In an age of instant messaging, lightning-fast emails, and video calls, the very act of “sending a fax” feels like something from a different era.
And for a digital native who’s never seen a fax machine, let alone used one, the whole concept is probably as foreign as a floppy disk or a rotary phone.
But to answer the question, how long does it take to fax something?
It depends. Traditional fax machines are notoriously slow. They hum, they beep, they stall, like they’re trying to build suspense. A single page can take a minute or more, and that’s if the connection holds and the paper feeds through without jamming.
Today, modern faxing services like FaxBurner make it simple to fax straight from your phone, tablet, or laptop using an app. Here’s how it all works, what affects speed, and why mobile-first faxing is the smarter option.
What Affects Fax Transmission Time?
Several factors influence how long it takes for a fax to go through, and these include:
🛠️ Machine Speed
Old machines don’t rush. They scan each page slowly, process the data bit by bit, and send it over the line like it’s 1994. Newer ones aren’t much better because they still rely on analogue tech and can get bogged down with anything longer than a couple of pages.
☎️ Phone Line Quality
Traditional faxing depends on landlines. If the line is unstable, noisy, or in use, the transmission can fail or crawl. In some cases, the machine will try to resend, adding even more time to the process.
📄 Page Count
One page typically takes about a minute to go through. But if you’re sending multiple pages, you’ll likely be there a while, particularly if it’s a traditional setup.
This is because each page has to be scanned, encoded, and transmitted individually. Longer documents increase the chances of interruption or failed attempts.
🖼️ File Type and Content
With online faxing, large files or documents with high-res images and complex formatting take longer to upload, convert, and send. Plain text files or basic black-and-white PDFs go through faster and with fewer hiccups.
How Long Does It Take to Send a Fax?
It depends on how you’re sending it.
📠 Using a Traditional Fax Machine
With an old-school fax machine, sending a single page usually takes anywhere from one to five minutes. That’s assuming the connection’s good and there’s no paper jam halfway through. If the line’s busy or the machine stalls, it might try again, which can cause further delays.
Longer documents make it worse because each page is scanned and sent one at a time, so a ten-page fax might take ten minutes or more. And if anything goes wrong midway, you’ll probably have to resend the whole thing.
📲 Using an Online Faxing Service (Like FaxBurner)
Online faxing is faster and far more reliable. FaxBurner sends most faxes in under two minutes. It works over Wi-Fi or mobile data and doesn’t rely on phone lines, ink, or hardware.
You just upload your file, enter the fax number, and hit send. The app handles the entire process quickly and without interruptions.
Traditional Fax vs. FaxBurner
How Long Does It Take to Receive a Fax?
The delivery time can vary depending on the method used. Here’s what to expect with traditional fax machines compared to online faxing:
🖨️ Traditional Fax Machines
If you’re using a standard fax machine, receiving a fax could take anywhere from three to five minutes. The machine has to detect the signal, negotiate the connection, and print each page one at a time. If the sender’s line is weak or their machine is struggling, it can drag out even longer.
And if there’s a jam or the toner’s low, you might not even get the full document the first time round.
📥 Online Fax Services Like FaxBurner
With FaxBurner, incoming faxes are converted instantly and delivered straight to your inbox or app dashboard, and most arrive in under a minute.
As soon as a fax arrives, you’ll receive a clean digital copy that you can view, forward, or download. The app also sends a notification the moment it arrives.
How to Speed Up Fax Transmission (and Avoid Delays)
Even with modern tech, a few smart moves can help you send and receive faxes faster. Here’s how to keep the process smooth:
✅ Use a Reliable Online Faxing Service: The easiest way to save time is to skip the hardware altogether. Services like FaxBurner send faxes in under two minutes and don’t get bogged down with line issues or paper jams.
✅ Keep Files Light: Large, image-heavy documents take longer to process. Converting your file to a simple PDF and keeping it in black and white will usually cut the time down.
✅ Send at Off-Peak Hours (Traditional Faxing Only): If you’re still using a physical fax machine (bold move), avoid sending during peak business hours when lines are busier and failures are more common. Early mornings or late evenings typically offer faster, more reliable transmission with fewer interruptions.
