Storefront Notes

How-to's · Email marketing · 3 min read

How to Attach a PDF in Mailchimp

By the Storefront Notes Editorial Team · Updated

Short answer

Mailchimp campaigns don't support traditional attachments. Instead, highlight text or a button in your email, click the link tool, choose File, upload your PDF (up to 10 MB) to Content Studio and save. Mailchimp hosts the file and recipients download it by clicking the link.

If you've looked for a paperclip icon in Mailchimp, you won't find one. Like most bulk email platforms, Mailchimp doesn't attach files to campaigns. It hosts the file and puts a download link in your email. For recipients, the result is almost the same, and your deliverability is better for it.

What you can share

According to Mailchimp's help documentation:

  • PDFs and other documents (DOC, DOCX, RTF, ODT, EPUB and more) up to 10 MB.
  • Images around 1 MB or less.
  • Spreadsheets, presentations, audio, video and ZIP archives are also accepted. ZIPs containing unsupported file types can't be hosted.

If your PDF is bigger than 10 MB, compress it first. Most PDF tools have a "reduce file size" option, and image-heavy brochures often shrink a lot.

Steps in the new email builder

  1. Open your campaign and click Edit in the Content section.
  2. Type the link text, such as "Download the size guide (PDF)," and highlight it. You can also select a button.
  3. Click the link icon in the toolbar (CMD+K on a Mac).
  4. In the pop-up, choose File from the dropdown.
  5. Upload the PDF from your computer or pick one already in Content Studio.
  6. Mailchimp generates the file URL. Click Save.

Steps in the classic builder

  1. Click Edit in the Content section.
  2. Click the edit icon on a Text block.
  3. Type and highlight your link text.
  4. Click the Link icon.
  5. In the Insert/Edit Link window, choose File from the dropdown.
  6. Upload or select the PDF. The URL fills in automatically.
  7. Optionally open Advanced Options to open in a new window.
  8. Click Insert, then save.

A tiny text link buried in a paragraph gets missed. Some tips:

  • Use a button for the main download. "Get the PDF" in a contrasting color works better than "click here."
  • Show a preview image of the first page and link that too.
  • Say what it is and how big it is: "2026 Wholesale Catalog (PDF, 4 MB)."
  • Put the link near the top if the PDF is the point of the email.

Lead magnets: deliver the PDF automatically

A common use is giving a free guide in exchange for an email. Set up an automation (Customer Journey) triggered when someone joins your audience or a specific signup form, and include the PDF link in the welcome email. Mailchimp's signup confirmation emails can also include a link to the file.

For ecommerce stores, a PDF lookbook, size guide or care instructions in a welcome or post-purchase email is a nice touch. Our guide to email automation for ecommerce covers the flows where these fit.

Tracking downloads

After sending, open the campaign report and check click performance. Clicks on the file link show you who accessed it. You can then segment people who clicked into a group for follow-up.

Alternatives to hosting in Mailchimp

  • Your website: Upload the PDF to Shopify (Content > Files) or your site and link to it. You keep control, can update the file without changing the URL in some setups, and you may capture the visit in analytics.
  • Cloud storage: Google Drive or Dropbox links work but look less polished and can hit permission issues.

Troubleshooting

Problem Fix
Upload fails File is over 10 MB or an unsupported type
Link opens a blank page File was deleted from Content Studio
Recipients say it's not there The link is easy to miss; use a button
Emails going to spam Check overall content and links; see Mailchimp image sizes and keep emails light

If you're building more structured emails with PDFs, product grids and side-by-side content, our guide on adding columns in Mailchimp templates will help.

Frequently asked questions

What's the maximum PDF size in Mailchimp?

Mailchimp's help documentation lists a limit of 10 MB for non-image files such as PDFs.

Can I see who downloaded the PDF?

Mailchimp's click reports show who clicked the file link, which is a close proxy for downloads.

Why doesn't Mailchimp allow real attachments?

Attachments increase spam filtering and deliverability problems and can carry malware, so bulk email platforms host files and link to them instead.

Sources and further reading

Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.

Related guides