BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH

Updated October 13, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH is a Claude Code environment variable: Max bash output character length. Its release history is not tracked here. It is listed in the official reference.

Status	Present in v2.1.294
Category	Shell and tools
Official docs	Listed

How to set it

For one session, export it in the shell that starts Claude Code:

export BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH=<value>
claude

To apply it to every session, add it to the env object of a settings file:

// ~/.claude/settings.json
{
  "env": {
    "BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH": "<value>"
  }
}

Related variables

CLAUDE_CODE_BASH_OUTPUT_AUDIENCE_NOTE
CLAUDE_BASH_MAINTAIN_PROJECT_WORKING_DIR: Maintain consistent working directory across commands.
CLAUDE_BASH_NO_LOGIN: Replaced by CLAUDE_CODE_SHELL_PREFIX.
CLAUDE_CODE_BASH_EDIT_DIFF
CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH: Git Bash executable path (Windows).
CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_TOOL_USE_CONCURRENCY: Max concurrent tool executions; default 10.
CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_WEB_SEARCHES_PER_SESSION: Per-session ceiling on WebSearch tool calls (default 200), gated by a web_search_session_cap.
CLAUDE_CODE_REMOTE_TOOLS_CALLER_SESSIONS_MAX

Frequently asked questions

What does BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH do?

Max bash output character length

Which Claude Code version has BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH?

Its release history is not tracked here.

How do I set BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH?

Export it before starting Claude Code (export BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH=value), or add it to the "env" object in ~/.claude/settings.json to apply it to every session.

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.