Data Extension Limits and Guidelines

Guidelines by Entity Type

For each data element, this table shows an approximate range for each of these performance categories.

These values are guidelines for best performance, not hard limits. If your account falls into the Aggressive or Extreme categories for one or more entity types, but isn't experiencing performance issues, you don't need to make any changes.

• Efficient: The optimum range for time-sensitive imports and high performance.
• Typical: High performance for general use.
• Aggressive: Values in this range can impact performance.
• Extreme: Values in this range are likely to degrade performance.

If your account experiences performance issues, consider these solutions:

• Delete unused data extension or contact attribute fields.
• Split up fields across several data extensions, rather than creating one large data extension. Then, connect multiple related data extensions in Contact Builder or Email Studio.
• Delete older data from data extensions. For example, implement a data retention policy to delete rows when they reach a certain age. You can also use SOAP API to delete specific rows.
• Reduce the number of text fields that have a high character limit. To implement this solution, add a column to the data extension with a smaller character limit. Next, use a query to move data from the older column to the newer one. Finally, delete the older column.
• Move the data from large data extensions into an archive. To implement this solution, click the Clear Records button in the data extension to move the data to the Recycle Bin. Next, from the Recycle Bin, click Restore to move the cleared data to a new data extension. The new data extension acts as an archive. Delete the archived data extension when you no longer need the data. See Manage Data Extension Records.