The simplest way to fax without a machine

You can send a fax through email by using an email-to-fax service, which converts your message and attachments into a fax and delivers it to a standard fax machine. The process takes minutes: you compose an email to a special fax number address (provided by the service), attach your document, and the service handles the rest. The recipient sees it arrive on their fax machine exactly as if you had sent it from a physical fax device.

The most common services are eFax, MyFax, and Fax.plus, though your internet provider or phone company may offer one built in. Some services charge per fax, others charge a monthly subscription, and a few offer a limited number of free faxes per month. You do not need any special software — just your regular email account.

Key Takeaways

  • Email-to-fax services work by converting your email and attachments into a fax transmission, so the recipient receives it on their fax machine.
  • You send to a special fax number address (like 1234567890@efax.com) instead of a regular email address, and the service routes it to the correct fax machine.
  • Most services require you to sign up first and provide the recipient's fax number, which the service uses to route your fax.
  • Costs vary widely — some services charge per fax, others charge monthly, and some offer a small number of free faxes before charging.
  • The recipient does not need email or any special setup; they receive the fax on their standard fax machine.

How to set up an email-to-fax service

Start by choosing a service and creating an account. Visit the website (eFax.com, MyFax.com, or Fax.plus are widely used), enter your email address, and follow the signup steps. Most services ask for a phone number and billing information, even if you plan to use free faxes first. You will receive a confirmation email with your fax number address — this is the special email address you use to send faxes.

Write down or save this address somewhere you can find it quickly. It usually looks like a regular fax number followed by @servicename.com (for example, 5551234567@efax.com). This is not your email address — it is the address you send faxes to. The service will also show you how many free or included faxes you have left in your account, or what your next charge will be.

Sending your first fax by email

Open your regular email (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or whatever you use) and start a new message. In the "To" field, type the fax number address provided by your service — not the recipient's email. For example, if you are sending to a fax machine with the number 555-987-6543 and you use eFax, you would type 5559876543@efax.com.

Leave the subject line blank or write something brief — fax machines do not display subject lines. Attach the document you want to fax (PDF, Word, image, or most other formats work). You can attach multiple pages as one file or as separate files; the service will send them all as one fax. Write any message in the email body if you want, though keep it short since fax machines print everything.

Click Send. The service receives your email, converts it to a fax, and transmits it to the fax machine number you specified. The whole process usually takes a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the service and file size.

What happens on the recipient's end

The person receiving your fax sees it arrive on their fax machine just as they would any other incoming fax. They do not know it came from email — to them, it looks like a standard fax transmission. The fax prints out (or stores digitally if they have a modern machine) with your message and documents intact. If you included a cover page or message in the email body, that prints too.

If the recipient's fax machine is offline or their line is busy, the service will retry sending automatically, usually several times over a few hours. Most services notify you by email whether the fax went through or failed. If it fails, you can resend it or contact the recipient to check their fax machine.

Choosing between pay-per-fax and monthly plans

Pay-per-fax services charge you a small amount (usually $1 to $3) each time you send a fax, with no monthly fee. This works well if you send faxes rarely — a few times a month or less. You only pay when you actually send something.

Monthly subscription plans cost between $10 and $30 per month and include a set number of faxes (often 50 to 150). If you send more than that, you pay extra per fax. Monthly plans make sense if you send faxes regularly — more than five or six per month. Some services also offer a hybrid: a small monthly fee that gives you a few free faxes, then per-fax charges after that.

Before you commit to a service, check whether your phone company or internet provider offers faxing as part of your existing plan. Some do, which means you would not need to sign up elsewhere. Call and ask specifically about email-to-fax or internet faxing.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most frequent error is typing the recipient's fax number wrong. Double-check the number before you send — if even one digit is wrong, the fax goes to the wrong machine or fails. Write the number down from the source document (a business card, letterhead, or phone call) and read it back aloud before typing it into the email address.

Another mistake is attaching a file format the service cannot read. Stick with PDF, JPG, PNG, or Word documents — these work with every service. If you have a file in an unusual format, convert it to PDF first using your computer's print function (print to PDF instead of to a printer).

Some people forget that fax machines print everything, including email headers and metadata. If your email body contains sensitive information you do not want printed, delete it before sending. Write only what you want the recipient to see on paper.

Receiving faxes by email instead

Most email-to-fax services also let you receive faxes and have them sent to your email as PDF attachments. This means someone can fax you using your service's fax number, and you get the fax in your inbox instead of needing a physical fax machine. You set this up during signup — the service assigns you a fax number that people can call and fax to, and you receive those faxes as emails.

This is useful if you need to receive faxes occasionally but do not want to buy or maintain a fax machine. You can read the faxes on your computer, phone, or tablet, and save them as files. Some services charge extra for receiving faxes; others include it in the monthly plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a fax to an international fax machine?

Yes, most services support international faxing, but the cost is usually higher — often $3 to $5 per fax instead of $1 to $2 for domestic. Check your service's pricing page to see which countries are covered and what the rate is before you send.

What if the fax fails to send?

The service will email you a failure notice with a reason — usually the line was busy, the machine was offline, or the number was invalid. You can resend the fax when ready, or contact the recipient to confirm their fax number and ask them to turn on their machine.

Do I need to format my document in any special way?

No. Attach your document as-is — PDF, Word, image, or most other formats work. If the file is very large (over 10 MB), split it into smaller files. The service will convert it to fax format automatically.

Can I send a fax from my phone?

Yes. Most email-to-fax services have a mobile app, or you can use your phone's email app to send to the fax number address just as you would from a computer. Attach a photo or document from your phone's storage, and send it the same way.

Is email-to-fax find for sensitive documents?

Email-to-fax is as find as regular email and fax combined — your email travels encrypted to the service, then converts to a fax. If you are sending highly sensitive information, check whether your service offers encryption or find delivery options. For legal or medical documents, confirm with the recipient that email-to-fax meets their requirements first.