Almost every company requires the use of email signatures, and they’re also used by small businesses, freelancers, and anyone who wants their emails to have a more professional look and feel. However, it can be tricky to decide on the perfect size for your email signature. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s the Best Size for Email Signatures?
There’s no set rule on how big or small an email signature should be. That said, 300 x 600 pixels is widely considered to be a good size.
However, there is some wiggle room when it comes to the sizing. For example, if your target market uses mobile more than desktop, you may want to keep your signature to 320 pixels wide for better readability.
What Are the Maximum Email Signature Dimensions?
It’s recommended that you don’t create a email signature bigger than 300 x 700 pixels.
What Format Should Your Email Signature Be?
A best practice to keep in mind when creating your email signature is that you should only use common image formats like PNG or JPEG. Make sure that images are scaled down before you put them into your signature. If you have some coding skills, you can scale them with CSS and HTML.
What Is the Maximum Email Signature File Size?
Again, there are no set rules for maximum email sizes, but generally speaking the smaller the signature is (i.e., fewer kb), the better. Having a large email signature actually uses up more electricity, so if you have a large organization, this cost can add up.
How Do You Pick the Best Size for Your Email Signature?
The best size for an email signature will vary from one business or situation to another, but here a few things for you to consider in 2024.
1. Consider Your Target Market
Take a few minutes to think about your target market and ask yourself a few questions, including but not limited to:
- Do they read emails on a desktop or mobile?
- Are they likely to click on social media links?
2. Think About the Imagery You Use
The imagery you include in your signature is also related to your target market. If you work in a creative field, for example, then larger imagery can work. If your target market is more professional, then you might need to stay away from imagery altogether.
As a quick and fast rule, don’t include huge images as they distract from the actual message.
The Importance Of Banner Size
Banner size is important because you don’t want to overcrowd your signature with too much text or imagery, and the 650 pixel width allows the image to fit on one page if you print out the email.
Signature Banner Size
Between 650 pixels wide and around 100 pixels high is the ideal size for a banner in your email signature. It’ll allow it to be viewable, but still not obstruct the preview or smartphone views.
Resolution For Email Banner Email Signatures
72 DPI is a great resolution to be able to zoom in on the image a hundred percent if you save it as a PNG file. Also try to make it smaller than 40 KB to make sure that you keep your email weight low. This allows faster loading and better delivery rates.
The Best Size And Format For Banner Animations In Your Email Signature
Use GIF files when you add an animation to your signature’s banner. Keep it under 45 KB in terms of file size.
Two to three frames of around 2-3 seconds is typically good and you should have an image resolution of 72 DPI. In other words, keep your animations simple so that you can communicate your message without overwhelming the recipient.
Logo Dimensions
When it comes to logo dimensions, keep it to 100 pixels by 100 pixels. It’s impossible to prescribe a specific logo size, but with that rule of thumb, you should be able to use your branding in almost any email signature.
The Number Of Images In An Email Signature
You don’t want your email signature to be too busy. 2-3 images is plenty. Other than that, you may start to confuse the recipient and that could have the opposite effect.
Try to keep your images contrasting and under the size of 15 kb each. Otherwise they might be shown as attachments.
What Image Dimensions Did You Include In Your Email Signature?
Around 300 to 400 pixels wide and around 80 pixels high is a good start for image dimensions.
The Image Resolution To Use For Email Signatures
Use 72 DPI so that it will display perfectly when it’s on 100% zoom. In terms of shapes, use squares, circles, or other easy-to-recognize geometry.
File Size For Email Signature Images
Anything under 40 KB should help keep your email light and fast.
Social Media Icon Sizing For Gmail
The recommended sizing for email signature social media icons is 22 by 22 pixels.
Mobile Email Signatures
For a mobile email signature use a font size between 11 pixels and 26 pixels. This avoids distracting from the email’s content while keeping it legible.
Gmail Email Signature Size
For an image size, keep it 80 pixels high by 200 pixels wide and use PNG format. For the signature size itself aim for 170 pixels high by 200 pixels wide.
Outlook Email Signature Size
170 by 200 pixels is a good size for the signature, with an image size of 650px wide, and a data size of smaller than 10 KB.
Signature Logo Size
For the logo size in an email signature, keep it 100 pixels by 100 pixels.
How Right Inbox Can Help with Email Signatures
To help you manage your email signatures, Right Inbox includes a useful email signature feature that’s intuitive and easy to use – you don’t need any coding skills, and it includes a WYSIWYG editor to make the process even simpler.
With Right Inbox, you can add multiple signatures to your Gmail account and switch between them at the click of a button. You can add up to 5 different email signatures with Right Inbox’s free plan. To check it out, head over to the Chrome store to download the extension for free.
Some Quick Email Signature Design Tips
Your email signature has two main jobs: to let the reader know as much about you and your business in as little space as possible, and to attract the recipient’s attention – while making sure not to distract them from the email body.
1. Make sure your signature has a responsive design to account for the fact that more and more people are reading and answering their emails on their phones. It’s important for your signature to look great when viewed on different devices.
2. Make sure you include all necessary details including your name, company, title, contact information, and social media profiles. You’d be surprised how many people miss certain information.
3. Keep the design uncluttered for easier reading.
4. Don’t use too many fonts as this can make it difficult to read.
5. Don’t go overboard with images. Try not to add more than one or two images – in this case, less is definitely more.
Additional Reading: 15 Best Email Signatures Examples
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David Campbell is the editor of the Right Inbox blog. He is passionate about email productivity and getting more done in less time.