iCloud Mail & Storage Limits
Email attachment, Mail Drop and storage limits for iCloud
Last reviewed on June 10, 2026
Email Attachment
Standard iCloud Mail
With Mail Drop
Per attachment
Free Storage
Every Apple ID
iCloud Storage Plans (iCloud+)
| Plan | Storage | Price (US) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 5 GB | $0.00 | Basic backup & Mail |
| iCloud+ 50 GB | 50 GB | $0.99/mo | One device, photos |
| iCloud+ 200 GB | 200 GB | $2.99/mo | Family sharing |
| iCloud+ 2 TB | 2 TB | $9.99/mo | Large photo libraries |
| iCloud+ 6 TB | 6 TB | $29.99/mo | Pro users, video |
| iCloud+ 12 TB | 12 TB | $59.99/mo | Maximum capacity |
Prices are Apple's US iCloud+ rates and vary by country. Paid plans can be shared with Family Sharing.
Sending Large Files from iCloud Mail
📎 Standard Attachment
Maximum: 20 MB
- Attach directly to the email
- Works with any recipient
- Counts toward message size
- Best for documents & photos
☁️ Mail Drop
Maximum: 5 GB
- Auto-suggested over 20 MB
- Files uploaded to iCloud
- Does not use your storage
- Links expire after 30 days
🔗 iCloud Drive Link
Share any size
- Share a file or folder link
- Counts toward your storage
- Control view/edit access
- Good for collaboration
📨 Receiving Mail Drop
Download within 30 days
- Recipients click to download
- No Apple ID required
- Available for 30 days
- Works on any device
iCloud Mail Limits at a Glance
📧 Attachments
- Standard: 20 MB
- Mail Drop: 5 GB
- Mail Drop storage: 1 TB rolling
- Expiry: 30 days
Over 20 MB? Mail Drop kicks in
📤 Sending
- Up to 1,000 messages/day
- Max 500 recipients per message
- Up to 1,000 recipients/day
- Anti-spam throttling applies
Bulk sending may be limited
💾 Storage
- Free: 5 GB
- Shared by Mail, Photos, Backup
- iCloud+ up to 12 TB
- Mail Drop is separate
Mail counts toward your 5 GB
🔐 Mail Drop Notes
- Free for all iCloud users
- Doesn't use your quota
- 1 TB total Mail Drop space
- Re-send after items expire
Great for big videos & ZIPs
Working Around the 20 MB Limit
1. Let Mail Drop Handle It
For files over 20 MB:
- Attach as normal — Mail offers Mail Drop
- Send up to 5 GB per attachment
- Doesn't touch your 5 GB quota
- Recipients download for 30 days
2. Compress First
Stay under 20 MB:
- Zip multiple files together
- Reduce photo resolution
- Export PDFs at smaller size
- Trim or compress video
3. Share an iCloud Drive Link
For ongoing access:
- Upload to iCloud Drive
- Share a link instead of a file
- Set view or edit permissions
- Update the file anytime
4. Free Up Storage
If your 5 GB is full:
- Delete large email attachments
- Manage iCloud Photos & backups
- Empty Recently Deleted
- Upgrade to iCloud+ if needed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the iCloud Mail attachment size limit?
Standard iCloud Mail attachments are limited to 20 MB per message. When you try to send something larger, Mail automatically offers Mail Drop, which lets you send attachments up to 5 GB.
How big can a Mail Drop attachment be?
Mail Drop supports attachments up to 5 GB each. The files are uploaded to iCloud, don't count against your personal storage quota, and remain available for recipients to download for 30 days.
Does Mail Drop use my iCloud storage?
No. Mail Drop attachments are stored separately and do not count toward your 5 GB (or larger) iCloud storage. There is a 1 TB rolling allowance for Mail Drop, and space frees up as attachments expire after 30 days.
How much free iCloud storage do I get?
Every Apple ID includes 5 GB of free iCloud storage, shared across Mail, Photos, iCloud Drive and device backups. You can upgrade to iCloud+ plans ranging from 50 GB up to 12 TB.
Why can't I send a large attachment from iCloud Mail?
If the file is over 20 MB and Mail Drop isn't used, the message will be rejected. Make sure Mail Drop is enabled, compress the file under 20 MB, or share an iCloud Drive link instead.