How to make an image for an email signature

Signature images go wrong in two predictable ways: too large in bytes, or too large on screen. Both are easy to avoid.

Resize an image
Whichever tool you use here, the file stays on your device. How that works

Step by step

  1. 1Resize to around 300 pixels wide for a logo, or 150 pixels square for a headshot.
  2. 2Save as PNG if it needs transparency, otherwise JPG.
  3. 3Compress it. Aim for well under 50 kilobytes.
  4. 4Send yourself a test email and check it on a phone.

Every message carries it

A signature image is attached to every email you send, and to every reply in a long thread. A one megabyte logo becomes twenty megabytes across a busy day, which is why some organisations set limits on them.

Many email clients block images by default, so your signature may simply not appear. That is a good reason to keep your name and contact details as real text and let the image be decoration rather than the only place the information lives.

Check it on a phone. A logo that looks modest on a wide desktop signature can dominate the screen on mobile, where most email is now read.

Questions

What size should a signature image be?

Around 300 pixels wide for a logo and under 50 kilobytes. Smaller is better.

Why does my signature image not show?

Many clients block remote images by default. Keep essential details as text.

Is my image uploaded?

No.