Mailto Link Generator: Free Online Tool
mailto link
FREE TOOL · NO SIGN-UP
This mailto link generator creates email links that open the visitor’s email app with the recipient, subject, body, CC and BCC already filled in. Everything is URL-encoded correctly, so spaces, line breaks and symbols do not break the link. You get the raw mailto link and the HTML code for a text link or button. Use it on contact pages, support links, quote request buttons and email signatures to save people typing. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.
How to Use the Mailto Link Generator
Fill in what you want prefilled and copy the link or HTML.
Step 1: Enter or paste your input
Enter the To address. This is the only required field. For more than one recipient, separate addresses with commas. The tool warns you if the first address does not look valid.
Step 2: Choose your options
All of these are optional:
- CC and BCC for copies, separated by commas if there are several.
- Subject, such as “Quote request” or “Support: order issue”.
- Body, a starting message or a short template like “Name: / Order number: / Question:”. Line breaks are kept.
- Link text, the clickable words in the HTML. The default is “Email us”.
Step 3: Copy, download or apply the result
Click Copy link for the raw mailto: URL, which you can put behind any button in a page builder or email editor. Or copy the HTML code for a ready-made link, or download it as a file. In WordPress, paste the HTML into a Custom HTML block, or paste the raw link into the link field of a button block. Click the live link once to check your email app opens correctly.
How Mailto Links Work
A mailto link is a hyperlink that uses the mailto: scheme instead of https:. When clicked, it opens the user’s default email program, such as Outlook, Apple Mail, Gmail (if set as the default), or the mail app on a phone, with a new message addressed to you.
The basic form is just mailto:hello@example.com. Extra details are added like a web address query string: a question mark after the address, then parameters joined with ampersands, such as mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Hello&body=Hi%20there.
The format is defined in RFC 6068, and every major browser and email app supports the main parameters. The link itself sends nothing. It only opens a draft. The user can edit it and decides whether to send.
Because the link depends on the visitor’s device, the experience varies. On a phone with a mail app, it is instant. On a shared or work computer without a configured mail program, it may open an unwanted app or nothing at all. That is why it is good to show the address in text too.
Subject, Body, CC and BCC Parameters
| Parameter | What it fills | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (address) | To field | mailto:hello@example.com |
| cc | CC field | ?cc=sales@example.com |
| bcc | BCC field | ?bcc=log@example.com |
| subject | Subject line | ?subject=Quote%20request |
| body | Message text | ?body=Hi%2C%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote |
Rules worth knowing:
- The first parameter starts with
?and the rest are joined with&. - Multiple To recipients go before the
?, separated by commas. - Multiple CC or BCC addresses go inside one parameter, separated by commas.
- Parameter names are case-insensitive, but lowercase is standard.
- You cannot attach files with mailto. There is no standard attachment parameter.
A prefilled subject is the most useful option. It helps you sort incoming mail, for example “Website enquiry” versus “Support”. A short body template can help people include the details you need.
URL Encoding Spaces and Line Breaks
Mailto links are URLs, so certain characters must be encoded or they break the link or get cut off. The generator encodes everything for you.
- Spaces become
%20. A plus sign (+) does not mean a space in mailto links, unlike web forms, so encoding matters. - Line breaks become
%0A, so each new line in your body text appears in the email. - Ampersands become
%26. An unencoded&in a subject would start a new parameter and cut your subject short. - Question marks become
%3F, and commas%2C. - Accented letters and emoji are converted to UTF-8 percent codes and appear correctly in modern email apps.
In the HTML output, the link is also HTML-escaped, so & between parameters becomes & inside the href. That keeps the code valid, and browsers read it as a normal ampersand.
If you write mailto links by hand, these encoding mistakes are the most common reason subjects get cut off or bodies run together.
Mailto Limitations and Alternatives
Mailto links are simple, but they have limits:
- No default email app. Some desktop users have none set up, so the click does nothing useful.
- Webmail users. People who use Gmail or Outlook in the browser may need to set it as the default handler.
- Spam harvesting. A plain mailto address in your HTML can be collected by bots. Protect it with the Email Obfuscator.
- Length. Very long bodies may be cut off by some apps. Keep templates short.
- No tracking. You cannot see how many people clicked unless you track the click event in analytics.
Alternatives:
- A contact form works for everyone and lets you collect structured details.
- A WhatsApp chat link suits customers who prefer messaging. Build one with the WhatsApp Link Generator.
- Showing the address as text next to the link lets people copy it into any account.
The best contact pages offer two or three of these side by side.
Key Features of Our Mailto Link Generator
- Free with no signup.
- To, CC, BCC, subject and body all supported.
- Multiple recipients separated by commas.
- Correct URL encoding for spaces, line breaks and symbols.
- Raw link and HTML code with custom link text.
- Email check for the recipient.
- Copy and Download; runs in your browser.
Where Mailto Links Help
- Contact and About pages.
- Support and help center links with a prefilled subject.
- Quote and booking requests with a short template.
- Email signatures and PDF documents.
- Team pages linking to each staff member.
Pro Tips and Mistakes to Avoid
Checklist of best practices
- Always add a subject so messages are easy to sort.
- Keep body templates to a few lines.
- Show the address as text near the link.
- Test on a phone and a computer.
- Use descriptive link text like “Email our support team”.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- Subject cut off at “&”. The text was not encoded. Regenerate with this tool.
- Plus signs show in the email. Use
%20for spaces, not+. - Nothing happens on click. The user has no default mail app. Offer a form or visible address.
- Link edited in a visual editor. Some editors break long URLs. Paste into the link field or HTML view.
Make Emailing You One Click
Fill in the form above to build your email link. Protect your address with the Email Obfuscator, add a chat option with the WhatsApp Link Generator, and create other links with the HTML Link Generator. Browse all free tools in the FHSEO Hub tools directory.
