Anyone who’s ever tried to read a PDF on a phone screen knows the feeling: you squint, scroll, and wish it were on your Kindle. Amazon’s Send to Kindle service bridges that gap, letting you push documents, articles, and EPUBs straight to your Kindle library at no extra cost.

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Supported file formats: EPUB, PDF, DOCX, TXT, HTML, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP ·
Cost: Free ·
Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome browser ·
Maximum file size per document: 50 MB via email, 100 MB via app ·
Cloud storage for personal docs: Up to 5 GB

Quick snapshot

1Send via Email
2Send via Mobile App
3Send via Chrome Extension
  • One-click send web articles in clean format (YouTube walkthrough)
  • Supports editing title and author (YouTube walkthrough)
  • Articles saved to Kindle library instantly (YouTube walkthrough)
4Send via Amazon Website
  • Upload files directly at amazon.com/sendtokindle (YouTube demo)
  • Manage your library and download apps (YouTube demo)
  • Supports all file formats listed (Kindle User’s Guide)

Six key facts, one pattern: everything works through Amazon’s existing sync infrastructure, but the method you choose changes how much control you have over formatting and delivery speed.

Fact Detail
Cost Free
Supported formats EPUB, PDF, DOCX, TXT, HTML, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP
Max file size (email) 50 MB
Max file size (app/website) 100 MB
Cloud storage limit 5 GB for personal documents
Devices All Kindle e-readers and Kindle app on smartphones/tablets
Why this matters

Amazon’s 5 GB personal-document storage cap means heavy readers need to manage their library, especially those sending PDFs with large image files. The trade-off: free unlimited device sync versus physical storage limits.

How to Send Documents to Your Kindle

Sending via email

  • Find your Kindle email address in Amazon account settings under Preferences > Personal Document Settings (Build Book Buzz guide). It ends in @kindle.com.
  • Add the sender email to your Approved Personal Document Email List on the same page (Build Book Buzz).
  • Compose a new email, attach the file (EPUB, PDF, DOCX, TXT, HTML, RTF, or image), and send it to your Kindle address. No subject line is required (Build Book Buzz).
  • Wait a few minutes. If it doesn’t appear, sync your Kindle from the settings menu (Build Book Buzz).

What this means: the email method is simplest for occasional sends, but the approval list adds a privacy barrier that can trip up first-time users.

Using the Send to Kindle app

  • Download the free Send to Kindle app from Amazon’s website for Windows or Mac (YouTube walkthrough).
  • Sign in with your Amazon account, then drag files directly into the app window. You can also click the file picker (YouTube walkthrough).
  • Enable archiving so your documents sync across all Kindle devices, not just one (YouTube walkthrough).

The catch: the desktop app is only available on computers, not tablets or phones — so it’s best for bulk transfers from your laptop.

Using the browser extension

  • Install the “Send to Kindle” extension from the Chrome Web Store (also available for Firefox and Edge).
  • Click the extension icon when viewing a web article. The extension extracts a clean, reading-friendly version (YouTube demo).
  • Edit the title and author name before sending if desired, then click send. The article appears in your Kindle library within seconds (YouTube demo).

Why this matters: the extension is the fastest way to archive longform web content for later reading, especially for research or article hoarding.

The upshot

Amazon’s Kindle User’s Guide confirms that all four methods ultimately deliver files to the same library. The real decision is convenience (email or extension) versus control (desktop app with archiving settings).

What File Formats Are Supported by Send to Kindle?

EPUB and MOBI support

  • EPUB files are natively supported as of 2022. MOBI files are also accepted but may lack newer formatting features.
  • Amazon recommends EPUB for best reflow and font resizing (Kindle User’s Guide).

PDF and image files

  • PDFs are supported but do not reflow on smaller screens; zooming and panning may be needed (Kindle User’s Guide).
  • Images: JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP can be sent and will appear in your library as photo albums.

Converting unsupported formats

  • For unsupported formats like .azw, .prc, or .cbz, use free tools like Calibre to convert to EPUB before sending.
  • Amazon’s service automatically converts DOCX and HTML to Kindle formats during transfer (Kindle User’s Guide).

The trade-off: native support for EPUB is a huge win, but if you rely on PDFs with complex layouts, you may prefer viewing them on a tablet with the Kindle app instead of an e-reader.

How to Use the Send to Kindle App and Browser Extension

Setting up the mobile app

  • Download the Send to Kindle app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Sign in with your Amazon account.
  • Use the share sheet on iOS or the “Send to Kindle” option on Android to push articles, images, and documents from other apps (YouTube walkthrough).
  • Edit title, author, and choose which Kindle device or app to deliver to.

