Why are Gmail emails bouncing with '553 5.1.3 The recipient address is not a valid RFC-5321 address' error?

Summary

The '553 5.1.3' bounce error from Gmail arises when the recipient's email address fails to comply with the RFC 5321 standard, which defines the valid format for email addresses. This can result from various issues, including incorrect storage, typos, invalid characters (including special characters and spaces), incorrect domain formatting, or system glitches that introduce non-compliant elements. Experts and documentation suggest a multi-pronged approach: validating email addresses at the point of entry, maintaining good list hygiene through regular cleaning, and scrutinizing email sending systems for unintended formatting.

Key findings

  • RFC 5321 Non-Compliance: The recipient's email address does not conform to the RFC 5321 standard.
  • Data Entry and Storage Issues: Errors can originate from typos, copy-paste mistakes, system glitches, or incorrect storage of email addresses.
  • Format and Syntax Problems: Invalid characters (including spaces and special characters), incorrect syntax, or domain formatting can cause bounces.
  • System-Introduced Errors: The email sending system might be automatically adding formatting or characters that violate RFC 5321.

Key considerations

  • Email Validation at Entry: Implement real-time email validation on signup forms and other data entry points to prevent invalid addresses from entering your system.
  • Regular List Hygiene: Maintain a clean email list by regularly removing invalid, inactive, or problematic email addresses.
  • System Scrutiny: Thoroughly investigate your email sending system to identify and correct any automatic formatting or additions that might violate RFC 5321.
  • Address Storage: Ensure email addresses are being stored correctly.
  • Special Characters: Identify any special characters within the email that are not compliant to RFC 5321 and ensure they are corrected to remove errors.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

The '553 5.1.3' bounce error from Gmail indicates that the recipient email address doesn't conform to the RFC 5321 standard, leading to the email being rejected. This can be caused by various issues, including typos, invalid characters, leading or trailing spaces, or a more fundamental syntax error in the email address. Addressing this problem involves proactive email validation, maintaining proper list hygiene, and troubleshooting potential issues within your email sending system.

Key opinions

  • Invalid Format: The primary cause is an email address not conforming to RFC 5321, which dictates the valid syntax.
  • Data Entry Errors: Typos, copy-paste errors, and system glitches can introduce invalid characters or spaces.
  • System Issues: The email sending system itself might be adding invalid formatting.

Key considerations

  • Email Validation: Implement real-time email validation on signup forms to prevent invalid addresses from entering your list.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email list to remove invalid, inactive, or problematic email addresses.
  • Troubleshooting: Check your email sending system for any automatic formatting or additions that might violate RFC 5321.
  • Special Characters: Be aware of characters that are outside of the RFC 5321 specification and how your system handles them.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that this error usually points to a problem with your data, like a copy and paste error or a system glitch and suggests cleaning your email list to ensure all addresses are valid and correctly formatted.

April 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange recommends identifying any special characters within the email that are not compliant to RFC 5321 and ensure they are corrected to remove errors.

March 2022 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus advises maintaining good list hygiene by regularly cleaning your email list to remove invalid or inactive addresses, reducing bounce rates and improving deliverability.

February 2025 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester shares that the '553 5.1.3' error is due to an invalid email address. It could be a typo, an unsupported character, or extra spaces. Suggests double-checking the email addresses in your list for errors.

November 2021 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow user suggests using online tools to validate email addresses before sending and check your system to see if you are adding a space.

November 2021 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares a similar experience and recommends looking for special characters like ” in the from name, not address.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue recommends using an email validation service to automatically detect and remove invalid email addresses from your list, ensuring better deliverability and sender reputation.

March 2025 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet mentions that '553 5.1.3' indicates a syntax error in the email address. Suggests implementing email validation at the point of entry (e.g., signup forms) to prevent invalid addresses from entering your system.

September 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests checking for common errors like typos, extra spaces, or invalid characters in the email addresses. Also, ensure your email sending system is not automatically adding any formatting that violates RFC 5321.

July 2021 - Email Marketing Forum

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

The '553 5.1.3' bounce error from Gmail indicates that the recipient email address doesn't conform to the RFC 5321 standard. Experts suggest this could be due to how addresses are stored, invalid formats including characters, spaces or incorrect domain formatting, and urge a focus on preemptive validation to catch these errors.

Key opinions

  • Storage Issues: Email addresses might be stored incorrectly in the database, causing the error.
  • Invalid Format: Invalid characters, spaces, or incorrect domain formatting are common causes of the error.
  • Validation Needed: Preemptive email address validation is crucial to catch invalid formats before sending.

Key considerations

  • Data Integrity: Check and correct how email addresses are stored to ensure they are RFC 5321 compliant.
  • Format Verification: Implement checks for valid characters, spaces, and domain formatting in email addresses.
  • Proactive Validation: Use email address validation techniques to catch errors before sending and improve deliverability.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that the '553 5.1.3' error often stems from an invalid email address format, highlighting the importance of verifying the syntax of email addresses before sending. Common issues include invalid characters, spaces, or incorrect domain formatting.

October 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests checking how the email addresses are stored, suspects the issue is with the email addresses stored incorrectly, and until recently either the ESP was cleaning them on send, or Gmail was accepting invalid addresses. He also provides a telnet example showing the error when a space is included in the recipient address.

May 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise advises implementing robust email address validation techniques to catch invalid email address formats before sending. This includes checking for proper syntax, valid domain names, and other common errors that can lead to bounces.

January 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

According to documentation from Google, Microsoft, IETF, and the RFC Editor, the '553 5.1.3' bounce error from Gmail signifies that the recipient's email address fails to comply with the RFC 5321 standard for valid email address formats. This non-compliance can manifest through invalid characters, incorrect syntax, or the presence of leading/trailing spaces. Adherence to RFC specifications is crucial for successful email delivery.

Key findings

  • RFC 5321 Violation: The core issue is that the email address does not conform to the RFC 5321 standard.
  • Syntax Errors: Specific errors include invalid characters, incorrect syntax, and leading/trailing spaces.
  • Standards Compliance: Email addresses must adhere to Internet standards, particularly RFC specifications, for proper processing.

Key considerations

  • Format Validation: Ensure that email addresses are validated to comply with RFC 5321 standards before sending.
  • Character Restrictions: Pay attention to the allowed characters and syntax specified in RFC 5321 and related RFCs.
  • Address Formatting: Avoid introducing invalid characters, incorrect syntax, or leading/trailing spaces in email addresses.
Technical article

Documentation from IETF refers to RFC 2822 (which was superseded by RFC 5322, but contains related information on email address format) which provides details on valid characters and syntax for email addresses. Proper formatting is crucial for email delivery.

July 2022 - IETF
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Support explains that email addresses must conform to Internet standards, including RFC specifications. Invalid characters or formatting can cause rejections by mail servers like Gmail.

August 2022 - Microsoft Support
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor refers to RFC 5321 section 4.1.2 which specifies the syntax of email addresses, including restrictions on allowed characters and formatting. Addresses must adhere to this standard for proper delivery.

January 2025 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that this error means the recipient's email address doesn't conform to the RFC 5321 standard, which defines the valid format for email addresses. This can include invalid characters, incorrect syntax, or leading/trailing spaces.

January 2024 - Google Workspace Admin Help