What is the Gmail attachment size limit?

Gmail attachment limits files of up to 25 MB for emails to be sent and 50 MB for those received. If an attachment exceeds the maximum size limit, Gmail provides the option to upload it directly to Google Drive and share a download link with a recipient.

Whether in a professional or private context, sooner or later you may run into issues when trying to send large files. Large documents, images, or videos often go beyond the scope of many email service providers and may not be easy to share via email. Knowing the maximum Gmail attachment limit is crucial to avoid problems. Otherwise, your email may not reach your intended recipient.

The maximum file size for Gmail is 25 MB. At least, in theory. Strictly speaking, the entire email should not exceed this limit. But when uploading a file to Gmail to send, it is encoded into a new format called MIME. As a result, it may be possible that the attachment size could be changed by Gmail itself and the email may no longer be sent. Keep in mind that the maximum attachment size in Gmail refers to all files combined.

While sending attachments is limited to their size, Gmail is more generous when it comes to receiving an email with a large file attached. The attachment sent to you by a contact can be up to 50 MB in size. The rule is comparatively new. Previously, the received file size limit was also 25 MB.

Gmail alerts users if their attachment exceeds the file size limit and even provides a solution: attachments that exceed 25 MB in size are automatically uploaded to Google Drive. The recipient receives the attachment in the form of a link via which they can download the files.

If someone tries to send you an email that exceeds the maximum mail size, Gmail sends them a notification to indicate that the mail could not be delivered. The recipient will not be notified of this event.

The fact that Gmail regulates the size of the attachment may be annoying, but it is necessary. Even a server environment as huge as that of the technology giant would probably collapse under the load of mails with large attachments – without imposing a limit. Most Gmail alternatives have the same problem and often limit the size of the attachments of their mails even more so than Google does.

Google provides the option to expand your storage space up to 2 TB with Google One; however, this does not affect the Gmail file size limit. The limits for Google One users are 25 MB for received mails and 50 MB for sent mails.

If you want to send larger attachments and Gmail’s maximum file size prevents you from doing so, you have several options. The two most common are:

• The obvious solution is a detour via Google Drive mentioned above. If you tend to share large files frequently, a cloud storage may be more suitable for your needs.
• Alternatively, you can compress files that exceed the maximum size for attachments in Gmail. The most common format for this is .zip. The recipient then simply unzips the files after downloading them.