Understanding Gmail Sending Limits

Sending Limits Overview

Gmail sending limits are essential to ensure the smooth and secure transmission of emails. These limits can vary and are subject to change without prior notice. It's important to note that these limits are applied over a rolling 24-hour period, rather than a fixed time of day.

Daily Sending Limits

The daily sending limit per user account is set at 2,000 messages. However, this limit is different for certain scenarios. For mail merge activities, the limit is 1,500 messages. Trial accounts have a limit of 500 messages. Additionally, messages that are auto-forwarded to another account have a separate limit of 10,000 messages.

Recipients per Message

Gmail imposes limits on the number of recipients per message. In the To, Cc, and Bcc fields of a single email, the total number of addresses allowed is 2,000. This includes a maximum of 500 external recipients. For messages sent via SMTP or the Gmail API, the limit is set at 100 recipients.

Total Recipients per Day

The total number of recipients per day is capped at 10,000 email addresses. It's important to note that each unique recipient counts only once per day. For instance, sending 5 emails to 10 different addresses counts as 10 unique recipients. However, if you send 5 emails to a single address, it counts as 1 unique recipient.

External Recipients

Gmail also considers limits for external recipients. This includes email addresses outside your primary domain, domain aliases, and alternate domains. The limit for external recipients per day is 3,000.

Messages That Count Toward User Limits

Various types of messages count toward user limits. This includes messages sent from alternate addresses or aliases, delegated users, and Gmail's vacation responder. It's essential to keep these in mind while managing your email activities.

Gmail Sending Limits for Mobile Devices

When using the Gmail for mobile app in Google Sync mode, the same sending limits apply as when using Gmail in a web browser. However, when using the Gmail for mobile app in IMAP mode, the SMTP sending limits come into effect.

Restoring a Suspended Gmail Account

Administrators can access the Google Admin console to view details about accounts that have reached their limits. In some cases, administrators can restore access. It's worth noting that accounts detected as sending spam might face permanent restrictions.

Best Practices for Sending Mail

To avoid Gmail blocking or marking your messages as spam, it's advisable to follow the guidelines outlined in preventing mail to Gmail users from being blocked or sent to spam.