a clipped email
- Minify. Removing whitespace and comments can cut a large share of the size. Keep Outlook conditional comments like <!--[if mso]> — they are needed.
- Remove unused CSS. Builders often include styles for components you don't use.
- Shorten repeated inline styles. Move common styles into a style block in the head where clients support it, keeping critical inline styles.
- Trim content. Long product grids are the most common cause. Link to the website for the full catalog.
- Avoid embedded images. Host images and link to them.
How KLinh Preflight helps
Preflight shows a live byte counter and draws a red clip line on the preview exactly where Gmail would cut off the email. The one-click Optimize & Minify button strips safe whitespace and comments while keeping Outlook conditional comments. For Salesforce and Adobe templates, the clean bundle export minifies while leaving script blocks intact.
Create a campaign and paste your HTML to see where your email clips.