Worried your next big email might bounce right back? Trying to email a Gmail address and get nothing but errors? Wondering how many emails a Gmail address can receive per hour? Find here the bounds and limits for receiving messages at a Gmail email address per minute, hour and day.
First, Two-and-a-half Countries and Thirteen Million Liters
Between the countries of Argentina, Brazil and, well, almost Paraguay, it takes the Iguazu river more than one and a half miles (2.5 km) to descend over 275 individual waterfalls (though not in succession).
That makes up to thirteen million liters of river water going down west — per second.
This is only during peak times, of course. Now, in peak times, how many liters of emails can go down a Gmail email address? Let’s find out:
These Are the Gmail Limits for Receiving Email
When you send an email to a Gmail address, delivery may fail if the receiving account’s limits have been reached.
In particular, the following applies:
| Action | Limit |
|---|---|
| Emails received at Gmail per minute | 60 |
| …per hour | 3 600 |
| …per day | 86 400 |
| Total message size (all text, headers and attached files in encoded form) | 50 MB |
| Individual attachment file size | 25 MB |
| Attachments per email | 500 |
Important: In situations that its algorithms deem exceptional, Gmail can apply limits to receiving mail that are significantly lower than the general bounds above. For instance, a sudden surge of similar messages coming to an address can engage a potential malware-cap on the messages allowed into a Gmail account per hour.
Their word: Google include information on receiving limits in Workplace Help.
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These Are the Gmail Limits for Receiving Email: FAQ
How many emails can a Gmail account receive?
A regular Gmail account can at most receive around one email per second.
That does not mean, of course, that emails must be received at one-second intervals. Dozens of emails can arrive at practically the same time, only milliseconds apart.
Over one hour, more than 3,600 messages will have Gmail reject future messages, however
Sending from Gmail: How Many Email Addresses You Can BCC in Gmail
More about files: This Is the Maximum Attachment Size for Gmail
Do I have to resend an email when I receive a temporary delivery error?
No.
Email is designed for uncertain delivery and delays. An email (SMTP) server that has taken over your email for delivery to Gmail will automatically try again for some four to five days (in increasingly larger intervals).
Is the receiving limit for Google Workplace and free Gmail accounts?
No.
Google apply the same receiving limit to all account types.
(First published August 2020, last updated February 2026)