You added a file or media property to a Notion database and now you want to know the exact storage limits for each file you upload. Notion applies specific size caps per file and per workspace tier, which control whether a large PDF, video, or image can be stored directly in a database row. This article explains the per-file and per-workspace storage limits for the Files & Media property, how they differ between Notion plans, and what happens when you exceed those limits.
Key Takeaways: Notion Files & Media Storage Limits
- 5 MB per file on Free Plan: Maximum file size you can upload to a Files & Media property in a database column.
- 5 GB per file on Plus, Business, and Enterprise Plans: Maximum file size allowed per upload for paid workspaces.
- No per-row file count limit: You can attach multiple files to a single database row as long as each file stays under the per-file size cap.
How the Files & Media Property Stores Data
The Files & Media property in a Notion database acts as a container for uploaded documents, images, videos, and other file types. When you add a file to a database row, Notion uploads the original file to its cloud storage and displays a preview or download link inside the cell. Unlike a simple text property, the Files & Media property stores the actual binary data, which counts against your workspace’s total file storage quota.
Notion uses two separate limits for this property: a per-file size cap and a per-workspace total storage cap. The per-file size cap is the same for all database rows within a workspace. The total storage cap depends on your subscription plan and includes all files uploaded anywhere in the workspace, not just inside database properties.
File Types Supported by Files & Media
You can attach any file type to a Files & Media property. Common examples include PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PNG, JPEG, MP4, and MP3. Notion does not block specific extensions. However, very large files such as 4K video clips or high-resolution CAD drawings may exceed the per-file limit and fail to upload.
Per-File Upload Limits by Plan
The maximum size of a single file you can upload to a Files & Media property depends on your workspace plan. The limit applies to each file individually, not to the sum of files in a row or a database.
- Free Plan: 5 MB per file
If your workspace is on the Free plan, you cannot upload any file larger than 5 megabytes. Attempting to attach a 6 MB PDF will show an error message saying the file exceeds the upload limit. This restriction applies to all database properties, page content, and comments. - Plus Plan: 5 GB per file
Workspaces on the Plus plan allow files up to 5 gigabytes each. This covers most business documents, presentation files, and short videos. A 4.5 GB video file will upload successfully, but a 6 GB file will fail. - Business Plan: 5 GB per file
The Business plan also uses a 5 GB per-file limit. There is no difference between Plus and Business for individual file uploads. The main difference between these two plans is the total storage quota and team management features. - Enterprise Plan: 5 GB per file (customizable)
Enterprise workspaces start with a 5 GB per-file limit by default. Enterprise administrators can negotiate higher per-file limits with their Notion account representative. Custom limits are not available on any other plan.
Total Workspace Storage Limits
In addition to the per-file size cap, each workspace has a total storage quota that includes all uploaded files, images, and attachments across every page, database, and property. The total storage limit is enforced at the workspace level, not per database or per user.
- Free Plan: Unlimited file uploads as long as each file is under 5 MB. There is no explicit total storage cap, but the per-file limit effectively restricts large uploads.
- Plus Plan: 5 GB total storage per workspace. Once your workspace consumes 5 GB of uploaded files, you cannot upload new files until you delete existing ones or upgrade to a higher plan.
- Business Plan: 50 GB total storage per workspace. This is ten times the Plus plan limit and is sufficient for most teams with moderate file usage.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom total storage limit negotiated with Notion. Enterprise workspaces typically start at 50 GB and can be expanded on request.
What Happens When You Exceed Storage Limits
If you try to upload a file that exceeds the per-file limit, Notion displays a red error banner at the top of the page: “File too large. Maximum file size is X.” The file does not upload, and no partial data is saved. If your workspace exceeds the total storage quota, Notion blocks all new file uploads across the entire workspace. Existing files remain accessible and downloadable, but you cannot add any new attachments until you free up space by deleting files or upgrading the plan.
If You Hit the Storage Limit
Per-file upload fails with “File too large” error
The file you are trying to attach is larger than the limit for your plan. Reduce the file size before uploading. Use a compression tool for images and PDFs, or trim video files to shorter lengths. If you frequently need to upload files larger than 5 GB, consider upgrading to an Enterprise plan with a custom limit or hosting the file on an external service like Google Drive or Dropbox and linking to it from a URL property instead of uploading directly.
Workspace total storage is full and new uploads are blocked
Check your workspace storage usage by going to Settings & Members > Settings > Workspace. The storage meter shows how much space you have used. Delete old files you no longer need. You can also upgrade your plan to increase the total storage limit. Moving files to an external storage provider and replacing them with external links can also free up workspace quota without losing access to the data.
Files & Media cell shows a broken or missing file icon
This usually means the uploaded file was deleted from Notion’s servers or the original file was removed by the uploader. The file may have been part of a workspace that was deleted or merged. Re-upload the file if you still have the original copy. If the file was uploaded by another team member who left the workspace, ask a workspace owner to recover the file from the workspace trash before it is permanently deleted.
Notion Free vs Plus vs Business vs Enterprise: Storage Limits Compared
| Item | Free | Plus | Business | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per-file upload limit | 5 MB | 5 GB | 5 GB | 5 GB (customizable) |
| Total workspace storage | Unlimited (per-file capped) | 5 GB | 50 GB | Custom |
| File types allowed | All | All | All | All |
| External link support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
You now know the exact per-file and per-workspace storage limits for the Files & Media property in Notion databases. To avoid upload failures, verify your plan’s limits before attaching large files. For files larger than 5 GB, use an external cloud service and paste the share link into a URL property instead of uploading directly to Notion. You can also check your current storage usage in Settings & Members > Settings > Workspace to stay within your quota.