Receiving & Routing Inbound Email

Handle incoming emails sent to your domain via a Worker's email() handler. Forward, reply, reject, or parse emails programmatically.

For full API details, see the Email Routing docs.

Email Handler

Export an email() function from your Worker. No special wrangler binding needed — a routing rule connects incoming addresses to your Worker.

export default {
  async email(message, env, ctx): Promise<void> {
    console.log(`Email from ${message.from} to ${message.to}`);
    await message.forward("team@company.com");
  },
} satisfies ExportedHandler<Env>;

Set up routing rules in Dashboard > Compute & AI > Email Service > Email Routing > Routing Rules, or via wrangler email routing rules create.

ForwardableEmailMessage

The message parameter is a ForwardableEmailMessage. Run npx wrangler types to get the full type definition. Key properties and methods:

• message.from / message.to — envelope addresses (SMTP MAIL FROM / RCPT TO). message.from is trustworthy; header addresses can be spoofed.
• message.headers — Headers object (use .get("subject"), .get("message-id"), etc.)
• message.raw — ReadableStream<Uint8Array> of raw MIME content. Single use — buffer before accessing.
• message.rawSize — size in bytes
• message.setReject(reason) — reject with a permanent SMTP error
• message.forward(rcptTo, headers?) — forward to a verified destination
• message.reply(emailMessage) — reply with an EmailMessage object

Core Operations

Forward

await message.forward("team@company.com");

// With custom headers
await message.forward("team@company.com", new Headers({
  "X-Original-Recipient": message.to,
}));

Destination must be verified first (Dashboard or wrangler email routing addresses create).

Reject

message.setReject("Your message was blocked");

Reply

Using env.EMAIL.send() (recommended — no extra dependencies):

async email(message, env, ctx) {
  const subject = message.headers.get("subject") || "";
  await env.EMAIL.send({
    to: message.from,
    from: message.to,
    subject: `Re: ${subject}`,
    html: "<p>Thanks! We'll respond shortly.</p>",
    text: "Thanks! We'll respond shortly.",
  });
  await message.forward("team@company.com");
}

Using message.reply() with MIME (more control, requires mimetext + nodejs_compat):

import { EmailMessage } from "cloudflare:email";
import { createMimeMessage } from "mimetext";

async email(message, env, ctx) {
  const msg = createMimeMessage();
  const messageId = message.headers.get("Message-ID");
  if (messageId) msg.setHeader("In-Reply-To", messageId);
  msg.setSender({ name: "Support", addr: "support@yourdomain.com" });
  msg.setRecipient(message.from);
  msg.setSubject("Re: " + (message.headers.get("subject") || ""));
  msg.addMessage({ contentType: "text/plain", data: "Thanks for reaching out!" });

  await message.reply(new EmailMessage("support@yourdomain.com", message.from, msg.asRaw()));
}

Parsing Emails

Use postal-mime to parse raw MIME content:

import PostalMime from "postal-mime";

async email(message, env, ctx) {
  const rawBuffer = await new Response(message.raw).arrayBuffer();
  const parsed = await PostalMime.parse(rawBuffer);

  console.log("Subject:", parsed.subject);
  console.log("Text:", parsed.text);
  console.log("Attachments:", parsed.attachments.length);
}

Store and Reply Later (Human-in-the-Loop)

A common pattern is to store incoming emails in a Durable Object (SQLite) so a human or AI agent can review and reply later — rather than replying immediately in the email() handler. This enables support inboxes, approval workflows, and AI-drafted replies.

Architecture

Email Routing → email() handler → parse + store in DO → user reviews later → reply via send_email binding

The email() handler stores the email and returns immediately. Replies happen later via a separate HTTP request or agent action.

Receive and Store

import PostalMime from "postal-mime";

export class MailboxDO extends DurableObject {
  async storeEmail(from: string, to: string, subject: string, body: string,
                   messageId: string, inReplyTo: string | null) {
    this.ctx.storage.sql.exec(
      `INSERT INTO emails (sender, recipient, subject, body, message_id, in_reply_to, date, read)
       VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, datetime('now'), 0)`,
      from, to, subject, body, messageId, inReplyTo
    );
  }
}

export default {
  async email(message, env, ctx) {
    const raw = await new Response(message.raw).arrayBuffer();
    const parsed = await PostalMime.parse(raw);

    const id = env.MAILBOX.idFromName(message.to);
    const stub = env.MAILBOX.get(id);

    await stub.storeEmail(
      message.from,
      message.to,
      parsed.subject || "(no subject)",
      parsed.text || parsed.html || "",
      message.headers.get("message-id") || "",
      message.headers.get("in-reply-to") || null,
    );

    // Optionally trigger an AI agent to draft a reply (non-blocking)
    // ctx.waitUntil(notifyAgent(env, message.to, emailId));
  },
} satisfies ExportedHandler<Env>;

Reply Later

When a user (or agent) decides to reply, build proper threading headers and send via the send_email binding:

// In an HTTP handler or agent tool — not in the email() handler
async function replyToStoredEmail(env: Env, original: StoredEmail, replyBody: string) {
  // Build threading headers (In-Reply-To + References per RFC 2822)
  const headers: Record<string, string> = {};
  if (original.messageId) {
    headers["In-Reply-To"] = original.messageId;
    headers["References"] = original.messageId;
  }

  await env.EMAIL.send({
    to: original.sender,
    from: original.recipient,
    subject: `Re: ${original.subject}`,
    text: replyBody,
    html: `<p>${replyBody}</p>`,
    headers,
  });
}

Key Design Points

• Buffer message.raw once, parse with postal-mime, then store structured fields. Don't store the raw stream.
• Extract Message-ID, In-Reply-To, and References headers during ingest for threading. Fall back to subject-based matching for emails without threading headers.
• Use Durable Object SQLite for per-mailbox storage — each mailbox gets its own DO instance keyed by email address, providing natural isolation.
• Store attachments separately in R2 (binary blobs), with metadata in SQLite.
• Defer heavy work (AI drafting, notifications) via ctx.waitUntil() so the email() handler returns quickly.
• Never auto-send from the email() handler in a human-in-the-loop flow. Store a draft, let the user review, then send via a separate action.

Gotchas

• message.raw is single-use. Buffer first: const raw = await new Response(message.raw).arrayBuffer()
• Destinations must be verified. Forwarding to unverified addresses fails silently.
• Handler must act. If your handler returns without consuming raw, forwarding, or rejecting, the email is dropped.
• DMARC/SPF for replies. If sending replies, ensure your domain has proper SPF/DKIM records (auto-configured on domain onboarding).