Forum Discussion
Microsoft Sharepoint Online - total size of the columns in this list exceeds the limit
Hi parthup ,
each SharePoint list item can max. occupy 8,000 bytes per row (see software boundaries here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/install/software-boundaries-and-limits#list-and-library-limits). 300 Bytes are reserved, so you can use 7,700 bytes
You can get all columns from your list if you use the SharePoint REST api in your browser. Simply open<Yoursiteurl>/_api/web/lists/getbytitle('<your list name>')/fieldsand save the XML. You can transfrom that result into an Excel file using Power Query
Now you can count the fields and determine their type (i.e. using the field "TypeAsString" Property).
For the size of each field type refer to this table
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/install/software-boundaries-and-limits#Column
Sum that up to calculate your list size.
Best Regards,
Sven
If you're receiving the error message "The column cannot be added because the total size of the columns in this list exceeds the limit. Please delete some other columns first" when trying to create a new Person type column in SharePoint Online, there are a few possible reasons and solutions you can try:
List View Threshold: SharePoint Online has a list view threshold that limits the total number of columns or the total size of all columns in a list. This threshold is set by default to 8,000 bytes. If the total size of all columns in the list exceeds this limit, you won't be able to add additional columns. In this case, you can try one or more of the following solutions:
- Delete unnecessary columns: Review the list and identify any columns that are no longer needed. Delete those columns to reduce the overall size of the list.
- Combine columns: If possible, consider combining multiple columns into a single column or reorganizing the data structure to reduce the number of columns.
- Archive or move data: If the list contains a large amount of historical data that is no longer frequently accessed, you can consider archiving or moving some of the data to a different location.
Hidden or System Columns: Hidden or system columns in the list, such as "Created By" or "Modified By," also contribute to the overall size limit. Ensure that you haven't exceeded the size limit considering these columns as well.
Indexed Columns: Indexed columns in SharePoint can increase the size of the list, as they require additional storage. If you have indexed columns in the list, try removing the indexing on any unnecessary columns.
Site Collection Administrator: Check if you have the necessary permissions to add columns to the list. Ensure that you have the appropriate access and permissions.