---
title: "payload_too_large error"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/payload_too_large.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/payload_too_large"
last_updated: "2026-10-22"
type: "reference"
summary: "HTTP 413 payload_too_large: The request body is too large. Cause, fix and a curl example."
related: ["https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md", "https://lookvalid.com/docs/api.md"]
---

# payload_too_large error

HTTP 413 payload_too_large: The request body is too large. Cause, fix and a curl example.

`payload_too_large` is returned with HTTP **413**. Retryable: no. Sending the same request again returns the same error. Nothing is charged for this error.

## What it means

The request body is too large.

## Most likely cause

The request body is over the 64 KB limit, usually because a whole list or a file was sent as one input.

## How to fix it

Send one lookup input per request and keep the JSON body small. Split large lists into separate requests.

## Example

A body of about 70 KB is refused with HTTP 413 before it is parsed.

```sh
printf '{"ip":"%s"}' "$(head -c 70000 /dev/zero | tr '\0' a)" | curl -i -X POST https://YOUR_API_HOST/v1/ip -H "Authorization: Bearer $LOOKVALID_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" --data-binary @-
```

An error response is one JSON envelope. Branch on `code`, never on the message text. The `message` and `fix` of a real response can be more specific than the defaults shown here.

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "payload_too_large",
    "message": "The request body is too large.",
    "fix": "Send one lookup input per request and keep the JSON body small. Split large lists into separate requests.",
    "docs_url": "https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors/payload_too_large",
    "retryable": false,
    "request_id": "req_3fK9pQ2xVb7LmN4sTz8WcA"
  }
}
```

## See also

- [All error codes](https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md) with the response envelope.
- [API reference](https://lookvalid.com/docs/api.md).
- Quote the `request_id` when you write to [hello@lookvalid.com](mailto:hello@lookvalid.com).

## Related

- [Errors](https://lookvalid.com/docs/errors.md)
- [API reference](https://lookvalid.com/docs/api.md)