CSS property · data last changed 10 Nov 2026
column-count in email clients
Works in 16 of 21. Not supported in Outlook Classic, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Mail Android and 2 more.
Your reader in Outlook Classic sees the email without column-count, even if it looks right where you tested it.
caniemail (MIT) via @emailens/engine 0.18.22
What to do instead in Outlook Classic
Use nested tables with width="50%" and align="left" for multi-column layouts. If you must use column-count, set up a single-column fallback inside a <!--[if mso]>...<![endif]--> conditional so Outlook still receives readable copy.
There is no drop-in fix for column-count in Outlook Classic. Design so the email still reads without it.
No signup · Five clients free, Outlook Classic included · All 21 with an account
The checker needs a computer screen.
A free account opens all 21 clients and keeps your checks for 7 days. Create a free account →
Every account includes one free real-device check in classic Outlook, Outlook for Mac and Apple Mail, after you verify your email and run one preview, while this month's free capacity lasts. How real-device checks work →
column-count is not among the 24 features we have screenshotted on real installs. The ones we have →
All 21 clients, problems first
| Client | Support |
|---|---|
| Outlook Classic | Not supported |
| Yahoo Mail | Not supported |
| Yahoo Mail Android | Not supported |
| Yahoo Mail iOS | Not supported |
| AOL Mail | Not supported |
Works in 16: Gmail, Gmail Android, Gmail iOS and 13 more. Show all
| Client | Support |
|---|---|
| Gmail | Works |
| Gmail Android | Works |
| Gmail iOS | Works |
| Outlook 365 | Works |
| Outlook (New) | Works |
| Outlook iOS | Works |
| Outlook Android | Works |
| Outlook for Mac | Works |
| Apple Mail | Works |
| Apple Mail iOS | Works |
| Samsung Mail | Works |
| Thunderbird | Works |
| HEY Mail | Works |
| Proton Mail | Works |
| Fastmail | Works |
| Superhuman | Works |
How column-count behaves
column-count splits content into multiple newspaper-style columns. In email, the property is poorly supported, Outlook ignores it entirely, and Gmail strips it through its sanitizer. Email developers traditionally achieve multi-column layouts using nested tables instead, which is more verbose but reliably renders everywhere.
- Outlook Classic ignores column-count and renders all content in a single column.
- Gmail strips column-count along with most modern layout properties.
- Apple Mail supports column-count correctly but applies its own gutter algorithm that may not match designs.
Your next question
- Does word-break work in Outlook Classic?
Works in 4 of 21 · partial in 12 · not supported in 5
fix - Does display:flex work in Outlook Classic?
Works in 18 of 21 · partial in 2 · not supported in 1
fix - Does display:grid work in Outlook Classic?
Works in 18 of 21 · partial in 2 · not supported in 1
fix - Does border-spacing work in Outlook Classic?
Works in 17 of 21 · not supported in 2 · 2 untested
fix - Does border-radius work in Outlook Classic?
Works in 16 of 21 · partial in 4 · not supported in 1
fix - Does visibility work in Outlook Classic?
Works in 13 of 21 · not supported in 8
fix
Every feature in Outlook Classic · All email CSS features · What real installs show
Paste your email
Get new email CSS fixes by email.