diff --git a/rest_framework/utils/field_mapping.py b/rest_framework/utils/field_mapping.py
index 44c6d4b70..dff33d8b3 100644
--- a/rest_framework/utils/field_mapping.py
+++ b/rest_framework/utils/field_mapping.py
@@ -192,7 +192,8 @@ def get_field_kwargs(field_name, model_field):
     # rather than as a validator.
     max_length = getattr(model_field, 'max_length', None)
     if max_length is not None and (isinstance(model_field, models.CharField) or
-                                   isinstance(model_field, models.TextField)):
+                                   isinstance(model_field, models.TextField) or
+                                   isinstance(model_field, models.FileField)):
         kwargs['max_length'] = max_length
         validator_kwarg = [
             validator for validator in validator_kwarg
diff --git a/tests/test_model_serializer.py b/tests/test_model_serializer.py
index 4aa0fa35e..ba3edd389 100644
--- a/tests/test_model_serializer.py
+++ b/tests/test_model_serializer.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class RegularFieldsModel(models.Model):
     slug_field = models.SlugField(max_length=100)
     small_integer_field = models.SmallIntegerField()
     text_field = models.TextField(max_length=100)
+    file_field = models.FileField(max_length=100)
     time_field = models.TimeField()
     url_field = models.URLField(max_length=100)
     custom_field = CustomField()
@@ -181,6 +182,7 @@ class TestRegularFieldMappings(TestCase):
                 slug_field = SlugField(max_length=100)
                 small_integer_field = IntegerField()
                 text_field = CharField(max_length=100, style={'base_template': 'textarea.html'})
+                file_field = FileField(max_length=100)
                 time_field = TimeField()
                 url_field = URLField(max_length=100)
                 custom_field = ModelField(model_field=<tests.test_model_serializer.CustomField: custom_field>)