No, you cannot email directly to a fax number, but you can email to a fax-to-email gateway that converts your message and sends it as a fax

Email and fax use completely different technologies. A fax number connects to a fax machine or fax software through the telephone network. An email address connects to a mail server through the internet. They do not speak to each other. If you type a fax number into an email address field, your message will bounce back as undeliverable.

However, you can send a fax through email if you use a fax-to-email service — a middleman that accepts your email, converts it to a fax signal, and dials the fax number on your behalf. Some of these services are free with limits; others charge per fax. Your email provider may also offer this as a built-in feature.

Key Takeaways

  • Fax numbers and email addresses are separate systems that do not connect directly to each other.
  • Fax-to-email services convert your email into a fax and send it through the telephone network to the recipient's fax machine.
  • Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail do not have built-in fax-to-email features, but third-party services like eFax, Fax.plus, and HelloFax can do this for you.
  • Most fax-to-email services charge per page or per month, though some offer a small number of free faxes before charging begins.
  • The recipient receives your message on their fax machine or fax software, not in their email inbox.

How fax-to-email services work

When you use a fax-to-email service, you compose your message in email as usual. Instead of sending it to a person's email address, you send it to a special email address provided by the fax service — usually something like faxnumber@servicename.com. You replace the fax number in that address with the actual fax number you want to reach.

The service receives your email, converts the attachment or message body into a fax-compatible format (usually a TIFF or PDF image), and dials the fax number through the telephone network. The receiving fax machine prints or stores the document just as if you had sent it from a traditional fax machine. The whole process usually takes a few minutes.

Some services also let you upload a document through a web portal instead of emailing it, which can be faster if you are sending the same fax to multiple numbers.

Common fax-to-email services and their costs

eFax is one of the oldest and most widely used services. It offers a free tier that includes a limited number of outgoing faxes per month (usually 5 to 10), with additional faxes charged per page. Paid plans start around $10 to $15 per month and include a higher monthly allowance plus the ability to receive faxes by email.

Fax.plus and HelloFax both offer free trials and per-page pricing. Fax.plus charges roughly $0.25 to $0.50 per page depending on your plan; HelloFax charges similarly. Both let you send from your email inbox directly, which is more convenient than logging into a separate website.

Google Workspace (the paid version of Gmail for businesses) includes a fax-to-email feature through a partner service, though you pay a separate monthly fee for fax capability. Standard Gmail does not include this.

If you only need to send a fax once or twice, some services let you pay per fax without a subscription — usually $1 to $3 per page depending on the service and destination country.

What the recipient sees

The person receiving your fax sees it on their fax machine or fax software, not in their email inbox. If they have a fax-to-email service of their own, they may also receive a copy by email, but that depends on their setup. From their perspective, a fax sent through an email-to-fax service looks identical to a fax sent from a traditional fax machine.

The fax will include a cover page with the sender information you provided (usually your name and phone number or email address, depending on the service). Some services let you customize this cover page; others use a standard template.

When to use email-to-fax instead of other options

Email-to-fax makes sense when the recipient has only a fax number and no email address, or when they specifically request documents by fax. Government agencies, law offices, and some medical offices still use fax as their primary document intake method.

It is also useful if you do not have a fax machine or fax software installed on your computer. Instead of buying hardware or software, you can send a fax through a service you access from your email.

If you need to send faxes regularly — more than a few per month — a paid subscription is usually cheaper than paying per-page fees. If you send only occasionally, the free tier of a service like eFax or a pay-per-fax option is more economical.

Limitations and things to know

Fax-to-email services require an internet connection to send the email, but the fax itself travels through the telephone network. This means the recipient's fax machine must be connected to a working phone line. If their fax line is down or busy, the service will usually retry automatically a few times before reporting failure.

The quality of the fax depends on the quality of your original document. If you are sending a scanned image, a clear scan produces a clear fax. Handwritten documents or poor-quality scans may be harder to read on the receiving end.

International faxes cost more than domestic ones. Most services charge extra per page for faxes sent outside your country. Check the service's pricing page before sending to an international number.

Fax-to-email services do not encrypt your document in transit the way email encryption does. If you are sending sensitive information, ask the service about their security practices, or consider whether email with encryption would be safer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send an email to a fax number directly without using a service?

No. Email and fax are separate systems that do not connect. Your email will bounce back as undeliverable if you try to send it to a fax number. You must use a fax-to-email service or send the fax through a fax machine or fax software.

What file types can I send through a fax-to-email service?

Most services accept PDF, Word documents, images (JPG, PNG), and text files. Some services also accept Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. Check your service's documentation for the full list. The service converts whatever you send into a fax-compatible format before transmitting.

How long does it take to send a fax through email?

Usually a few minutes from the time you send the email. The service processes your message, converts it, and dials the fax number. If the receiving fax machine is busy or offline, the service retries automatically, which can add time. You typically receive a confirmation email once the fax is sent successfully.

Do I need to include a cover page?

Most fax-to-email services add a cover page automatically with your name and contact information. Some let you customize it or disable it. Check your service's settings. Many recipients expect a cover page, so it is usually worth keeping it unless the service makes it straightforward to remove.

What happens if the fax number is wrong or disconnected?

The service will attempt to send the fax and receive a failure signal from the telephone network. You will usually get a notification email saying the fax could not be delivered. Double-check the fax number before sending, especially if it is a long-distance or international number.