How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?

Too little RAM makes the server laggy, too much just costs money. Here are guideline values from experience and the signs that your server needs more.

5 min read · Updated 16 October 2026

Guideline values

4 to 5 GB: a small group of friends, vanilla or Paper with a few plugins.
6 to 8 GB: a group of up to about 20 players with some plugins.
10 to 12 GB: large worlds, many plugins or light modpacks.
14 to 20 GB: modpacks like Create or All the Mods, active communities.
More than 20 GB: large modpacks with many players at once.

These are experience values, not a guarantee. A single badly written mod or a huge redstone farm can cost more than ten extra players.

What matters besides RAM

CPU: Minecraft computes the world mostly on a single core. One fast core matters more than many slow ones. More RAM doesn't help if the CPU can't keep up.
Server software: Paper and Purpur are much more efficient than vanilla. For Fabric there are performance mods like Lithium.
View distance: view-distance and simulation-distance in server.properties have a big impact. 8 to 10 is enough for most servers.
Pre-generated world: Exploring new areas is expensive. With plugins like Chunky you generate the world in advance.

More RAM isn't better

Java cleans up memory at intervals (garbage collection). With a lot of RAM that isn't even needed, cleaning up sometimes takes longer and feels like a short freeze. Pick the size that fits and increase it when you reach the limit.

How to tell it's too little

Usage in the customer area is constantly close to the maximum.
The server crashes with OutOfMemoryError or won't start while loading mods.
TPS (ticks per second, normally 20) drop even though little is going on. But the CPU or a single mod can also be the cause.

At Navoryx every GB costs the same (€1.50 a month), and you can increase the RAM in the customer area at any time. Feel free to start small.

Frequently asked questions

Is 2 GB enough for a Minecraft server?

For current versions only just, and only for one or two players without plugins. That's why we start at 4 GB, so the server stays smooth while exploring.

How much RAM for a modpack?

Small modpacks run from about 8 GB, large ones like All the Mods often only from 12 to 16 GB. The modpack's page usually gives a recommendation for the server.

Can I change the RAM later?

Yes. You increase it in the customer area with a few clicks and the server then starts with the new value. You're billed pro rata.

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