Compress a video for email
Most email services refuse big attachments. This tool shrinks your video to fit, so the person you're writing to gets a normal attachment they can just open, not a link to a storage service.
How big can an email attachment be?
Personal Gmail accounts allow 25 MB per email. Above that, Gmail swaps your attachment for a Google Drive link instead. Other services set their own limits, and some are lower, so 20 MB is a good pick if you're not sure what the other person uses. Work accounts can differ, because their limits are set by the company.
The limit also covers everything in the email together, so leave some room if you're attaching other files.
Good for anyone who receives it
The result is a standard MP4. It opens on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android without any extra app, which matters when you're sending a video to a client, a landlord or a family member who just wants to press play.
What to expect at 25 MB
These are the settings the compressor starts from for a 1080p video at 30 frames per second. Your own video may differ, and the tool shows its estimate before you start.
| Video length | Picture | Smoothness | Video bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 seconds | 1080p | 30 fps | 6,264 kbps |
| 1 minute | 720p | 30 fps | 3,068 kbps |
| 2 minutes | 720p | 30 fps | 1,470 kbps |
| 5 minutes | 480p | 24 fps | 575 kbps |
| 10 minutes | 360p | 15 fps | 272 kbps |
Tips for a sharper result
- Choose 20 MB if you don't know which email service the other person uses.
- A talking-head video or screen recording stays clear at low sizes. Fast movement needs more room.
- For long videos, cut out the part that matters before compressing.
Need to shorten it first? Use the Video Cutter.