Minecraft server requirements calculator
Pick Java or Bedrock, how many players, what kind of mods and which version, and get a RAM and CPU recommendation, plus the kinds of hardware that can handle it.
How this is calculated
These are rough estimates, a starting point and not a guarantee. Real servers vary with the exact mods, the world, how players play, and view distance. When in doubt, start a little higher and watch how the server behaves.
| Mods | RAM it needs |
|---|---|
| Java: No mods (vanilla) | 2 GB plus 0.15 GB per player |
| Java: Small pack, light mods | 3 GB plus 0.2 GB per player |
| Java: Small pack, heavy mods | 4 GB plus 0.3 GB per player |
| Java: Medium pack, light mods | 4.5 GB plus 0.25 GB per player |
| Java: Medium pack, heavy mods | 6 GB plus 0.35 GB per player |
| Java: Large pack, light mods | 6 GB plus 0.3 GB per player |
| Java: Large pack, heavy mods | 8 GB plus 0.45 GB per player |
| Bedrock Edition (no Java mods) | 1 GB plus 0.08 GB per player |
- Newer Minecraft versions need a bit more: 26.x (newest) x1.05, 1.21.x x1, 1.20.x x0.95, 1.18 to 1.19 x0.9, 1.16 or older x0.85.
- The RAM is rounded up to a common size (2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32 GB).
- The machine needs about 2 GB more for the operating system.
- CPU advice is based on single-core speed first, because Minecraft's main game loop mostly uses one core.
How to use it
Choose Java or Bedrock first. Bedrock servers are much lighter and do not use Java mods, so the mods choice disappears when you pick Bedrock. Then set the number of players you expect online at the same time, not the total number who ever join. Then choose the closest match for your mods. A "small" pack is roughly under 50 mods, "medium" is about 50 to 150, and "large" is more than 150. "Heavy" means the pack includes big mods such as tech, magic, new dimensions or world generation changes.
What the results mean
Give the server is the RAM to allocate to Minecraft itself. Machine total adds room for the operating system. For the CPU, fast single-core speed matters most, because Minecraft's main game loop mostly runs on one core. More cores help with everything around it, but they will not fix a slow main core.
These numbers are estimates, so treat them as a sensible starting point, and adjust once you see how your own server runs.