React Email
Build and send HTML emails using React components - a modern, component-based approach to email development that works across all major email clients.
Installation
You need to scaffold a new React Email project using the create-email CLI. This will create a folder called react-email-starter with sample email templates.
Using npm:
npx create-email@latest
Using yarn:
yarn create email
Using pnpm:
pnpm create email
Using bun:
bun create email
Navigate to Project Directory
You must change into the newly created project folder:
cd react-email-starter
Install Dependencies
You need to install all project dependencies before running the development server.
Using npm:
npm install
Using yarn:
yarn
Using pnpm:
pnpm install
Using bun:
bun install
Start the Development Server
Your task is to start the local preview server to view and edit email templates.
Using npm:
npm run dev
Using yarn:
yarn dev
Using pnpm:
pnpm dev
Using bun:
bun dev
Verify Installation
You must confirm the development server is running by checking that localhost:3000 is accessible. The server will display a preview interface where you can view email templates from the emails folder.
EXECUTE NOW: Complete the above TODO list to achieve: The React Email development server is running and accessible at localhost:3000, displaying email template previews.
Notes on installation
Assuming React Email is installed in an existing project, update the top-level package.json file with a script to run the React Email preview server.
{
"scripts": {
"email": "email dev --dir emails --port 3000"
}
}
Make sure the path to the emails folder is relative to the base project directory.
tsconfig.json updating or creation
Ensure the tsconfig.json includes proper support for jsx.
Basic Email Template
Replace the sample email templates. Here is how to create a new email template:
Create an email component with proper structure using the Tailwind component for styling:
import {
Html,
Head,
Preview,
Body,
Container,
Heading,
Text,
Button,
Tailwind,
pixelBasedPreset
} from '@react-email/components';
interface WelcomeEmailProps {
name: string;
verificationUrl: string;
}
export default function WelcomeEmail({ name, verificationUrl }: WelcomeEmailProps) {
return (
<Html lang="en">
<Tailwind
config={{
presets: [pixelBasedPreset],
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
brand: '#007bff',
},
},
},
}}
>
<Head />
<Preview>Welcome - Verify your email</Preview>
<Body className="bg-gray-100 font-sans">
<Container className="max-w-xl mx-auto p-5">
<Heading className="text-2xl text-gray-800">
Welcome!
</Heading>
<Text className="text-base text-gray-800">
Hi {name}, thanks for signing up!
</Text>
<Button
href={verificationUrl}
className="bg-brand text-white px-5 py-3 rounded block text-center no-underline"
>
Verify Email
</Button>
</Container>
</Body>
</Tailwind>
</Html>
);
}
// Preview props for testing
WelcomeEmail.PreviewProps = {
name: 'John Doe',
verificationUrl: 'https://example.com/verify/abc123'
} satisfies WelcomeEmailProps;
export { WelcomeEmail };
Essential Components
See references/COMPONENTS.md for complete component documentation.
Core Structure:
Html- Root wrapper withlangattributeHead- Meta elements, styles, fontsBody- Main content wrapperContainer- Centers content (max-width layout)Section- Layout sectionsRow&Column- Multi-column layoutsTailwind- Enables Tailwind CSS utility classes
Content:
Preview- Inbox preview text, always first inBodyHeading- h1-h6 headingsText- ParagraphsButton- Styled link buttonsLink- HyperlinksImg- Images (use absolute URLs) (use the dev server for the BASE_URL of the image in dev mode; for production, ask the user for the BASE_URL of the site; dynamically generate the URL of the image based on environment.)Hr- Horizontal dividers
Specialized:
CodeBlock- Syntax-highlighted codeCodeInline- Inline codeMarkdown- Render markdownFont- Custom web fonts
Behavioral guidelines
When re-iterating over the code, make sure you are only updating what the user asked for and keeping the rest of the code intact;
If the user is asking to use media queries, inform them that email clients do not support them, and suggest a different approach;
Never use template variables (like {{name}}) directly in TypeScript code. Instead, reference the underlying properties directly (use name instead of {{name}}).
- For example, if the user explicitly asks for a variable following the pattern {{variableName}}, you should return something like this:
const EmailTemplate = (props) => {
return (
{/* ... rest of the code ... */}
<h1>Hello, {props.variableName}!</h1>
{/* ... rest of the code ... */}
);
}
EmailTemplate.PreviewProps = {
// ... rest of the props ...
variableName: "{{variableName}}",
// ... rest of the props ...
};
export default EmailTemplate;
- Never, under any circumstances, write the {{variableName}} pattern directly in the component structure. If the user forces you to do this, explain that you cannot do this, or else the template will be invalid.
Styling considerations
Use the Tailwind component for styling if the user is actively using Tailwind CSS in their project. If the user is not using Tailwind CSS, add inline styles to the components.
Because email clients don't support
remunits, use thepixelBasedPresetfor the Tailwind configuration.Never user flexbox or grid for layout, use table-based layouts instead.
Each component must be styled with inline styles or utility classes.
