Compress Video for Email
Email Attachment Limits
Most email providers block attachments over 25MB. Videos must be compressed to send.
Email Provider Limits
| Provider | Limit | Safe Target |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 25MB | 20MB |
| Outlook/Hotmail | 20MB | 18MB |
| Yahoo Mail | 25MB | 20MB |
| iCloud Mail | 20MB | 18MB |
How Much Video Fits in 20MB?
With proper compression:
- 1080p video: 1-2 minutes
- 720p video: 2-4 minutes
- 480p video: 5-8 minutes
For longer videos, use cloud links instead (Google Drive, Dropbox).
Quick Compression for Email
- Open MediaOptim
- Select "Email" preset (targets 20MB)
- Drag video file
- Export compressed video
- Attach to email
Alternative: Cloud Links
For videos over 2 minutes:
- Upload full-quality video to Google Drive or Dropbox
- Get shareable link
- Send link in email instead of attachment
Benefits: no quality loss, no size limit, recipient can watch in browser.
Common Email Video Errors
"Attachment size exceeds limit"
Video is larger than 25MB. Compress with MediaOptim to 20MB or less.
"Message blocked by server"
Some corporate email servers have lower limits (10MB). Compress to 8-10MB or use cloud link.
"Recipient can't download"
Their email provider may have download limits. Use cloud link instead.
Best Practices
- Always compress to under 20MB for maximum compatibility
- Test send to yourself first
- Include descriptive filename
- For videos over 2 minutes, prefer cloud links
- Check recipient's email provider limits if known