Minecraft Server Calculator
Plan your Minecraft server with our requirements calculator. Calculate RAM, CPU cores, storage, and bandwidth needs based on player count, mods, plugins, and render distance.
Base RAM (1GB) + (Players × RAM per Player × Render Multiplier) + (Plugins × 25MB) × Version Multiplier
RAM per Player by Version:
• Vanilla: 50 MB/player
• Bukkit/Spigot: 75 MB/player
• Modded: 120 MB/player
• Heavy Modded: 200 MB/player
Render Distance Multiplier:
(Render Distance ÷ 10)^1.5
CPU Cores:
• 1-10 players: 2 cores
• 11-30 players: 4 cores
• 31-50 players or Modded: 6 cores
• 50+ players or Heavy Modded: 8 cores
Configuration:
• Max Players: 20
• Version: Modded (30-50 mods)
• Render Distance: 10 chunks
• Plugins: 10
Calculation:
Base RAM: 1024 MB
Player RAM: 20 × 120 MB × 1.0 = 2400 MB
Plugin RAM: 10 × 25 MB = 250 MB
Subtotal: 3674 MB × 1.5 (modded) = 5511 MB
Results:
• RAM: 8 GB (rounded from 5.4GB)
• CPU: 6 Cores
• Storage: 40 GB SSD
• Bandwidth: 3 Mbps upload
• Hosting Cost: ~$20/month
How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
Vanilla servers need 2GB for 10-20 players, 4GB for 20-40 players. Modded servers need 6-8GB for 10-20 players, 12-16GB for larger modpacks. Heavy modpacks (100+ mods) need 16-32GB. Always allocate 1-2GB extra for the operating system. Use SSD storage for better performance.
What CPU is best for Minecraft servers?
Minecraft is single-threaded, so high clock speed (3.5GHz+) matters more than core count. Intel i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7 with 4+ cores at 3.5GHz+ work well. For 50+ players or heavy mods, use 6-8 cores. Avoid budget CPUs like Celeron/Pentium - they cause lag.
Can I run a Minecraft server from home?
Yes, if you have: 1) Fast upload speed (5+ Mbps for 10 players), 2) Powerful enough PC (8GB+ RAM, quad-core CPU), 3) Can keep PC running 24/7, 4) Know how to port forward. However, professional hosting ($5-20/month) offers better uptime, DDoS protection, and automated backups.
How many players can my Minecraft server handle?
Depends on RAM and CPU. Vanilla: 2GB = 10 players, 4GB = 20-30, 8GB = 50+. Modded: 8GB = 10-15, 16GB = 20-30, 32GB = 40+. More render distance, plugins, and mods reduce max players. Test with gradual increases - lag indicates you hit the limit.
🔗 Related Calculators
📐 Formula
Base RAM (1GB) + (Players × RAM per Player × Render Multiplier) + (Plugins × 25MB) × Version Multiplier
RAM per Player by Version:
• Vanilla: 50 MB/player
• Bukkit/Spigot: 75 MB/player
• Modded: 120 MB/player
• Heavy Modded: 200 MB/player
Render Distance Multiplier:
(Render Distance ÷ 10)^1.5
CPU Cores:
• 1-10 players: 2 cores
• 11-30 players: 4 cores
• 31-50 players or Modded: 6 cores
• 50+ players or Heavy Modded: 8 cores
📝 Example Calculation
Configuration:
• Max Players: 20
• Version: Modded (30-50 mods)
• Render Distance: 10 chunks
• Plugins: 10
Calculation:
Base RAM: 1024 MB
Player RAM: 20 × 120 MB × 1.0 = 2400 MB
Plugin RAM: 10 × 25 MB = 250 MB
Subtotal: 3674 MB × 1.5 (modded) = 5511 MB
Results:
• RAM: 8 GB (rounded from 5.4GB)
• CPU: 6 Cores
• Storage: 40 GB SSD
• Bandwidth: 3 Mbps upload
• Hosting Cost: ~$20/month