✅ Scan at the Right Resolution: A 600 dpi colour scan looks sharp but can slow down transmission. Unless it’s absolutely required, stick to lower resolutions. It’s quicker and still clear enough for most uses.
How to Speed Up Fax Transmission and Avoid Delays
Faxing doesn’t have to feel like you’re stuck in a slow-motion montage from a ‘90s office drama. Some simple tweaks such as these can make the whole process faster and far less irritating:
✅ Use a Reliable Online Faxing Service: Let’s be honest, the machine is usually the problem. With FaxBurner, you can send documents straight from your phone or laptop in under two minutes. It’s fast, easy to use, and doesn’t involve standing next to a blinking box wondering if it’s working.
✅ Compress or Optimize Files Before Sending: Large files take longer to send, especially if they’re loaded with high-resolution images or endless pages. Shrinking the file size by compressing or exporting to a simpler format like PDF helps your fax move faster and reduces the chance of errors along the way.
✅ Send During Off-Peak Hours (for Traditional Faxing): If you’re still using a physical machine, try sending faxes outside the typical 9-to-5 rush. Early mornings or late evenings usually mean clearer lines and fewer failed attempts, which saves time and a small piece of your sanity.
✅ Skip High-Res Scans Unless You Really Need Them: Scanning in ultra-high resolution might make sense for artwork or blueprints, but it just slows everything down for everyday documents. Standard quality is more than enough for clear, legible faxes, and it moves much quicker.
Why Online Faxing Is Faster (and Smarter)
The reason people aren’t begging for their fax machines back is because online faxing actually keeps up with the way we work now.
- Digital Transmission Skips the Phone Lines: Online faxing doesn’t rely on landlines or dial tones. It sends your document over the internet, which means no busy signals, no dropped connections, and zero time wasted waiting for that beep-beep-screech to finish.
- Send from Any Device: With services like FaxBurner, you can fax straight from your phone, laptop, or tablet. Just upload your file through the app or by email, and off it goes.
- Simple, Hassle-Free Setup: There’s no hardware to buy, no cables to untangle, and no toner to replace at the worst possible time. You just create an account, and you’re ready to fax in under a minute.
- Free Faxing Available: Yes, free. FaxBurner offers a free plan that includes a temporary fax number, incoming and outgoing faxes, and a clean, user-friendly interface that doesn’t look like it was built during the MySpace era. It’s perfect for light users or anyone testing the waters.
Use Cases Where Speed Matters Most
Sometimes a slow fax can throw off your plans or hold up work. Here are a few situations where getting it through quickly is important:
- 📑 Urgent legal contracts – Waiting on signatures while a fax machine crawls along can stall the whole deal.
- 🏢 Business deals or invoices – Late invoices slow down payments; delays in paperwork can push back opportunities.
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✈️ Travel or visa documents – A missed form can mean missed flights. Faster faxing keeps your trip on track.
Conclusion: Fax Faster with FaxBurner
Traditional faxing had its moment, but it belongs with landlines and floppy disks. Online faxing is quicker, easier to use, and works wherever you are.
Instead of wrestling with machines or waiting on busy lines, you can send a fax from your phone or laptop in under two minutes. That’s time saved and one less headache in your day. So switch to FaxBurner and enjoy a faster and easier way to fax.
FAQs About Fax Speed and Delivery
How fast can I send a fax with FaxBurner?
Most faxes go through in under two minutes. Just upload your document from your phone or computer, hit send, and it’s on its way.
Can I fax a 50-page document?
Yes, but it’ll take longer than a quick one-pager. Larger files need more time to upload and transmit, though FaxBurner handles them more smoothly than a traditional fax machine ever could.
Why is my fax taking too long to send?
It could be the size of your file, a slow internet connection, or the receiving fax line being busy. Compressing large documents or trying again at a different time usually speeds things up.
Can I receive faxes immediately on my iPhone?
Yes. Incoming faxes show up in your email or app almost instantly, and you’ll get an alert so you don’t miss them.
