The default Jira attachment size limit is 1 GB per file, and an admin can raise the per-file maximum to 2 GB. Storage is a separate cap: as of Nov 2026, Free plans have 2 GB per app, the Standard plan allows up to 250 GB per app, and Premium plans have unlimited file storage.
There are two numbers to keep in your head with Jira Cloud attachments: how big one file can be, and how much space all your files can take up together. People usually search for the first and get stopped by the second.
Per-file and storage caps at a glance
| Item | Limit | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Default attachment size | 1 GB per file | Jira Cloud, default setting |
| Maximum attachment size | 2 GB per file | Highest value an admin can set |
| File storage | 2 GB per app | Free plans of Jira and Jira Service Management, as of Nov 2026 |
| File storage | Up to 250 GB per app | Standard plan |
| File storage | Unlimited | Premium plans |
These come from Atlassian Support's page on configuring file attachments for Jira Cloud.
Storage runs out before the file cap does
On a Free plan, the storage limit is what bites. With 2 GB per app, a couple of design exports or screen recordings can fill the space long before any single file gets near the 1 GB default, let alone the 2 GB maximum. Atlassian Support lists both numbers on the same page, and it's worth reading them together rather than stopping at the per-file line.
On the Standard plan you get up to 250 GB per app, which is plenty for most small teams that attach screenshots and documents. Premium plans have unlimited storage, so only the per-file cap applies there.
Raising the per-file limit
If your team regularly needs files bigger than 1 GB, an admin can raise the limit. You'll need the Administer Jira global permission. Then:
- Go to Settings, then System.
- Open Advanced, then Attachments.
- Click Edit Settings.
- In the Edit Attachment Settings dialog, change the Attachment Size field, up to a maximum of 2 GB per file.
In the same place you can switch on Enable ZIP Support, which lets people preview the contents of ZIP files and download all the attachments on a work item as a single ZIP. Attachments are on by default, and an admin can also switch them off altogether from here.
When someone can't attach anything
If a teammate says the attach option is missing, it's usually a permission or a field setting, not a size problem. Two things to check:
- The Create Attachments permission in the space permission scheme, or in Jira's built-in Default Permission Scheme, must include that person.
- To attach a file while creating a work item, the Attachment field mustn't be hidden in the field configuration for that work type.
Files that are simply too big
Over 2 GB, the file won't attach however you set things up. The practical route is to keep the file in your cloud storage and paste a link into the work item. That also saves storage on smaller plans. If you're sending heavy files to clients as well, this guide on sending large files by email covers that side, and this piece on why ad hoc file sharing gets risky as you grow is worth a read if files are scattered across tools.
Attachment limits in neighbouring tools
Trello sets 10 MB per uploaded attachment, with 250 MB for upgraded members, and the cap doesn't apply to files attached as links. Slack lets members and guests add files up to 1GB, and you can drag and drop up to 10 files at once. Zendesk limits inbound email and web form attachments to 50 MB per file, and larger files create the ticket without the attachment.
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If attachments are only one part of a wider rethink of your project tool, this list of other project and issue trackers lines up the main options.
My verdict for small teams
Leave the per-file limit at 1 GB unless someone keeps hitting it, and watch storage instead, especially on a Free plan. Make links to cloud storage the habit for anything big, keep attachments for screenshots and small documents, and check the Create Attachments permission first whenever someone says they can't add a file.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the default Jira attachment size?
1 GB per file.
Can I raise the Jira attachment limit?
Yes. An admin with the Administer Jira global permission can raise it to a maximum of 2 GB per file.
Where do I change it?
Settings, then System, then Advanced, then Attachments, then Edit Settings.
How much file storage does Jira have?
Free plans have 2 GB per app as of Nov 2026, Standard up to 250 GB per app, and Premium is unlimited.
Why can't users attach files?
Check the Create Attachments permission in the space permission scheme and that the Attachment field isn't hidden for that work type.
