How to use this preset
- Add the photo you want to email.
- A 200 KB target is filled in; raise or lower it if your mail system is stricter.
- Press Compress.
- Download and attach the smaller JPG.
Why email photos need compressing
Gmail allows up to 25 MB of attachments per message; anything bigger is turned into a Google Drive link instead, according to Google's Gmail help. Five photos straight from a modern phone can already exceed that. At about 200 KB each you can attach dozens of photos, they open instantly on the recipient's phone, and they don't fill up anyone's mailbox.
| Photos | Straight from phone (~4 MB each) | After this preset (~200 KB) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | ~20 MB | ~1 MB |
| 20 | ~80 MB, sent as a Drive link | ~4 MB |
Gmail, Outlook and iPhone Mail
Gmail on the web does not shrink photo attachments for you; you send whatever size you attach. iPhone Mail can offer to scale large images when sending, but you can't pick the result. Outlook also has its own attachment limits and options. Compressing here first gives the same predictable size in every app. On iPhone, open this page in Safari, compress, save to Files, then attach from Files.
- Lots of photos? Run them through bulk resize and attach a ZIP.
- Want more detail for printing? Use compress to 1MB per photo.
- Need an exact limit: resize image in KB or compress to 200KB.
What 200 KB looks like
At around 200 KB a typical landscape still looks sharp in the message body or as an attachment. For many photos in one email, try 100 KB each. For a single hero shot, 300 to 500 KB is fine if your limit allows it.
Tips before you compress
Crop out empty sky or walls first so the file budget goes to the subject. If the mail client also resizes images, you do not need print-resolution files.
Frequently asked questions
What size should email photos be?
About 100 to 300 KB each is a good range for most mail systems.
Will the photo look bad?
On a screen, a well-compressed 200 KB JPG usually looks fine.
How do I compress photos for email on iPhone?
Open this page in Safari, pick the photo, press Compress, save it to Files and attach it from there.
How do I compress photos for email in Gmail or Outlook?
Compress them here before attaching. Neither app lets you choose a target size, so you control it here.
Does email compress images?
Usually not. Gmail sends attachments as they are; iPhone Mail may offer to scale large images. Compressing first is the reliable way.