A method is disclosed for autonomic large file marking. A threshold module sets the file size threshold. An identification module identifies each file with a file size that exceeds the file size threshold and that is unmarked with a limited backup status. A marking module marks with the limited backup status each identified file that satisfies a marking policy and exceeds the file size threshold and is unmarked for the limited backup status. Each file marked with the limited backup status is backed up with a single backup instance of the file and excluded from subsequent backup operations.