Guide · 1 min read
How to Make Images Smaller for Email (Gmail and Outlook)
Gmail caps at 25 MB. Most corporate inboxes cap at 10. Here's the fastest fix.
Published March 10, 2026 · Updated June 5, 2026
Email size limits
Gmail: 25 MB per message before encoding (~18 MB in practice). Outlook: 20 MB default. Many corporate mail servers cap at 10 MB end-to-end.
Quick fix
Compress each photo at JPG quality 70 before attaching.
- Open the Image Compressor.
- Drop the photo (5 MB max per file).
- Move quality to 70.
- Click Compress, then Download.
- Attach to your email.
Sending several at once
Compress each one individually, then attach them all to the email. Zipping JPGs together adds almost no extra savings (JPG is already compressed), so don't bother unless your recipient prefers a single archive.
Frequently asked questions
What if Gmail still bounces my email?
Total attachment size includes base64 overhead (about 35%). Compress more aggressively or send via Google Drive link.
Lossless option?
Not for email. You need lossy compression to fit attachment limits. JPG quality 80 is the practical lossless equivalent for most viewers.
Try it now: Image Compressor
Shrink JPG, PNG & WebP. Pick quality, get a smaller file.