---
name: "CURLOPT_MAX_SEND_SPEED_LARGE"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "curl"
version: "8.23.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/CURLOPT_MAX_SEND_SPEED_LARGE"
---

# CURLOPT\_MAX\_SEND\_SPEED\_LARGE(3)

rate limit data upload speed

## NAME

CURLOPT\_MAX\_SEND\_SPEED\_LARGE - rate limit data upload speed

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_MAX_SEND_SPEED_LARGE,
                          curl_off_t maxspeed);
```

## DESCRIPTION

Pass a curl\_off\_t as parameter with the *maxspeed*. If an upload exceeds this speed (counted in bytes per second) the transfer pauses to keep the average speed less than or equal to the parameter value. Defaults to unlimited speed.

This is not an exact science. libcurl attempts to keep the average speed below the given threshold over a period time.

If you set *maxspeed* to a value lower than *[CURLOPT\_UPLOAD\_BUFFERSIZE(3)](/CURLOPT_UPLOAD_BUFFERSIZE/3.md)*, libcurl might "shoot over" the limit on its first send and still send off a full buffer.

This option does not affect transfer speeds done with *file://* URLs.

## DEFAULT

0, disabled

## PROTOCOLS

This functionality affects all supported protocols

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    CURLcode result;
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com/");
    /* cap the upload speed to 1000 bytes/sec */
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_MAX_SEND_SPEED_LARGE, (curl_off_t)1000);
    /* (set some upload options as well) */
    result = curl_easy_perform(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

Added in curl 7.15.5

## RETURN VALUE

*[curl\_easy\_setopt(3)](/curl_easy_setopt/3.md)* returns a CURLcode indicating success or error.

CURLE\_OK (0) means everything was OK, non-zero means an error occurred, see *[libcurl-errors(3)](/libcurl-errors/3.md)*.

## SEE ALSO

[**CURLOPT\_LOW\_SPEED\_LIMIT**(3)](/CURLOPT_LOW_SPEED_LIMIT/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_MAX\_RECV\_SPEED\_LARGE**(3)](/CURLOPT_MAX_RECV_SPEED_LARGE/3.md)