Use case
PDF Too Large for Email: What to Do
Troubleshoot oversized PDF attachments for Gmail, Outlook, and custom mail servers with a repeatable size-reduction workflow.
Implementation guidance
Email systems often reject attachments above specific limits, and those limits vary by provider and enterprise policy. Gmail commonly allows around 25MB per message, while internal company servers may enforce much lower thresholds.
A reliable workflow is to compress with a size target, split oversized documents if needed, and resend as either one smaller file or multiple parts. This is more predictable than applying random compression settings and hoping the file passes validation.
With FoxyPDF, start in Compress For Email, target the required limit, and if still rejected, split the document into logical sections for separate attachments.
Step-by-step workflow
4 steps- 1Confirm the recipient size limit (for example 10MB or 25MB).
- 2Compress using a target size slightly below that limit.
- 3If needed, split the PDF into smaller sections.
- 4Reattach files and resend.
FAQ
Why does Gmail reject my PDF even below 25MB?
Message overhead and server-side checks can still trigger rejections. Aim below the limit for more reliable delivery.
Is splitting better than aggressive compression?
For quality-sensitive files, yes. Splitting often preserves readability better than extreme compression.
Can I keep image quality for client-facing documents?
Use balanced compression and split by sections if needed so key visuals remain clean.
Should I send ZIP instead of PDF?
Some recipient systems block ZIP attachments. PDF-only delivery is often more compatible.