Summary
When an email exceeds Google's size limits, a bounce message with specific error codes and guidelines is returned. Google’s specific error is '552-5.3.4 Your message exceeded Google's message size limits,' along with a link to their guidelines. Gmail has a 25MB limit, while Google Workspace allows admins to set limits up to 150MB. Though email standards (RFCs) don't define hard limits, practical limits range from 10MB to 25MB. Various error messages exist across providers, including 'Message too large' and 'Message size exceeds fixed maximum message size'. Common solutions include compressing attachments, using file-sharing services, optimizing images, and checking recipient server limitations.
Key findings
- Google Error: Google returns the error '552-5.3.4 Your message exceeded Google's message size limits' along with a link to guidelines.
- Gmail Limit: Gmail has a 25MB limit, but Google Workspace can have limits up to 150MB set by admins.
- Bounce Messages: Exceeding size limits leads to bounce messages with phrases like 'message too large'.
- No Standard Limit: While RFCs lack hard limits, practical limits from servers are 10-25MB.
Key considerations
- Compression: Compress attachments to reduce email size.
- File Sharing: Utilize file-sharing or cloud storage for large files.
- Optimization: Optimize images for better deliverability.
- Check Recipient: Check the recipient's email server limitations, as they may vary.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
When an email exceeds size limits, various email platforms return different error messages. Gmail has a 25MB limit and may return a 'Message too large' error or a 552 error code. Some error messages indicate that the 'message size exceeds fixed maximum message size'. Solutions include compressing attachments, using file-sharing services, or optimizing images to stay within the size limits.
Key opinions
- Size Limits: Gmail enforces a 25MB size limit for emails, including attachments and encoded content.
- Error Messages: Exceeding size limits results in error messages like 'Message too large', '552 error code', or 'Message size exceeds fixed maximum message size'.
- Yahoo Limits: Yahoo Mail also has a 25MB limit; exceeding it leads to sending failure.
Key considerations
- Compression: Compressing attachments is a common strategy to reduce email size.
- File Sharing: Utilizing file-sharing services or cloud storage links is recommended for sending large files.
- Optimization: Optimizing images and attachments can help avoid exceeding size limits.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Yahoo Community Forum points out that Yahoo Mail has a 25MB limit, and exceeding it will result in an error message and failure to send. They suggest using Yahoo's file sharing option for large files.
18 Dec 2021 - Yahoo Community Forum
Marketer view
Email marketer from Quora shares that they encountered a '552 5.3.4 Message size exceeds limit' error. They recommend compressing attachments or using cloud storage links instead.
6 May 2023 - Quora
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
When an email exceeds Google's size limits, the sender receives a bounce message. This message includes the specific error '552-5.3.4 Your message exceeded Google's message size limits', a link to Google's size guidelines, and often an error code. While the exact error phrasing can vary across different receiving servers, Google's message clearly indicates the issue and provides guidance.
Key opinions
- Specific Error: Google's error message includes '552-5.3.4 Your message exceeded Google's message size limits'.
- Guideline Link: The error message provides a link to Google's size guidelines: <https://support.google.com/mail/?p=MaxSizeError>.
- Bounce Message: Exceeding size limits generally results in a bounce message from the receiving server.
Key considerations
- Varying Messages: While Google's message is specific, other receiving servers might use different, more general phrases such as 'message too large'.
- Error Code: Google's error includes a specific error code that can be useful for troubleshooting.
- Help Pages: Google provides a direct link to help pages explaining their size limitations.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares the specific error message received when sending an email that exceeds Google's size limits, including the link to Google's size guidelines: '552-5.3.4 Your message exceeded Google's message size limits. Please visit <https://support.google.com/mail/?p=MaxSizeError> to view our size 552 5.3.4 guidelines.'
18 Oct 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that exceeding size limits often results in a bounce message from the receiving server that indicates the message was too large. The exact text varies, but common phrases include 'message too large' or 'exceeds size limit'. Google's message includes an error code and a link to their help pages.
16 Jul 2023 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
When an email exceeds size limits, a bounce-back message is typically generated. While email standards (RFCs) don't impose hard limits, practical limitations from email servers and clients range from 10MB to 25MB. Gmail enforces a 25MB limit, while Google Workspace allows administrators to set limits up to 150MB. Exchange Online also has configurable limits. The SMTP protocol uses a SIZE parameter in the MAIL command to allow servers to reject oversized emails. Postfix uses `message_size_limit` to control the maximum message size.
Key findings
- Gmail Limit: Gmail accounts have a 25MB size limit, according to Google Support documentation.
- Workspace Limits: Google Workspace allows administrators to set size limits up to 150MB.
- Exchange Online: Exchange Online has configurable message size limits, with maximum values.
- No Hard Standard: Email standards (RFCs) do not define hard size limits, according to MDN Web Docs.
- SMTP SIZE Parameter: RFC 5321 defines the SIZE parameter in the MAIL command for SMTP, allowing servers to reject oversized messages.
- Postfix Limit: Postfix uses the `message_size_limit` parameter to define the maximum message size.
Key considerations
- Bounce Message: Exceeding size limits will typically result in a bounce-back message.
- Practical Limits: Practical limitations on email sizes generally fall between 10MB and 25MB.
- Admin Control: Administrators often have the ability to configure message size limits for their organizations.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC 5321, which defines the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), explains the SIZE parameter for the MAIL command. It indicates the message size, allowing the server to reject oversized messages before processing the entire message.
15 Apr 2024 - RFC Editor
Technical article
Documentation from MDN Web Docs explains that there is no hard limit defined in the email standards (RFCs) for the size of email messages. However, practical limitations imposed by email servers and clients exist, generally falling in the range of 10MB to 25MB.
19 Jan 2025 - MDN Web Docs
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