9 Best Gmail Email Templates (And How to Use Them)

Using Gmail email templates can give your correspondence a bit more personality and tie in your branding. Here we offer ten of the best templates, plus a tutorial for using custom HTML in Gmail.

9 Best Gmail Email Templates (And How to Use Them)
Portrait for Brenda BarronBy Brenda Barron  |  Updated July 19, 2024

Gmail is a popular email platform from Google that was introduced in 2004. While initially it had an HTML editor, that was quickly removed. This left Gmail with the WYSIWYG editor that makes it easy to compose and format your emails.

However, Gmail still supports HTML emails, which comes in handy if you want to spice up the look of your messages. For example, adding your photo to your email signature can make your email even more personal. And if you use Gmail for business purposes, perhaps you’d like to add your company logo or highlight special offers on your website.

That’s exactly where HTML templates come in. With the help of a Gmail email template, you can create a good-looking email without learning how to code. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create Gmail email templates as well as how to use HTML email templates in your Gmail account.

What Are Gmail Email Templates?

There are two kinds of Gmail email templates. First, you have email templates known as canned responses. These are email templates that you create to quickly reply to common emails you receive.

For example, if you invite guests over frequently, they might email you asking for directions to your house. Instead of typing it out every time, you can create an email template that you can reuse over and over again.

Or maybe you’re using Gmail for business, and you get the same type of inquiry all the time. You can save time by creating a template and sending it whenever someone asks that same question.

Gmail allows you to store up to 50 templates, so it’s easy to create different templates for different purposes. To do this, first you have to enable the template functionality within Gmail. Here’s how:

  • Click on the cogwheel icon in the top-right corner of your screen.
  • Click on See all settings.
  • Open the Advanced tab.
  • Scroll down to Templates and check Enable.
  • Click Save changes.

Now it’s time to create your first email template. Follow the steps below to do it:

  • Press the Compose button. This will open up a window where you can start composing your template.
  • Type whatever you’d like to say in your email, and when you’re done, click the three dots in the bottom-right corner of the Compose window
  • Select Template > Save draft as template > Save as new template.

You’ll then have the option to name your template. Keep in mind that whatever you name the template will appear as the subject line in your email.

If you ever want to edit the template, you’ll have to overwrite the existing template. All you have to do is compose the template and include the edits you want. Then, when it’s time to save, be sure to click on the name of the previously saved template and select the Overwrite Template option.

How to Use HTML Email Templates in Gmail

Now you know how to create your very own Gmail templates. These are fine for basic communication, quick replies and organized Gmail inboxes. But what if you want to make your emails look more custom?

As I mentioned earlier, that’s exactly where HTML email templates come in. In this part of the tutorial, we’ll take a look at how you can use a premade HTML template and use it within Gmail. For the purposes of this tutorial, I’ll be using the Maverick email template from Envato Elements.

Maverick email template

1. Customize Your Template

The first step is to customize your template. You can do this by using the StampReady Builder platform, or you can edit the HTML file yourself. If you decide to edit the code yourself, you’ll need a code editor like Notepad++ or Sublime Text.

The most important part of this process is to ensure that your images are stored in an online location, otherwise they won’t render properly when you send an email. You can use a web server or a service like Dropbox or Google Drive to store any important images.

Once you’ve uploaded images to Dropbox or Google Drive, copy the link to each individual image. Then, open your template in Sublime Text or your preferred editor and update the image links.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to customize your template with the StampReady Builder, your custom fonts won’t import.

Lastly, make sure that any styles are loaded inline as you can’t use external stylesheets with Gmail.

2. Open Your HTML Template in the Browser

The next thing you need to do is to open your HTML template in the browser. To do this, open the folder you’ve downloaded from Envato Elements and look for a folder labeled HTML. Right-click on the file that has the .html extension, and select Open With Chrome or whichever browser you’re using.

editing the code

This will open the template in the browser, where you can see what your template will look like. If you’re happy with how your email looks, you can move on to the next step.

3. Select the Code

To select the code for your email, whilst in your text editor, click Control-A on your keyboard. This will select all of the code as it is rendered in the browser, and that’s exactly what we want. Then press Control-C to copy the selected content.

