Minecraft Server RAM Calculator

How much RAM does your Minecraft server need? Pick your server software, players, plugins or modpack, and view distance. Get a RAM and CPU estimate, then the exact Physgun plan and RAM tier that fits.

Server Configuration

5
150100+

Players online at the same time, not your whitelist. Each player keeps a ring of chunks loaded.

10 chunks

view-distance in server.properties. Loaded chunks grow with the square of this number, so 16 costs about three times what 10 does.

0
04080+

Most plugins are light. Big ones like dynmap, CoreProtect, and world generators count for several.

1 GB
New world20 GB40+ GB

Big worlds mean more entities, more block entities, and bigger chunk caches. World size matters less than players and mods.

Recommended RAM
2GB
Set -Xmx to about 1.5G
CPU Allocation
45%
100% = 1 dedicated thread

What's using your memory

Paper / Purpur baseline1.2 GB
Players (5) at 10 chunks0.4 GB
Plugins (0)0.0 GB
World (1 GB)0.0 GB
Physgun Optimizations-0.2 GB
JVM headroom (garbage collection)+0.3 GB
Recommended for you
Overworld

Overworld 4GB

$4.87/mo

Best for vanilla & light modpacks

Intel Xeon E5-2666v3
DDR4 Memory [4GB, up to 12GB]
SSD Storage [Fair use]
Unlimited player slots
4GB RAM tier (included)

Pick the 4GB RAM option at checkout. You can move up or down a tier later with no world wipe.

Compare all Minecraft plans

These are estimates. Real usage moves with view distance, entity counts, chunk generation, and which mods or plugins you run. Every Physgun plan lets you change RAM tier at any time with no wipe. Model last calibrated .

How much RAM does a
Minecraft server
really need?

Most RAM calculators multiply a flat number by your player count. That misses what actually fills a Minecraft server's memory: the chunks each player keeps loaded, which grow with the square of your view distance, the mod loader and modpack sitting in memory before anyone joins, and the headroom Java needs to collect garbage without stuttering.

This calculator models all of that, then maps the answer to the exact Physgun plan and RAM tier, priced the way the store prices it. Rules of thumb: 2 to 4GB for a vanilla or Paper server with friends, 6 to 8GB for a plugin SMP, 8 to 16GB for modpacks, and 12GB or more for packs like All the Mods.

4 to 32GB
RAM tiers, change any time with no wipe
Paper
Installed by default, tuned JVM flags included
1,000+
CurseForge modpacks in one click
Minecraft players on a dedicated server

FAQ ยท Frequently. Asked. Questions.

Still unsure how to size your Minecraft server? Check the Physgun Knowledge Base, or hop into the Physgun Discord and our team will help you dial it in.

Visit Knowledge Base

2 to 4GB runs a vanilla or Paper server for a group of friends. A plugin SMP with 20 or more players wants 6 to 8GB. Modpacks start around 8GB and big packs like All the Mods 10 want 12GB or more before anyone joins. Players, view distance, and mods move the number far more than world size does.

Physgun Game Servers

Deploy a dedicated server in minutes on Ryzen 9 hardware. No slot limits, US & UK.

All games

Rust Server Hosting

DDoS-protected Rust servers on Ryzen 9 hardware. Oxide & Carbon ready.

GMod Server Hosting

The #1 host for Garry's Mod communities.

Palworld Server Hosting

Co-op or dedicated, with save importing.

ARK Server Hosting

Clustered maps, mods, and cross-travel.

Project Zomboid Hosting

Multiplayer saves, mods, and workshop support.

DayZ Server Hosting

Custom maps and mission files, full FTP.

3 Day Refund Guarantee

Ready to launch your Minecraft server?

Launch a no lag, high performance Minecraft server in seconds.

Launch My Minecraft Server