Using the Chrome extension

  • Install from the Chrome Web Store (also available for Firefox and Edge).
  • Click the extension icon while on any article page. A preview shows the cleaned-up text.
  • Optionally change the title and author, then hit “Send to Kindle”. The article lands in your library within a minute (YouTube demo).

Uploading files via the website

  • Go to amazon.com/sendtokindle and sign in. Drag and drop files onto the page, or click to select.
  • Choose the destination device, then click “Send”. Files are converted and delivered automatically (YouTube demo).

The pattern: the mobile app and website are great for one-off sends, while the extension excels at saving online articles for offline reading.

How to Send Web Pages to Kindle

Using the browser extension

  • As described above, the extension strips clutter and delivers a distilled version of the page (YouTube demo).

Using the app’s share feature

  • On mobile, open the article in your browser, tap Share, and select “Send to Kindle” from the share sheet. The app handles extraction automatically (YouTube walkthrough).

Using the Send to Kindle bookmarklet

  • Amazon provides a bookmarklet that works in any browser. Drag the bookmarklet from Amazon’s help page into your bookmarks bar.
  • Click the bookmarklet on any page to trigger the same clean extraction and delivery flow.

The catch: the bookmarklet and extension both rely on Amazon’s article-parsing engine, which works well for text-heavy sites but may struggle with paywalled pages or heavy JavaScript.

Is Send to Kindle Free? Costs and Limitations

No additional charge for the service

  • Amazon states that the Send to Kindle service is included at no extra cost with any Amazon account (Kindle User’s Guide). You don’t need a subscription.

Cloud storage limits

  • Personal documents stored in your Kindle library count toward a 5 GB quota. This includes all sent files across all methods.
  • You can free up space by deleting documents from your library via the Manage Your Content and Devices page.

File size and type restrictions

  • Email: maximum 50 MB per file. App/web: up to 100 MB per file (Kindle User’s Guide).
  • Unsupported formats are rejected; the service will notify you if a conversion fails.

What this means: heavy users sending large PDFs should watch their storage, but for most readers the 5 GB limit is more than enough for hundreds of books and articles.

“Send to Kindle service allows you to send documents to your Kindle library on your Kindle devices and Kindle app at no additional cost.”

— Amazon help page (Kindle User’s Guide)

“Send once, read anywhere. Sign in to send files to your Kindle library or to specific devices linked to your account.”

— Amazon Send to Kindle landing page (YouTube walkthrough)

For Kindle owners who juggle multiple devices — an Oasis at home, a Paperwhite in the bag, and the app on a phone — the service’s Whispersync capability means your place is always saved. The implication is clear: pick one sending method, and you never have to think about file transfer again.

Related reading: How to Take a Screenshot on Windows: Shortcuts & Troubleshooting · Turnitin AI Detector: Scores, How to Use & Free Alternatives

Additional sources

mybookcave.com, youtube.com

For a detailed walkthrough of email and app methods, refer to our complete Send to Kindle guide that covers every step in depth.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I send documents to multiple Kindles?

Yes. When you send a document, you can choose a specific device or select “All Devices.” The document will appear on every Kindle and Kindle app linked to your account.

What is the maximum file size I can send?

Via email, the limit is 50 MB. Via the Send to Kindle app, browser extension, or web upload, the limit is 100 MB. Files larger than that will be rejected.

How long does it take for a document to appear on my Kindle?

Typically within a few minutes. If it hasn’t appeared after 5–10 minutes, tap “Sync” on your Kindle (or pull down on the Kindle app) to force a refresh.

Can I send documents from my iPhone?

Absolutely. Use the Send to Kindle app from the App Store, or use the share sheet from Safari, Files, or any app to send a document or web page directly.

What happens if I send an unsupported file format?

Amazon will notify you by email that the file could not be converted. Common unsupported formats include .azw, .prc, .cbz, and .mobi (though MOBI is partially supported). Convert the file to EPUB and try again.

How do I remove a document from my Kindle library?

Go to Amazon.com, sign in, and visit Manage Your Content and Devices. Find the document in your Personal Documents section and select “Delete.” It will be removed from all devices.

Does Send to Kindle work with Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is separate — it lets you borrow books from Amazon’s KU catalog. Send to Kindle is for your own personal documents and doesn’t interact with Kindle Unlimited.

Can I send documents to someone else’s Kindle?

Only if they have added your email address to their Approved Personal Document Email List. The service is designed for your own documents, not for sharing with others.

For anyone building a cross-device reading habit, Amazon’s Send to Kindle service removes the friction of manual file transfers. The choice between email, app, extension, or web upload mostly comes down to how often you send and from which device. For the casual reader who only sends an occasional document, email is fine. For the daily article hoarder, the browser extension is unbeatable. And for the power user managing a library of EPUBs and PDFs, the desktop app with archiving enabled is the clear recommendation. Save your place, carry your library — that’s the whole point.