How much RAM does a Palworld server need?
Palworld can boot with 8GB RAM, 16GB is recommended, and large 16–32-player worlds may need 32GB or more. Compare RAM for small groups, busy saves, and mods.
A Palworld dedicated server can boot with 8GB of RAM, but Pocketpair warns that this increases the chance of an out-of-memory crash. Use 16GB as a practical target for an established group. A busy world using the full 16–32-player range may need 32GB or more.
Those figures mean memory available to the server process. Windows, Linux, Docker, monitoring, file caches, and backups need additional memory.
Palworld RAM by workload
| Workload | Practical starting RAM | When to move up |
|---|---|---|
| New vanilla world, 1–4 players | 8GB | Crashes, sustained memory pressure, or several developed bases |
| Active vanilla world, 5–8 players | 12–16GB | Players spread out, world is old, or usage keeps climbing |
| Established world, 9–16 players | 16–24GB | Large automated bases, frequent saves, or mods |
| Busy world, 17–32 players | 32GB+ | Measure the real peak; full communities vary widely |
| Modded server | More headroom than comparable vanilla | Remove leaks and incompatible mods before adding more |
The official guidance is broader: 8GB is bootable, 16GB is recommended, and large servers should plan for 32GB or more. The table turns that into a useful starting point, not a guarantee.
Why Palworld uses so much memory
Player count matters, but it is not the whole workload. Memory grows with:
- the number and size of developed bases,
- working Pals and automated production,
- dropped items and spawned creatures,
- how far apart players explore,
- the age of the world and length of the current process uptime, and
- mods, especially outdated or leaking ones.
Four players with enormous automated bases can use more resources than eight players in a new world. Size for the world you expect in a month, not only the first night.
Is 8GB enough?
Eight gigabytes is acceptable as a trial for a small, new world when it is available to Palworld itself. It leaves little room for memory growth. A home PC with 8GB total has less than 8GB available after the operating system and background applications load.
Use 8GB only when:
- no more than a few players connect,
- the world is new and lightly built,
- no heavy mods are installed,
- you monitor real memory usage, and
- you can restart before the process runs out.
For a server you plan to keep, 16GB avoids building around the least demanding session.
RAM for 16 or 32 players
Start around 16–24GB for an active 9–16-player world. Start with 32GB or more when a community expects 17–32 players online together. More concurrent players usually create more bases and simulate more parts of the map at once, which increases both memory and CPU load.
The official maximum is 32 concurrent players. Read how many players can join a Palworld server before sizing for a cap your group will never use.
A configured 32-player limit does not consume 32-player resources while the server is empty. Real players, bases, Pals, items, mods, and uptime create the load.
RAM for mods
There is no useful "GB per mod" calculation. A small interface mod and a server-wide content package both count as one mod but have completely different memory behavior.
Back up the world
Take a known-good snapshot before changing the mod set.
Add one mod
Confirm it supports the current Palworld build and dedicated servers, then install only that mod and its declared dependencies.
Test a real session
Watch memory with players online and bases active. Idle usage is not the peak.
Remove continuous growth
If usage keeps climbing without settling, remove the suspect mod. More RAM only delays a leak.
See the best Palworld server mods for compatibility rules and safer categories.
RAM is not the only bottleneck
More memory only fixes memory pressure.
| Symptom | Check before adding RAM |
|---|---|
| Process is killed or crashes near its memory limit | RAM allocation and scheduled restarts |
| Rubber-banding near large bases | CPU speed, base complexity, and network latency |
| Stutter during saves | CPU and SSD latency |
| Players cannot connect | Version, UDP ports, CGNAT, password, and community listing |
| Crash immediately after an update | Mod and loader compatibility |
| Memory rises forever while idle | A leak or broken mod |
Pocketpair recommends four or more CPU cores and fast SSD storage. A machine with abundant RAM can still lag when its CPU, disk, or network is the real limit.
Measure before upgrading
Watch a busy session
Measure memory while most of the group is online, exploring, and using developed bases.
Leave headroom
Repeatedly approaching the allocation is enough reason to move up. Do not wait for an out-of-memory kill.
Restart on a schedule
Palworld can retain memory over long uptimes. A clean restart every few hours is a practical mitigation, not a substitute for enough RAM.
Change one variable
Increase memory or remove a suspect mod, then repeat the same test. Changing both hides the cause.
The crash troubleshooting guide covers scheduled restarts and world settings that reduce load.
Compare 4-player co-op with the 32-player dedicated-server cap.
Set up a Palworld serverInstall on Windows, Linux, or Docker with enough memory.
Fix server crashesSeparate memory pressure from mods, CPU load, and save problems.
Choose a Palworld tierStart with 4, 8, 16, or 32 player slots.
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM does a Palworld server need?
Palworld can boot with 8GB, but Pocketpair warns that this increases the risk of out-of-memory crashes. Use 16GB as a practical target for an established group and 32GB or more for a large 16–32-player world with several active bases.
Is 8GB RAM enough for a Palworld server?
Eight gigabytes can run a new server for a small group, but it is the bootable floor, not a comfortable target. The operating system also needs memory, and Palworld's usage grows with bases, Pals, exploration, and uptime.
How much RAM does a 32-player Palworld server need?
Start with at least 32GB available to the server for a busy 32-player world, then measure the real workload. Large automated bases, mods, long uptime, and players spread across the map can require more.
How much RAM does a modded Palworld server need?
There is no accurate RAM-per-mod formula. Leave more headroom than the equivalent vanilla world, add one mod at a time, and measure memory after a real session. A leaking or incompatible mod must be removed rather than given unlimited RAM.
Which berrybyte tier fits my Palworld group?
berrybyte offers 4, 8, 16, and 32-player tiers, with 8 players recommended for most groups. Choose by concurrent player count and move up if the world becomes busier.