What clipping is and where the threshold comes from
Gmail hides the rest of a long email behind a "[Message clipped] View entire message" link. MailerLite, beehiiv and Moosend all document 102 KB as the size where this happens. beehiiv calls it a strict limit and advises staying under 100 KB to leave margin. [1] [3] [4]
Check the units. beehiiv points out that the limit is in kilobytes, not megabytes. An issue with pasted formatting, many links and a heavy template can approach it without looking especially long on screen. [1] [3]
What counts toward the size
Moosend gives the clearest definition. An email's size is the underlying code, including text, URLs, tracking codes and HTML styling, and each character is 1 to 2 bytes. beehiiv adds that image files do not count, but the HTML that displays them does. [1] [4]
| Element | Counts? | Why it adds up |
|---|---|---|
| Visible text | Yes [4] | Roughly 1 to 2 bytes per character [4] |
| HTML markup and inline CSS | Yes [1] [4] | Styling is part of the code that counts |
| Hidden formatting from pasted text | Yes [1] [3] | Text copied from an external source can bring formatting code with it |
| Links and tracking parameters | Yes [1] [4] | beehiiv says each additional link adds to the total |
| Image files | No [1] | Only the HTML that references them counts |
| Code comments, spaces, line breaks, tabs | Yes [3] | MailerLite suggests removing them as a last step |
What clipping does to your stats and layout
The tracking effect depends on where the platform places its open pixel. MailerLite says its pixel sits at the bottom of the email, so a clipped message may not record an open unless the reader clicks "View entire message". beehiiv says its open pixel is at the top, so opens are unaffected, but readers who expand the message are not tracked and do not count toward click-through rate. [1] [3]
Moosend says clipping also cuts off any tracking codes in the hidden part. beehiiv adds that Gmail removes style tags from the clipped portion, which can change how the email looks, and that heavy emails can affect deliverability. [1] [4]
The reader effect is simpler. Anything below the cut, which is often the footer, sponsor block or call to action, is seen only by people who click to expand.
How to check size before you send
Of the three platforms, only beehiiv's docs describe a built-in meter. An email size icon at the top of the Compose tab in the Post Builder shows how close you are to 102 KB, and a warning can appear at the top of the editor. Click it to see the current weight. [1] [2]
The MailerLite article on clipping does not describe a size indicator. Moosend suggests sending a test campaign and saving its source code to check the file size. That works on any platform. [3] [4]
- Send a test to an inbox you control, changing the subject line each time so Gmail does not merge tests into one thread. [4]
- Save the message source as a file and read its size in your file manager.
- Treat anything above about 90 KB as a warning, and anything above 100 KB as a must-fix, following beehiiv's 100 KB advice. [1]
Trimming steps, ranked by typical payoff
These come from the three vendors' guidance. The order is our judgement of where the most bytes usually hide.
| Step | How | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Strip pasted formatting | Paste as plain text, use "Paste and Match Style", or use MailerLite's Simple editor | [1] [3] [4] |
| 2. Move long content to the web | Publish the full piece online and link with "Read more" or a view-in-browser link | [1] [3] [4] |
| 3. Cut decorative elements | Remove spacer rows, extra images and blocks that add markup without content | [1] [4] |
| 4. Reduce link count | Each URL adds weight; beehiiv also says shorteners can break links and generally do not work with beehiiv | [1] |
| 5. Remove code clutter | Delete comments, extra spaces, line breaks and tabs in custom HTML as the final pass | [3] |
Worked example
Hypothetical: a weekly roundup measures 118 KB from its saved source. The writer drafted it in a word processor and pasted it in. Re-pasting the text as plain text, then re-applying headings in the editor, removes the hidden style code. Moving three long reader letters to a web page behind a "Read more" link cuts more. Measured again, the email is under 100 KB, and the sponsor block at the bottom is no longer hidden from Gmail readers. [1] [3] [4]
If you cannot get under the limit, move the most important link higher in the email, and add a view-in-browser link near the top as Moosend suggests. [4]
Questions before you decide
Do images count toward Gmail's 102 KB limit?
Not the image files themselves. beehiiv says the limit applies to the HTML code of your email, not image file sizes. The HTML that displays each image does count, so many images still add weight.
Does Gmail clipping lower my open rate?
It depends where the tracking pixel sits. MailerLite says its pixel is at the bottom, so a clipped email may not record an open unless the reader expands it. beehiiv says its open pixel is at the top, so opens are unaffected but clicks after clipping are not tracked.
Why do my test emails get clipped when the real send does not?
Moosend notes that Gmail groups emails with the same subject line into one thread, so repeated tests can produce a very long message. Change the test subject line or delete earlier tests before judging the size.
How do I check email size in beehiiv?
beehiiv shows an email size icon at the top of the Compose tab in the Post Builder. It shows how close the email is to the 102 KB clipping threshold, and a warning can appear when you near or pass it.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- beehiiv Support: Ways to manage email weight and avoid Gmail clipping Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- beehiiv Support: Frequently asked questions about posts Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- MailerLite Help: Why Gmail clips email content Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Moosend Docs: Email clipping Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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