How Long Does a Fax Take to Send?
The short answer
Plan for about a minute per page. A short text page can be quicker, and a dense page with images can take longer. Most short faxes finish within a few minutes.
What affects the time
Page content matters most. Fax sends the page as an image, so photos, dark backgrounds, and heavy shading take longer than plain text.
The two machines also agree on a speed at the start of the call. An old machine or a noisy line forces a slower speed.
A busy line adds waiting time, because the sender has to try again.
Why is my fax taking so long?
Usually the receiving line is busy, or the machine is out of paper. Large offices get many faxes at once, especially near deadlines.
If your fax shows as sending for a long time, wait for it to finish. Sending it again can leave the office with two copies.
How to tell if a fax went through
A status of delivered means the receiving machine accepted the pages. If it matters, call the office and ask them to confirm.
Is fax faster than mail?
Yes, by days. A fax arrives within minutes, which is why people still use it when a deadline is close.
FAQ
How long does a fax take to receive?
The same as to send. Sending and receiving are one call, so the pages arrive as they go out.
How long does a 10-page fax take?
Around 10 minutes as a rough guide, and less if the pages are plain text.
Does an international fax take longer?
It can. Long-distance lines may force a slower speed, so allow extra time.
Keep reading
Ready to send your fax?
Send a fax now