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Fixing Button Clipping in Classic Outlook

If your buttons appear cut off at the bottom when viewed in Classic Outlook, the issue is caused by how Outlook renders email buttons. This article explains why button clipping happens and shows you proven workarounds to fix or minimize the issue.

Why Buttons Get Clipped in Classic Outlook

Classic Outlook uses Microsoft Word's rendering engine, which relies on VML (Vector Markup Language) to display HTML buttons. This older engine has two key limitations:

  • It "snaps" odd-numbered pixel values to the nearest whole number, which can shave off parts of buttons.
  • It can miscalculate vertical spacing in multi-column layouts, especially when a button is the last element in a column.

The same email typically renders correctly in New Outlook, Outlook on the Web, and other email clients. Button clipping is almost always a Classic Outlook quirk.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Apply these adjustments to your ContactMonkey email draft:

  1. In the button's properties menu, change the Font Size to an even number (for example, 14pt instead of 13pt)
  2. Change the Border Radius to an even number (for example, 26px instead of 25px)
  3. Add 10px of padding to the bottom of the content block containing the button
  4. Send a test email to yourself to confirm the fix

Tip: Even-numbered values render more consistently because Classic Outlook does not need to round them to the nearest whole pixel.

If Buttons Still Get Clipped

When clipping persists after applying even-number sizing, the issue is likely a VML calculation bug tied to a specific row layout. Try these design adjustments:

  • Simplify the row layout. Move the button into a single-column row instead of a multi-column row.
  • Shorten or restructure the heading in the same column as the button to change how Outlook calculates the row's vertical space.

When to Contact Support

If you have applied the workarounds above and buttons still clip in Classic Outlook, contact ContactMonkey support with:

  • A screenshot of the rendering issue
  • A JSON file of the affected draft
  • The Outlook version your recipients are using
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