How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
Enter the version, server software, number of plugins or mods and players to get the memory you need with headroom and the plan that fits.
- free, no sign-up
- Paper, Fabric, Forge
- nothing leaves your browser
Your server
runs in your browserJava 25
How many chunks around them players see. The default is 10.
How much RAM you need
Heap (Xmx)
about2.4 GB
Total with headroom
about4.5 GB
Total memory breakdown
- Heap (world, players, plugins)2,624 MB
- Java outside the heap1,368 MB
- Headroom553 MB
Total RAM comes from the same memory model we use to set up servers here.
Heap calculation
- 1,024 MB base for a server with plugins
- + 1,280 MB (20 × 64 MB per player × (view distance / 10)² = × 1)
- + 160 MB (20 × 8 MB per plugin)
- = 2,496 MB (rounded up)
StormHost plans
- 4 GBheap 2.3 GB · too small184 CZK/mo
- 6 GBRecommendedheap 3.9 GB · enough275 CZK/moOrder
- 8 GBheap 5.3 GB · enough367 CZK/mo
- 10 GBheap 7 GB · enough458 CZK/mo
- 12 GBheap 8.8 GB · enough549 CZK/mo
- 14 GBheap 10.4 GB · enough641 CZK/mo
- 16 GBheap 12.1 GB · enough732 CZK/mo
- 18 GBheap 13.8 GB · enough823 CZK/mo
- 20 GBheap 15.5 GB · enough915 CZK/mo
- 24 GBheap 18.9 GB · enough1,097 CZK/mo
With view distance 9 the smaller plan 4 GB would do.
The coefficients are a practical estimate, every server is different. Measure real usage with Spark analysis. Spark analysis
NOT AN OFFICIAL MINECRAFT PRODUCT/SERVICE. NOT APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MOJANG OR MICROSOFT.
How to calculate RAM for a Minecraft server
Choose the Minecraft version and server software – Paper, Purpur, Folia, Vanilla, Fabric, Forge or NeoForge.
Enter the number of plugins or mods. For a ready-made modpack, turn on the “Modpack” switch, which uses a bigger base.
Set how many players will be online at once and the view distance you use.
Read off the recommended heap (Xmx) and the total memory with headroom. The breakdown shows how both are built.
Then check real usage with a Spark profile, as the calculator's coefficients are a practical estimate.
About this tool
How much RAM does your Minecraft server really need? This calculator works out memory from the game version, server software (Paper, Purpur, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge), number of plugins or mods, players and view-distance.
You get a recommended heap size (-Xmx) with headroom for the system and Java's off-heap memory, plus a breakdown of how the result is built. Use it when choosing hosting or tuning a server that crashes from running out of memory.
At the end you see which of our plans would fit, but the calculation applies to any server.
- Sent to a server
- never
- Memory model
- heap + off-heap Java + headroom
- Plans
- 4 GB · 6 GB · 8 GB · 10 GB · 12 GB · 14 GB · 16 GB · 18 GB · 20 GB · 24 GB
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions people ask most about this tool.
How much RAM does a Minecraft server need for 10 players?
A vanilla or Paper server with a few plugins usually handles 10 players with 3–4 GB. Modded servers and modpacks need more, roughly 6–12 GB depending on the number of mods. The calculator gives a precise estimate for your setup.
Will more RAM fix lag?
Only if the server is actually short on memory. An oversized heap can even lengthen garbage collector pauses. Lag is often caused by the CPU, plugins or a high view-distance, which a Spark profile reveals.
Why does the calculator add headroom above the heap?
Java also needs memory outside the heap (metaspace, threads, network buffers), and the server would crash if it hit the limit. That's why the recommended plan is a bit larger than -Xmx alone.
How do I allocate more RAM to a Minecraft server?
On your own machine, raise -Xmx (and -Xms to match) in the start script, but leave headroom for Java outside the heap. On hosting, the plan size decides. Our start script generator builds a script with the right values.
Related
- Minecraft server performance: lag, flags, view distance, Chunky and sparkHow to find out what slows your server down and how to fix it: TPS and MSPT, startup flags and memory, view distance, Paper settings, pre-generating the world with Chunky and profiling with spark.
- Minecraft server types: Paper, Purpur, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and moreA comparison of every server type we offer: Paper, Purpur, Folia, Vanilla, Fabric, Forge and NeoForge. The difference between plugins and mods, and how to choose a type.
- Mods and modpacks on a Minecraft server (Fabric, Forge, NeoForge)How to install mods on your server from Modrinth or by hand, get a CurseForge or Modrinth modpack running, what players need and how to deal with crashes and mismatched mods.
Want your own Minecraft server? Minecraft server hosting