4. Copy the Code to Gmail

Head on over to your Gmail and click on Compose. Then, press Control-V to paste the content of the email over.

paste into gmail

5. Save the Email as a Template

Once you’ve pasted the contents of the email over, check everything to make sure your email is displaying properly. Then, follow the steps I’ve outlined earlier to save it as a template:

  • Click the three dots.
  • Select Templates > Save draft as template > Save as new template.

Give it a name and save it. You can then test it out by sending it to yourself and use it whenever you want.

Best Gmail Email Templates From Envato Elements

Now that you know how to use HTML templates in Gmail, let’s take a look at some of the best Gmail email templates from Envato Elements. These templates feature a modern design and are easy to tailor to your specific needs.

Notify - 6 Emails + Themebuilder AccessNotify - 6 Emails + Themebuilder Access

This template is perfect if you’d like to create a Gmail template for different notifications. It includes six premade emails that you can easily customize with a drag-and-drop builder. The template is compatible with all major email platforms and services. You can also change the colors to your liking.

Corporate - Responsive Email Newsletter TemplatesCorporate - Responsive Email Newsletter Templates

This set of professional email templates will satisfy any Gmail email template need. It contains several different email templates that are easy to customize. You can easily add your logo or even your signature and import the template into Gmail. It’s compatible with all major email services and email providers. On top of that, it’s also fully responsive. With this template, you’ll never have to worry about plain-looking emails.

Sentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderSentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder
Sentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderSentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder
Sentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderSentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder
Sentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderSentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder
Sentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderSentinel - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder

The Sentinel Gmail email template has a clean and minimal design that works well for any purpose. You’ll get a template that’s easy to customize with the StampReady Builder. You can change colors and add your own email signature to make the template reflect your personality. In addition to that, StampReady builder offers a variety of different sections that you can add to your emails. The template is responsive and compatible with major email services.

Gravity - Responsive Creative Email + BuilderGravity - Responsive Creative Email + Builder

The Gravity Gmail email template is a modern and sleek template. It comes with a drag-and-drop builder so you can customize the look and feel of the template before importing it to Gmail. In addition to that, you can easily add or remove sections you don’t need and add the ones you want. This template is responsive.

Brand - Multipurpose Responsive Email TemplateBrand - Multipurpose Responsive Email Template

If you want to create a branded Gmail email template, the Brand template is the perfect fit. It comes with a drag-and-drop builder so you can easily change out the sections and add as much custom content as you’d like. The template is responsive and compatible with major email services and providers.

Bost Mail - Responsive E-mail TemplateBost Mail - Responsive E-mail Template

Here’s another beautiful and modern Gmail email template with a clean design. This template will look good no matter which device your recipients are using to read their emails. The template is easy to customize with the drag-and-drop builder. You can change colors, add your images, and add different sections to highlight services or add a custom email signature to your emails.

Blaack - Multipurpose Responsive Email TemplateBlaack - Multipurpose Responsive Email Template

Try the Blaack Gmail email template if you want to add a touch of class to your emails. The template features a gorgeous black color scheme so it’s sure to stand out in your recipient’s inbox. This template is responsive and you can customize it with the StampReady Builder. It works with all major email services and email providers. You can change colors, add your images, and more.

Blade - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderBlade - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder
Blade - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderBlade - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder
Blade - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderBlade - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder
Blade - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderBlade - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder
Blade - Responsive Email + StampReady BuilderBlade - Responsive Email + StampReady Builder

The Blade template has a minimal look and feel but it’s easy to customize with the StampReady Builder. It includes various sections that you can re-arrange to your liking. The template is responsive and works with all major services and providers. In addition to that, you can change colors to match your personal taste.

Office - Multipurpose Responsive Email TemplatesOffice - Multipurpose Responsive Email Templates

The Office Gmail email template is the perfect choice if you want your emails to have a sleek, corporate feel. The template is responsive and easy to customize. You can switch out the colors, add your images, insert your logo, email signature, and more. The template is compatible with all major email clients and services. This template is sure to make your emails look polished and professional!

Spice Up Your Boring Gmail Emails With HTML Templates

Gmail makes it easy to send and receive emails but plain text emails can be a bit boring. Luckily, HTML email templates can help you make your emails look more professional and appealing. You can use them to add any custom email elements that you find yourself using on a regular basis.

Browse our collection of HTML email templates for Gmail on Envato Elements and then use the steps in this guide to set it up in Gmail. Happy emailing!

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