Table-Based Layouts vs Div-Based Layouts in HTML Emails: What Actually Works?

In the world of web development, using

elements is the norm. But when it comes to HTML emails, the rules are different — very different. A common question we get at Templyft is: “Can’t we just use modern layout techniques like divs, flexbox, or grid in emails?” The answer: not if you want your email to render perfectly across all clients. This post breaks down the difference between table-based and div-based layouts in HTML emails, and explains why tables are still the industry standard.

Why Email Development is Different from Web Development

Unlike modern web browsers, most email clients haven’t kept up with CSS and HTML rendering standards. Platforms like Outlook still use Microsoft Word to render emails — yes, Word.

That means your clean, modern

layout might:

  • Break entirely in Outlook
  • Be ignored in Gmail
  • Lose responsiveness on mobile

Email coding must prioritize maximum compatibility, not modern convenience.

Table-Based Layouts – The Reliable Standard

1. Pros:

  • Renders consistently in all major email clients
  • Works well with inline styles
  • Allows fixed and fluid widths
  • Easy to structure stacked layouts
  • Essential for Outlook compatibility

2. Cons:

  • More complex to write manually
  • Requires nesting and careful spacing
  • Slower to design compared to visual tools

Example Structure:

        
<table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
        <tr>
        <td align="center">
        <table width="600" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
        <tr>
          <td style="font-size: 16px; padding: 20px;">
            This is a safe, responsive layout block.
          </td>
        </tr>
        </table>
        </td>
        </tr>
        </table>

This layout will work in Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo, and even on legacy mobile clients.

Div-Based Layouts – The Web Standard That Fails in Email

1. Pros:

  • Cleaner markup (in theory)
  • Easier to apply modern layout models (flexbox, grid)
  • Familiar to most web developers

2. Cons:

  • Poor support in Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo
  • Doesn’t guarantee consistent rendering
  • Often results in broken or unaligned layouts
  • Lacks support for many CSS properties used in modern web

Example Risky Layout:

        
<div style="display: flex;">
          <div style="width: 50%;">Left Side</div>
          <div style="width: 50%;">Right Side</div>
        </div>

Might render completely broken in Outlook or not show at all in Gmail.

What Major Email Clients Support (and What They Don’t)

Email Client Table Support Div Support Flex/Grid Support
Gmail (Web) ✅ Full ⚠️ Limited ❌ None
Outlook 2016 ✅ Full ⚠️ Poor ❌ None
Apple Mail ✅ Full ✅ Full ⚠️ Limited
Yahoo Mail ✅ Full ⚠️ Unreliable ❌ None
Outlook App ✅ Full ⚠️ Poor ❌ None

Verdict: Tables are the only layout system you can rely on across all platforms.

Best Practices for Table-Based Layouts

  1. Set fixed widths for main content tables (typically 600px)
  2. Nest tables for layout complexity, not divs
  3. Use inline CSS for maximum compatibility
  4. Avoid float, position, and modern CSS features
  5. Use align and valign instead of flex/grid alignment

Stick with tried-and-tested techniques if rendering matters to you.

Can You Ever Use Divs in Email?

You can — cautiously — for simple blocks inside mobile-friendly containers. But never use divs for core layout. Treat them as decorative wrappers, not structural blocks. Example: wrapping a paragraph in a

with a background color is generally safe — but wrapping your entire grid layout in flexbox will backfire.

Summary – Which Should You Use?

Use Case Best Layout Type
Full email structure ✅ Full
Columns / Grids ✅ Nested tables
Small styling blocks ⚠️ Divs (limited)
Responsive layout ✅ Tables + media queries
Compatibility for all clients ✅ Tables only