How-to's · Email marketing · 3 min read
How to Add Columns in a Mailchimp Template
Short answer
In Mailchimp's new builder, click Add and drag a Layout block into your email, then use the Number of columns setting to choose how many columns you want and the Desktop column ratio to set their widths. Drop content blocks into each column and set Mobile content orientation to control how they stack on phones.
Columns let you put a product image next to its description, show three best sellers side by side or split an email into a neat grid. Mailchimp handles this differently depending on which builder you use.
Which builder are you using?
Mailchimp has a new builder and a classic builder. New accounts default to the new builder. If you see a left panel with drag-and-drop blocks and a "Layout" option, you're in the new builder.
Adding columns in the new builder
- Open your email and click Edit in the Content section.
- Click Add to open the block panel.
- Drag a Layout block into the email where you want columns.
- Choose a blank layout (empty columns) or a prebuilt layout with placeholder content.
- In the layout's settings, use Number of columns to set the count.
- Pick a Desktop column ratio, for example 50/50, 33/67 or 25/75.
- Drag content blocks (image, text, button, product) into each column.
- Click Save and exit.
Mobile settings
Phones are where columns break. In the layout settings, find Mobile content orientation to control how columns appear on small screens. Stacking them vertically is usually the right call for anything with text.
Mailchimp also lets you turn off Link Desktop and Mobile Styles so you can set different padding, margins and alignment for mobile. Use it to tighten spacing that looks fine on desktop but wastes space on a phone.
Adding columns in the classic builder
The classic builder is more template-driven. Options include:
- Choosing a multi-column template from the Layouts tab when you start the email.
- Image Group and Image Card blocks, which can place images side by side or image-next-to-text.
- Text block settings, where some versions let you split text into two columns.
If you need more flexibility, switching the campaign to the new builder is usually easier than fighting the classic one.
Design tips for column layouts
Use columns for scanning, not reading. Long paragraphs in narrow columns are tiring. Columns suit product cards, feature lists and short blurbs.
Keep images the same size. Mismatched heights make grids look messy. Crop product images to the same ratio before uploading. See our guide to the best image size for Mailchimp.
Give each column one action. In a product grid, each product gets its own "Shop" button.
Mind the font size. Text that's readable at full width can get tiny in a three-column grid on mobile. Our article on the best font size for email covers minimums.
Test before sending. Use Mailchimp's preview mode and send a test to your phone. Check Gmail and Outlook if a lot of your audience uses them, because column rendering varies by email client.
Common layouts for ecommerce emails
| Layout | Use it for |
|---|---|
| 1 column | Announcements, stories, plain-text-style emails |
| 2 columns (50/50) | Product image + description, before/after |
| 2 columns (33/67) | Small image with longer text |
| 3 columns | Best sellers, category links, feature icons |
| 4 columns | Social icons, tiny product thumbnails (desktop only) |
Save layouts you reuse
Once you've built a product grid or image-and-text layout you like, save the email as a template or reuse sections in future campaigns. Consistent layouts make your emails recognizable, cut build time for every send and reduce the risk of formatting mistakes when you're working to a deadline.
When to skip columns
Plain, single-column emails often perform as well as heavily designed ones, especially for personal-feeling messages like welcome emails or founder notes. If your goal is a conversation, keep it simple. Our piece on conversational email marketing explains why.
If you're attaching documents too, see how to attach a PDF in Mailchimp.
Frequently asked questions
How many columns should an email have?
Two columns is the practical maximum for most content. Three or four work for small product grids or icons, but they get cramped on mobile.
Do columns stack on mobile?
They can. Mailchimp's new builder has a Mobile content orientation setting that controls how columns display on phones.
Can I add columns in the classic builder?
The classic builder relies on templates and specific blocks (like image groups, image cards and text block column settings) rather than freeform layout blocks.
Sources and further reading
Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.