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Minecraft: Java Edition Server Calculator
Find out exactly what hardware your server needs.
How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
A vanilla or lightly modded Minecraft server for up to fifteen players runs on 3GB. Paper with a long plugin list wants 6GB. A modpack is where it climbs: a mid-size Forge, Fabric or NeoForge pack wants 6 to 8GB before anyone joins, and a kitchen-sink pack with 150 or more mods wants 8GB for a friend group and 12GB or more past fifteen players. Those are the numbers the calculator above works from. The table is the whole thing at a glance.
RAM by player count and setup
| Players | Vanilla | Paper, under 10 plugins | Paper, 30+ plugins | Modpack, 50 to 150 mods | Modpack, 150+ mods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | 3GB | 3GB | 6GB | 6GB | 8GB |
| 5 to 15 | 3GB | 3GB | 6GB | 6GB | 8GB |
| 15 to 30 | 6GB | 6GB | 8GB | 8GB | 12GB |
| 30 to 50 | 8GB | 8GB | 12GB | 8GB | 12 to 16GB |
| 50+ | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB or more |
These are allocations for the server process itself. If you host on your own PC, add about 2GB on top for the operating system and anything else running on it. Older Forge versions (1.7.10 and 1.12.2) sit one step higher than the table for the same player count.
Why modpacks need so much more
Every mod adds blocks, items, entities and world generation that the server keeps in memory whether a player is nearby or not. A vanilla world with ten players is comfortable on 3GB. A 200-mod pack can need 8GB just to finish loading, before the first chunk is sent to anyone. Plugins are lighter because they hook into the existing game rather than adding to it, which is why Paper with thirty plugins lands where a modpack starts.
CPU matters as much as RAM
Minecraft's main game loop runs on a single thread, so the clock speed of one core decides your tick rate more than the number of cores does. Legacy Forge packs are entirely single-threaded and want the fastest clock you can get. Modern Paper spreads chunk loading and networking across a few threads, so two or three fast cores cover most servers. Disk speed shows up in chunk loading and world saves, which is why the recommendations above assume an SSD.
Home PC, VPS or managed hosting
- Home PC. Free, fine for a few friends who play when you do, and the world is offline whenever the machine is. Your upload speed and your home IP are the limits, and the calculator covers both when you pick that option.
- VPS. A full Linux machine you manage yourself. More flexible, always on, and you install and update the server software. Budget the table's number plus 2GB for the OS.
- Managed hosting. The server, panel, backups and updates are run for you and the plan is sized by the number in the table. Ours start at 3GB and go to 16GB, with a one-click installer for Paper, Forge, Fabric, NeoForge and modpacks. The Minecraft plans are here.
Frequently Asked Questions
RAM is the biggest factor, but CPU single-thread speed matters a lot too since Minecraft's main game loop runs on one core. Disk speed (NVMe vs HDD) affects chunk loading and world saves, and network quality determines latency for your players. The calculator sizes RAM and CPU for you; the rest comes down to your hosting provider or hardware.
Mods add new blocks, entities, world generation, and systems that all live in memory. A vanilla server with 10 players might run fine on 4GB, but a 200-mod pack like All The Mods can need 8–10GB just to load. The calculator accounts for your mod count and pack size to give you a realistic number, not a generic guess.
Yes, home hosting works well for small groups of friends. You'll need a stable internet connection, port forwarding, and a machine that can stay on. The trade-offs are uptime, latency for distant players, and security exposure. The calculator gives you the same hardware recommendations whether you host at home or with a provider, so you can compare costs directly.
Managed hosting (like EVLBOX game servers) handles setup, updates, and the control panel for you. You configure your world and play. A VPS gives you a full Linux machine with root access, which is more flexible but requires you to install and maintain the server software yourself. The calculator shows a VPS option if your setup would benefit from one.
Absolutely. Most hosting providers, including EVLBOX, let you upgrade your plan without losing your world or data. It's better to start with what the calculator recommends and scale up if you see lag or TPS drops, rather than overpaying from day one.
It uses the same sizing logic our support team relies on and accounts for your software, player count, mods, and play style. Real-world performance also depends on world size, redstone builds, and specific plugins, so treat the result as a strong baseline. If anything, it errs slightly generous so you have headroom.