Send to Kindle by Email: File Size Limits and Supported Formats
Send to Kindle accepts a specific set of file types, and email has tighter limits than the web uploader. Knowing both saves a round of failed sends. The figures below are the ones Amazon publishes for the Send to Kindle service.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Check that the file type is supported
Amazon lists these types for Send to Kindle: EPUB, PDF, HTML, RTF, plain text, and the image formats JPEG, GIF, PNG and BMP. An unsupported type is rejected with error E001.
Step 2: Stay within the email limits
By email you can send up to 25 attachments at once, with a total size of 50 MB or less. Going over is reported as E006 for too many attachments or E007 for size.
Step 3: Use Send to Kindle for Web for large files
The web uploader accepts documents up to 200 MB, so it is the route for big PDFs and image-heavy books that are too large to email.
Step 4: Remove passwords and repair damaged files
Password-protected and encrypted files are not accepted. Remove the protection, or re-export the document, and confirm it opens on your computer before sending it.
Pro Tips
- 💡 EPUB gives you resizable, reflowing text on the Kindle
- 💡 PDFs keep their fixed layout, which can be hard to read on a small screen
- 💡 MOBI is no longer among the formats Amazon lists for Send to Kindle
- 💡 If a book is too large to email, splitting it into parts also works
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum file size I can email to my Kindle?
Amazon's stated limit for email is a total size of 50 MB or less, with up to 25 attachments in one message.
Can I send larger files another way?
Yes. Send to Kindle for Web accepts documents of 200 MB or smaller.
Which file types does Send to Kindle support?
Amazon lists EPUB, PDF, HTML, RTF, plain text, JPEG, GIF, PNG and BMP.
What format are newsletters best sent in?
EPUB, because the text reflows to the screen and can be resized. If the documents you are sending are email newsletters, InboxToKindle removes most of this work: you approve one sender once, and every newsletter you subscribe to is converted to EPUB, stripped of tracking pixels and delivered for you. The free plan includes 3 deliveries a month and Pro is unlimited for $10 a month.