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The goal of this study was to introduce and evaluate the performance of a lightweight, high‐performance, single‐axis (z‐axis) gradient insert design primarily intended for high‐resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging, and aimed at providing both ease of use and a boost in spatiotemporal resolution. The optimal winding positions of the coil were obtained using a genetic algorithm with a cost function that balanced gradient performance (minimum 0.30 mT/m/A) and field linearity (≥16 cm linear region). These parameters were verified using field distribution measurements by B0‐mapping. The correction of geometrical distortions was performed using theoretical field distribution of the coil. Simulations and measurements were performed to investigate the echo planar imaging echo‐spacing reduction due to the improved gradient performance. The resulting coil featured a 16‐cm linear region, a weight of 45 kg, an installation time of 15 min, and a maximum gradient strength and slew rate of 200 mT/m and 1300 T/m/s, respectively, when paired with a commercially available gradient amplifier (940 V/630 A). The field distribution measurements matched the theoretically expected field. By utilizing the theoretical field distribution, geometrical distortions were corrected to within 6% of the whole‐body gradient reference image in the target region. Compared with a whole‐body gradient set, a maximum reduction in echo‐spacing of a factor of 2.3 was found, translating to a 344 μs echo‐spacing, for a field of view of 192 mm, a receiver bandwidth of 920 kHz and a gradient amplitude of 112 mT/m. We present a lightweight, single‐axis gradient insert design that can provide high gradient performance and an increase in spatiotemporal resolution with correctable geometrical distortions while also offering a short installation time of less than 15 min and minimal system modifications., A single‐axis gradient insert, designed to be plug‐and‐play while providing a significant boost in gradient performance (gradient strength = 200 mT/m and slew rate = 1300 T/m/s), was presented. This coil was characterized in terms of linearity, image distortions and reduction in echo‐spacing for echo planar imaging. Distortions were found to be correctable and echo‐spacing could be reduced by a factor of 2.3 compared with a whole‐body gradient set (40 mT/m and 200 T/m/s).