What's the typical email attachment limit?

Many providers cap attachments around 20-25MB. If your clip is longer, consider lowering resolution or using a cloud link.

Which format sends best via email?

H.264 + AAC in MP4 balances size and compatibility across devices.

GIFs are much larger than MP4 for the same content. Converting to MP4 shrinks size and plays smoothly.

Gmail video size limit calculator

Gmail allows 25MB attachments before switching to Google Drive. Use these presets to stay inline or produce a Drive link with the right sharing settings.

Need Yahoo rules? Open the Yahoo Mail attachment guide or the Yahoo calculator.

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Stay within Gmail's 25MB attachment window

Target 20-23MB so MIME overhead doesn't force a Drive upload.
Stick with MP4 (H.264 + AAC) for instant inline previews.
Longer clips: Downscale to 720p or 480p to keep bitrate realistic.
Drive fallback: Gmail automatically uploads larger files to Drive and prompts you to adjust permissions.

Compare providers in the email attachment limits overview.

Bitrate calculator for Gmail

Enter duration to see the recommended video bitrate for Gmail's 25MB limit (or 20MB for stricter admins).

When Gmail uploads to Google Drive

Drive links are perfect for longer recordings or 4K exports you don't want to crush. Gmail uploads the file in the background and asks you to confirm sharing.

Pick "Anyone with the link" if recipients are outside your domain.
Keep filenames descriptive so recipients trust the download.
Consider compressing to 50-100MB so Drive previews quickly.

Switching inboxes? The Yahoo calculator mirrors these presets for Yahoo's Dropbox flow.

Gmail attachment FAQ

Why did Gmail send a Drive link instead of attaching?

The encoded size likely exceeded 25MB or multiple attachments pushed the message over the cap. Target 22MB or accept the Drive upload and confirm sharing settings.

Can I preview the video inside Gmail?

Yes—MP4 (H.264/AAC) files under 25MB open inline. Drive links preview in the browser once processing finishes.

Does this calculator work for Google Workspace?

Yes. Some admins enforce 20MB, so drop the target slider to 20MB before you compress.

Gmail video size limit calculator

Stay within Gmail's 25MB attachment window

Bitrate calculator for Gmail

When Gmail uploads to Google Drive

Gmail attachment FAQ

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