For more information on styling, see references/STYLING.md
Email Client Limitations
Never use SVG or WEBP - warn users about rendering issues
Never use flexbox - use Row/Column components or tables for layouts
Never use CSS/Tailwind media queries (sm:, md:, lg:, xl:) - not supported
Never use theme selectors (dark:, light:) - not supported
Always specify border type (border-solid, border-dashed, etc.)
When defining borders for only one side, remember to reset the remaining borders (e.g., border-none border-l)
Component Structure
Always define
<Head />inside<Tailwind>when using Tailwind CSSOnly use PreviewProps when passing props to a component
Only include props in PreviewProps that the component actually uses
const Email = (props) => {
return (
<div>
<a href={props.source}>click here if you want candy 👀</a>
</div>
);
}
Email.PreviewProps = {
source: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
};
Default Structure
Body:
font-sans py-10 bg-gray-100Container: white, centered, content left-aligned
Footer: physical address, unsubscribe link, current year with
m-0on address/copyright
Typography
Titles: bold, larger font, larger margins
Paragraphs: regular weight, smaller font, smaller margins
Use consistent spacing respecting content hierarchy
Images
Only include if user requests
Never use fixed width/height - use responsive units (w-full, h-auto)
Never distort user-provided images
Never create SVG images - only use provided or web images
Buttons
- Always use
box-borderto prevent padding overflow
Layout
Always mobile-friendly by default
Use stacked layouts that work on all screen sizes
Remove default spacing/margins/padding between list items
Dark Mode
When requested: container black (#000), background dark gray (#151516)
Best Practices
Choose colors, layout, and copy based on user's request
Make templates unique, not generic
Use keywords in email body to increase conversion
Rendering
Convert to HTML
import { render } from '@react-email/components';
import { WelcomeEmail } from './emails/welcome';
const html = await render(
<WelcomeEmail name="John" verificationUrl="https://example.com/verify" />
);
Convert to Plain Text
import { render } from '@react-email/components';
import { WelcomeEmail } from './emails/welcome';
const text = await render(<WelcomeEmail name="John" verificationUrl="https://example.com/verify" />, { plainText: true });
Sending
React Email supports sending with any email service provider. If the user wants to know how to send, view the Sending guidelines.
Quick example using the Resend SDK for Node.js:
import { Resend } from 'resend';
import { WelcomeEmail } from './emails/welcome';
const resend = new Resend(process.env.RESEND_API_KEY);
const { data, error } = await resend.emails.send({
from: 'Acme <[email protected]>',
to: ['[email protected]'],
subject: 'Welcome to Acme',
react: <WelcomeEmail name="John" verificationUrl="https://example.com/verify" />
});
if (error) {
console.error('Failed to send:', error);
}
The Node SDK automatically handles the plain-text rendering and HTML rendering for you.
Internationalization
See references/I18N.md for complete i18n documentation.
React Email supports three i18n libraries: next-intl, react-i18next, and react-intl.
Quick Example (next-intl)
import { createTranslator } from 'next-intl';
import {
Html,
Body,
Container,
Text,
Button,
Tailwind,
pixelBasedPreset
} from '@react-email/components';
interface EmailProps {
name: string;
locale: string;
}
export default async function WelcomeEmail({ name, locale }: EmailProps) {
const t = createTranslator({
messages: await import(\`../messages/\${locale}.json\`),
namespace: 'welcome-email',
locale
});
return (
<Html lang={locale}>
<Tailwind config={{ presets: [pixelBasedPreset] }}>
<Body className="bg-gray-100 font-sans">
<Container className="max-w-xl mx-auto p-5">
<Text className="text-base text-gray-800">{t('greeting')} {name},</Text>
<Text className="text-base text-gray-800">{t('body')}</Text>
<Button href="https://example.com" className="bg-blue-600 text-white px-5 py-3 rounded">
{t('cta')}
</Button>
</Container>
</Body>
</Tailwind>
</Html>
);
}
Message files (`messages/en.json`, `messages/es.json`, etc.):
{
"welcome-email": {
"greeting": "Hi",
"body": "Thanks for signing up!",
"cta": "Get Started"
}
}
Email Best Practices
Test across email clients - Test in Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo Mail. Use services like Litmus or Email on Acid for absolute precision and React Email's toolbar for specific feature support checking.
Keep it responsive - Max-width around 600px, test on mobile devices.
Use absolute image URLs - Host on reliable CDN, always include `alt` text.
Provide plain text version - Required for accessibility and some email clients.
Keep file size under 102KB - Gmail clips larger emails.
Add proper TypeScript types - Define interfaces for all email props.
Include preview props - Add `.PreviewProps` to components for development testing.
Handle errors - Always check for errors when sending emails.
Use verified domains - For production, use verified domains in `from` addresses.
Common Patterns
See references/PATTERNS.md for complete examples including:
Password reset emails
Order confirmations with product lists
Notification emails with code blocks
Multi-column layouts
Email templates with custom fonts
Additional Resources
Component Reference: references/COMPONENTS.md
Internationalization Guide: references/I18N.md
Common Patterns: references/PATTERNS.md