What are email templates in Shopify?

Reusable, branded email designs for transactional messages, newsletters, and automated flows.

Where do I edit Shopify's transactional emails?

Order confirmations and shipping emails are edited in Shopify's notification settings.

Where do marketing email templates live?

In your email app — Klaviyo, Privy, or Shopify Email — alongside your campaigns and flows.

Should my email templates be mobile-first?

Yes — most email is read on phones, so single-column, large-text designs render best.

Do I need to test email templates?

Yes — email rendering varies across Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail; preview before sending.

Glossary Term

E

Email Templates

Reusable, branded email designs for order confirmations, newsletters, and automated flows.

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Key Takeaways
Email Templates are reusable, branded designs for transactional, newsletter, and automated emails.
Transactional templates live in Shopify's notification settings; marketing templates in your email app.
Templates keep email consistent, on-brand, and fast to produce.
Design once — header, footer, product blocks — and reuse across campaigns and flows.
Good templates are mobile-first and tested across inboxes.

Overview

Email Templates are reusable, branded email designs used for transactional messages (order confirmations, shipping updates), newsletters, and automated flows (welcome, abandoned cart, win-back). On Shopify they live in your email app (Klaviyo, Privy, Shopify Email) and the admin's notification settings.

Templates keep email consistent and fast. Instead of building each email from scratch, you design a template once — header, footer, fonts, colors, product blocks — and reuse it across campaigns and flows. Good templates are on-brand, mobile-first, and tested across inboxes.

Transactional templates (order confirmation, shipping) are managed in Shopify's notification settings; marketing templates live in your email app. Both benefit from consistent branding and clear, scannable layouts that match your email marketing program.

1

Why Email Templates Matter for Shopify Merchants

1
Consistency
Every email looks on-brand without rebuilding it from scratch each time.
2
Speed
Reuse templates across campaigns and flows so you send faster.
3
Professional Look
A well-designed template signals credibility and trust.
4
Mobile-First
Good templates render cleanly on phones, where most email is read.
5
Transactional Trust
Branded order and shipping emails reinforce the purchase decision.

2

Building Email Templates That Work

1
Start with your brand
Set header, footer, fonts, and colors once so every email is recognizable.
2
Design for mobile
Most email is read on phones — single-column, large text, big buttons.
3
Use product blocks
Dynamic product blocks pull live product data into emails automatically.
4
Test across inboxes
Preview in Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail — email rendering varies widely.
5
Keep transactional clear
Order and shipping emails should be scannable: what was bought, when it ships, how to track.