Airtable supports individual attachments up to 5GB. The tighter cap is storage per base, which depends on the plan: 1 GB on Free, which also cuts the single-file maximum to 1 GB, then 20 GB on Team, 100 GB on Business and 1000 GB on Enterprise Scale (as of Nov 2026).
Which problem have you hit: one big file or a full base?
Most people searching this have one of two problems, and the fix is different for each. Either a single file won't go in, or the base itself is running out of room. Work out which one you've got first.
| Your situation | What's going on | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One file over 5GB | Above the single-attachment maximum | Host it elsewhere and store the link in a URL field |
| One file over 1GB on Free | The Free plan reduces the single-file maximum to 1 GB (as of Nov 2026) | Move to a plan with more storage or host the file elsewhere |
| Uploads failing as the base fills | Storage per base is capped by plan | Clear out old files or move heavy files out of the base |
| Upload by URL through the API fails | A blocked upload domain is the common cause | Drag and drop locally, or use the direct attachment upload API |
Storage per base, plan by plan
Here's the cap that most teams run into long before a single 5GB file.
| Plan | Attachment storage per base | Largest single file |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Team | 20 GB | 5GB |
| Business | 100 GB | 5GB |
| Enterprise Scale | 1000 GB | 5GB |
You can upload any file type into an attachment field, but only certain types can be displayed inside the app. Everything else is stored and downloadable, just not previewed.
Why your storage looks full when the export looks tiny
This is the part that confuses people, and the Airtable Help Center explains it. Attachment fields store files on its servers. Storage usage reflects the total size of every file behind those URLs, which is why a CSV export shows only URLs while the storage meter still counts the full files. A light-looking spreadsheet can sit on top of gigabytes of attachments, and 5GB per file isn't what most people hit: storage per base is the real ceiling.
What to do with files that won't fit
For anything large, I'd keep the file in a dedicated cloud folder and save the share link in the record. It keeps the base fast, the storage meter low and the file in one place. My piece on using cloud storage to work faster covers how to set that up.
If you need to pull everything out of a base, there's no built-in bulk download in the interface. The Scripting extension can download all attachments from a base at once.
A few more gotchas from the help pages:
- Download URLs from airtableusercontent.com expire a couple of hours after they're generated. Viewer URLs on airtable.com need base or interface access. Don't paste download links into client emails and expect them to work next week.
- The Dropbox picker in the attachment field doesn't currently support Dropbox Business or Team accounts and may return nothing.
- Google Drive upload and the proofing attachment viewer only work on desktop and in the browser, not in the iOS or Android apps.
If clients review files with you, an interface built with the Interface Designer gives them a clean view without full base access.
How Notion and Baserow handle file size
Notion's help page says Free Plan files must be under 5MB, with up to 5GB each on a higher plan (as of Nov 2026).
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On Baserow Cloud the maximum file upload size is 100MB per file, and files count toward workspace storage.
My advice: treat the base as an index, not a hard drive
Store small working files, such as briefs, logos and contracts, as attachments, and keep video and big design files in cloud storage with a link in the record. You'll stay well under the per-base cap, your base will load faster, and you won't have to pick a plan by storage alone.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the biggest file I can attach in Airtable?
Up to 5GB per attachment, or 1 GB on the Free plan (as of Nov 2026).
How much attachment storage does a base get?
Free 1 GB, Team 20 GB, Business 100 GB and Enterprise Scale 1000 GB per base.
Can I download all attachments at once?
Not from the interface. The Scripting extension can do it.
Why do attachment links stop working?
Download URLs from airtableusercontent.com expire after a couple of hours. Viewer URLs need base access.
Why did my API upload fail?
A blocked upload domain is a common cause. Use drag and drop or the direct attachment upload API.
