Email Attachment Size Limits
| Provider | Limit |
|---|---|
| Gmail | 25MB total |
| Outlook | 20MB total |
| Yahoo Mail | 25MB total |
| Apple iCloud | 20MB total |
| Corporate Exchange | 10-25MB (IT-set) |
> These are total limits. 5 photos × 4MB each = 20MB = potentially over limit.
How to Compress for Email
Quick Method
- Open minifypic.com/compressor
- Upload photos (up to 20)
- Set quality to 80%
- Download all as ZIP
Precise Method
- Open Compress to Size
- Set target: 500KB per photo
- Download precisely sized photos
Optimal Settings
| Scenario | Resolution | Target Size | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick share | 1600 × 1200 px | 300-500KB | 75-80% |
| Client deliverables | 2000 × 1500 px | 500KB-1MB | 85% |
| Print-quality | Original | 1-3MB | 90% |
| Document scans | 1200 × 1600 px | 200-400KB | 80% |
The Secret: Resize + Compress
Most people only compress. But resizing first is the game-changer:
- 4000×3000 at 80% quality = ~800KB
- 1600×1200 at 80% quality = ~250KB
Same visual impact. 70% smaller.
Workflow: Resize with Image Resizer → Compress with Image Compressor
Common Mistakes
- ❌ Sending original 5-12MB camera files
- ❌ Not resizing (compression alone can only do so much)
- ❌ Using PNG for photos (4x larger, zero benefit)
- ❌ Compressing to 10KB (too aggressive, looks terrible)
- ❌ Not stripping EXIF metadata (adds 10-50KB + GPS location)
FAQ
Q: What's the best size for emailing photos? A: 1600×1200 at JPEG quality 80% = 300-500KB per photo.
Q: How do I compress multiple photos at once? A: Upload up to 20 photos to Image Compressor, download all as ZIP.
Q: What is Gmail's limit? A: 25MB total for all attachments combined.
Q: Should I send JPEG or PNG? A: JPEG for photos. PNG only for screenshots or images with text.
