CSS At-Rules

@media

CSS at-rule · 6 supported, 13 partial, 2 unsupported across 21 clients

As of Oct 14, 2026, @media fails or degrades in 15 of 21 email clients, treat it as progressive enhancement, never structure.

2/7 webmail, 3/6 desktop, 1/8 mobile clients support @media fully.
Unsupported in Outlook Classic, Thunderbird.
Partial in Gmail, Gmail Android, Gmail iOS, Outlook 365 and 9 more, behavior differs from browsers, test before relying on it.
Outlook Classic (Word engine, supported to at least 2029) does not fully support @media, and its replacement changes little here; see the deprecation diff.
Documented before/after fixes on this page cover 21 clients, including Gmail and Gmail Android.
Across all clients, only 6 of 298 tracked HTML/CSS features render identically everywhere.

Source: caniemail.com (MIT), via the Emailens engine. Last tested upstream Dec 13, 2023, synced by Emailens Oct 14, 2026.

Client Support

Client	Category	Engine	Support
Gmail	webmail	Gmail Web	Partial^{See caveat 1}
Gmail Android	mobile	Gmail Mobile	Partial^{See caveat 2}
Gmail iOS	mobile	Gmail Mobile	Partial^{See caveat 2}
Outlook 365	webmail	Outlook Web	Partial^{See caveat 3}
Outlook (New)	desktop	Outlook Web	Partial^{See caveat 3}
Outlook Classic	desktop	Microsoft Word	Unsupported
Outlook iOS	mobile	Outlook Mobile	Partial^{See caveat 4}
Outlook Android	mobile	Outlook Mobile	Partial^{See caveat 4}
Outlook for Mac	desktop	WebKit	Supported
Apple Mail	desktop	WebKit	Supported
Apple Mail iOS	mobile	WebKit	Supported
Yahoo Mail	webmail	Yahoo	Partial^{See caveat 5}
Yahoo Mail Android	mobile	Yahoo	Partial^{See caveat 5}
Yahoo Mail iOS	mobile	Yahoo	Partial^{See caveat 5}
Samsung Mail	mobile	Samsung	Partial^{See caveat 6}
Thunderbird	desktop	Gecko	Unsupported
HEY Mail	webmail	WebKit	Supported
Proton Mail	webmail	Proton	Partial^{See caveat 7}
AOL Mail	webmail	AOL	Partial^{See caveat 5}
Fastmail	webmail	Fastmail	Supported
Superhuman	desktop	Blink	Supported

Documented caveats (7)

1.Gmail: Partial. Does not support height based media queries.
2.Gmail Android, Gmail iOS: Partial. Not supported with non Google accounts. Partial. Does not support height based media queries.
3.Outlook 365, Outlook (New): Partial. Does not support nested media queries. Partial. Nested media queries are removed.
4.Outlook iOS, Outlook Android: Partial. Does not support nested media queries.
5.Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Mail Android, Yahoo Mail iOS, AOL Mail: Partial. Only supports screen, min-width, max-width, min-height and max-height based media queries.
6.Samsung Mail: Partial. Not supported with Hotmail/Outlook accounts.
7.Proton Mail: Partial. Does not support landscape media query.

Caveats recorded by caniemail.com (MIT) and carried verbatim, one entry per wording rather than per client.

Client-by-client behaviour for @media

Fully supports @media (6): Outlook for Mac, Apple Mail, Apple Mail iOS, HEY Mail, Fastmail, Superhuman.

Partial support (13): Gmail, Gmail Android, Gmail iOS, Outlook 365, Outlook (New), Outlook iOS, Outlook Android, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Mail Android, Yahoo Mail iOS, Samsung Mail, Proton Mail, AOL Mail. Expect rendering quirks unique to each engine. Partial support typically means a subset of values, an ignored shorthand, or sanitizer-specific rewrites.

No support (2): Outlook Classic, Thunderbird. Plan fallbacks for these clients before relying on @media in production sends.

Fixes & Workarounds

Outlook Classic

Unsupported

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Thunderbird

Unsupported

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Gmail

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Gmail Android

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Gmail iOS

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Outlook 365

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Outlook (New)

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Outlook iOS

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Outlook Android

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Yahoo Mail

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Yahoo Mail Android

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Yahoo Mail iOS

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Samsung Mail

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Proton Mail

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

AOL Mail

Partial

Design emails mobile-first with a single-column layout that works without media queries.

Before (Broken)

before.html

12 lines

<table width="800">
  <tr>
    <td width="400">Left Column</td>
    <td width="400">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<style>
  @media (max-width: 600px) {
    table { width: 100% !important; }
    td { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; }
  }
</style>

After (Fixed)

fixed.html

11 lines

<!-- Single-column layout that works without @media -->
<table role="presentation" width="100%"
  style="max-width: 600px;" cellpadding="0"
  cellspacing="0" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Left Column</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 16px;">Right Column</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Design mobile-first for clients without media query support

Production guidance for @media

@media is a CSS at-rule. Across the email client matrix, 6 of 21 tracked clients support it fully, 13 only partially, and 2 not at all. The clients most likely to require a workaround for this feature are Outlook Classic, Thunderbird, Gmail. Each of them needs a tailored fallback. See the per-client examples above for the specific code fix Emailens recommends.

When in doubt, ship a baseline that renders without @media and treat it as progressive enhancement on clients where support is verified. Emailens automatically detects cross-client divergence on this feature when you preview an email, so you can see exactly which template paths break before a campaign goes out.

Related Features

@font-face @import @keyframes @media device-pixel-ratio @media hover @media orientation @media prefers-color-scheme @media prefers-reduced-motion

Check your own HTML for @media

Paste your own, or run the sample below. Analyzed in this page, with no signup and nothing stored.

Zero-Friction Engine Preview

Test your @media layout across 21 email clients

Preview rendering, catch CSS issues, and see how @media displays across Outlook, Gmail, and Apple Mail. Free, no account needed.

Instant live preview · No signup required · 21 email engines

Last tested upstream: Dec 13, 2023 · Last synced by Emailens: Oct 14, 2026

caniemail.com (MIT) records Dec 13, 2023 as the last time @media was tested in a real client, 2 years before this sync. Syncing copies that result forward, it does not re-test it. Carried in @emailens/engine data v0.14.5.