Minecraft server RAM usage can change a lot depending on what type of server you are running.
A small vanilla Minecraft server may only need a few GB of RAM, but a heavily modded server can need much more — even with only 1 or 2 players online.
This guide explains why RAM usage increases, what affects it, and how to choose the right amount for your server.
| Server type | Suggested RAM |
|---|---|
| Vanilla Minecraft | 2GB - 4GB |
| A few plugins | 3GB - 5GB |
| Lots of plugins | 4GB - 8GB |
| Small modpack | 4GB - 6GB |
| Popular modpack | 8GB - 12GB |
| Huge modpack / 200+ mods | 10GB - 16GB+ |
These are general recommendations. The exact amount depends on your modpack, plugins, player count, world size and how active your server is.
Minecraft servers use RAM to keep important parts of the server running, including:
The more your server has to load, the more RAM it will usually need.
This is very common.
When you run a Minecraft server on your own PC, your computer may have 16GB, 32GB or more RAM available overall. Because of this, RAM usage might not be something you notice straight away.
With a hosted Minecraft server, your server has a fixed RAM limit.
For example, if your server has 8GB RAM, it cannot safely use more than that. If the modpack, players or world activity need more memory than the server has available, the server may lag, freeze or crash.
This does not always mean something is wrong with the server. In many cases, it simply means the server needs more RAM for the type of setup being used.
Vanilla Minecraft has no mods or plugins. This is usually the lightest type of server.
Recommended starting point:
2GB - 4GB RAM
Plugin servers usually run on Paper, Spigot or Purpur.
A few plugins are normally quite light, but larger plugin setups can use more RAM, especially if they include:
Recommended starting point:
3GB - 8GB RAM
Small modpacks usually add a few extra features without massively changing the game.
They may include:
Recommended starting point:
4GB - 6GB RAM
Popular modpacks usually include lots of content. They may add new mobs, structures, world generation, machines, magic systems and more.
Examples include packs like:
Recommended starting point:
8GB - 12GB RAM
Some of these packs may need more depending on the version, number of players and how much the world has been explored.
Large kitchen-sink modpacks can be very RAM heavy, even with only a few players.
These packs may include:
Examples include:
Recommended starting point:
10GB - 16GB+ RAM
More players usually means more of the world is being loaded at the same time.
For example:
This is why a server may work fine for one player but start crashing when a second player joins.
You may need more RAM if:
High RAM usage is not always bad by itself.
Minecraft and Java often use a large amount of the RAM available to them. The issue is when the server gets very close to the limit and does not have enough breathing room.
For modded servers, we usually recommend leaving some spare RAM rather than running right at the limit.
As a simple guide:
| Your server setup | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|
| Vanilla with a few friends | 2GB - 4GB |
| Plugins only | 3GB - 8GB |
| Small modpack | 4GB - 6GB |
| Popular modpack | 8GB - 12GB |
| Huge modpack / 200+ mods | 10GB - 16GB+ |
If you are unsure, it is usually better to choose slightly more RAM for a modded server. This gives your server more breathing room and helps reduce crashes or lag caused by memory limits.
If you are not sure how much RAM your Minecraft server needs, please contact our support team and tell us:
We will help you choose the right amount.