Video tools
Compress a video for email
Most email services cap attachments at about 20 to 25 MB, and the real room is smaller than the number suggests. Here is the arithmetic, and how to hit it.
Why 25 MB means about 18 MB
Email carries attachments as text, using an encoding that adds about one third to the size. A provider that allows 25 MB of message will therefore accept a file of roughly 18 MB. Aim a little under that. Limits differ by provider and change over time, so check your own provider's current figure.
How much bitrate you can afford
File size is average bitrate times duration, audio included. The table shows the average bitrate that keeps a clip near an 18 MB file, which fits a 25 MB email limit after encoding. For a 20 MB limit, scale the numbers down by about a fifth.
What to do when the video is too long
- Trim it. Send the part the reader needs.
- Compress it, then check the size. Screen recordings often shrink enough to fit.
- If it still will not fit, share a link instead. A download link avoids the limit and the quality loss.
| Length | Average bitrate, video and audio |
|---|---|
| 30 seconds | about 4.8 Mbps |
| 1 minute | about 2.4 Mbps |
| 2 minutes | about 1.2 Mbps |
| 5 minutes | about 0.5 Mbps |
| 10 minutes | about 0.24 Mbps (too low for most footage; use a link) |
18 MB is 144 megabits. Divide by the length in seconds for the average rate.
Questions
What is the attachment limit for Gmail or Outlook?
Providers commonly allow about 20 to 25 MB per message, but the exact limit changes, so check your provider. Allow for the roughly one-third size increase from attachment encoding.
Can this tool target an exact file size?
Not yet. It chooses settings per clip rather than aiming for a size. Use the table above to judge whether your clip is short enough, and check the result before sending.
Is a link better than an attachment?
For anything long or important, yes. A link has no size limit and keeps full quality.
Last updated 2026-10-07.