Updated 3 November 2026
The most common question before ordering: how much RAM do I need? The short answer depends on three things: how many players join at the same time, whether you use plugins, and whether you play a modpack. Use the table below as a starting point.
Quick guide
| What you play | Players online | RAM |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla or Paper, no or few plugins | 1 to 5 | 2 GB |
| Paper with plugins (EssentialsX, LuckPerms, WorldEdit) | 5 to 15 | 4 GB |
| Bigger community, many plugins, or a light modpack | 15 to 30 | 6 GB |
| Heavy modpacks (All the Mods, RLCraft, Create packs) | 1 to 10 | 8 GB |
| Very big modpacks with many players or a large explored world (when 12 or 16 GB makes sense) | 10 or more | 12 or 16 GB |
Not sure? Try the plan advisor: it suggests a plan based on your game, players and mods.
What uses the memory?
- Loaded chunks. Every player keeps the area around them loaded. Players spread out over the map use more memory than players building together.
- Plugins and mods. Each one adds code and data. Modpacks with hundreds of mods need several gigabytes before anyone even joins.
- Entities. Big animal farms, item drops and redstone machines all live in memory.
- View distance. A higher view distance loads many more chunks per player.
Signs you need more RAM
- The console shows
java.lang.OutOfMemoryErroror the server stops by itself. - The memory graph in SparkPanel stays close to the maximum all the time.
- Lag gets worse the longer the server runs and goes away after a restart.
More RAM is not a cure for every kind of lag. If the server lags while memory is fine, the cause is usually the CPU: too many entities, redstone or a heavy plugin. See Fix Minecraft server lag.
Save memory without upgrading
- Keep Paper (our default): it uses far less memory and CPU than vanilla.
- Lower
view-distanceto 8 andsimulation-distanceto 6 inserver.properties. - Remove plugins you don't use anymore.
- Pre-generate your world with the Chunky plugin, so new chunks aren't created while people play.
Start small, grow later
You can always start with a smaller plan (see all Minecraft server hosting plans). Need more later? Email info@serverspark.nl and we move your server to a bigger plan, world included.