> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://kb.craftformswp.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://kb.craftformswp.com/documentation/email-templates/create-email-template.md).
# Create Email Template
Email templates in Craft Forms let you design fully custom notification emails using the familiar WordPress block editor. Instead of plain-text messages, you can craft visually rich, branded emails — complete with dynamic data pulled directly from your form submissions.
### Step 1: Navigate to "Email Templates" admin page and click button "Add New"
We have a table of existing email templates, initially it looks like this:
By clicking "Add New" you will be redirected to a new page with Gutenberg editor.
A modal dialog will appear asking you to **choose how to start**:
You have three options:
* **Starter template** — Pick a pre-built layout as your starting point. For example, the *Quote Request Confirmation* starter gives you a ready-made structure you can adapt in seconds.
* **Start from scratch** — Opens a completely blank editor canvas so you have full creative control over the layout and content.
* **Import from file** — Load a previously exported template, great for reusing designs across multiple sites.
> 💡 If this is your first time, the **Quote Request Confirmation** starter is a great way to see how a real-world template is structured before you build your own.
***
### Step 2: Build Your Template in the Block Editor
If you chose **Start from scratch**, you'll land on a clean Gutenberg canvas.
The editor works just like any other WordPress block editor page — type `/` to open the block inserter and add content. The toolbar at the top gives you familiar controls: undo/redo, save draft, and **Publish**.
> ⚠️ **Note:** Only **email-safe blocks** are available when editing email templates. Standard blocks that don't render reliably in email clients are automatically excluded — so you can design freely without worrying about compatibility issues.
The **right-hand sidebar** shows the **Email Template** panel, with several important settings sections:
| Section | What it does |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Email Template Preview** | Open a live preview of how your email will look before sending |
| **Export** | Save your template as a file to reuse or share |
| **Dynamic Data** | Browse and copy available dynamic tags |
| **General** | Add an internal description for your own reference |
| **Email Settings** | Set the email subject line and recipient address |
| **Styles** | Customize the background color of your email |
***
### Step 3: Configure Email Settings
Expand the **Email Settings** section in the sidebar to define where and how the email is sent.
* **Email Subject** — The subject line recipients will see in their inbox. You can keep it static (e.g. `New Form Submission`) or make it [dynamic using tags](/documentation/form-building/create-form/dynamic-tags-and-variables.md) like `{{email.name}}` or `{{site.name}}`.
* **Email Recipient** — The address the email will be delivered to. Use a fixed address like `admin@example.com`, or use `{{email.email}}` to automatically send to the address the user submitted in the form.
***
### Step 4: Use Dynamic Data Tags
This is where Craft Forms email templates get really powerful — [dynamic data tags](/documentation/form-building/create-form/dynamic-tags-and-variables.md). Expand the **Dynamic Data** section in the sidebar.
#### Two types of tags are available:
**Site Tags** — These are always available regardless of which form you're working with:
| Tag | Output |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------- |
| `{{site.name}}` | Your WordPress site title |
| `{{site.url}}` | Your site URL |
| `{{site.tagline}}` | Your site tagline |
| `{{site.admin_email}}` | The admin email address |
**Form Field Tags** — These are **form-specific, they live in "email" namespace**. Use the **Select Form** dropdown at the top of the Dynamic Data panel to choose a form. Once selected, all of that form's fields appear as copyable tags below.
For example, after selecting a *Contact Form*, you'll see tags like:
| Tag | Output |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| `{{email.name}}` | The value submitted in the Name field |
| `{{email.email}}` | The submitted email address |
| `{{email.message}}` | The submitted message body |
> 💡 Click the **Copy** button next to any tag, then paste it directly into your email content blocks or into the **Email Subject / Recipient** fields in Email Settings.
[Dynamic tags](/documentation/form-building/create-form/dynamic-tags-and-variables.md) can be added typing double curly braces "{{" — dynamic tags context menu will be shown. By default this context menu includes only site tags. If specific form is selected — tags related to that form will be shown as well:
***
### Step 5: Set a Background Color
Under the **Styles** section in the sidebar, you can pick a background color for your email using the built-in color picker.
Enter a hex value manually, or use the color palette to match your brand. The canvas updates in real time so you can see the result immediately.
***
### Step 6: Preview and Publish
Before going live, always click **Open the preview** at the top of the sidebar to check how your email renders.
**Important: email template preview gets updated after click on "Save draft" and/or "Publish"!**
Once you're happy with the result, click **Publish** in the top-right corner to make the template available for use in your forms.
This is just an example — extremely basic example — of what could be created:
You certainly could create a better template. ;) At the end with all required settings (subject and recipient) set up and the template is saved, my the table of templates now looks like this:
Now it means I can use this email template in ["Email Template" submit action](/documentation/form-building/create-form/form-settings-post-context/submit-actions.md).
***
### Quick Tips
* **Use dynamic tags in your subject line** to make emails feel personalized — e.g. `New message from {{email.name}}` instantly tells you who submitted.
* **Switch between forms in Dynamic Data** to see all the tags available for each form — tags are different per form depending on which fields it contains.
* **Export templates** you've built so you can import them on other sites without starting over.
