How much RAM for a Project Zomboid server?
Plan on 8 GB of RAM for a Project Zomboid server up to about fifteen players, 12 GB with a substantial mod list, and 16 GB for a busy public server or an extended map. Project Zomboid loads map cells around each player: the further survivors spread out, the more zones the server holds open at once.
| Type of server | Players | Recommended RAM | Matching plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Among friends, no mods | 2 to 16 players | 8 GB | £4.97incl. VAT/mo |
| Modded server, regular group | 16 to 32 players | 12 GB | £9.95incl. VAT/mo |
| Public server, extra maps | 32 to 64 players | 16 GB | £12.44incl. VAT/mo |
| Large community, heavy mods | 64 players and up | Unlimited | £20.74incl. VAT/mo |
What drives memory up
- How spread out players are: each opens their own map area, and they add up.
- Map mods, which bring whole extra towns to load.
- Persistent zombies and vehicles, kept from one session to the next.
- The age of the save: moved items and built bases accumulate.
Signs you are short on memory
- Stutters when a player enters a new town.
- Zombies appearing all at once in a group instead of arriving gradually.
- Rollbacks after a crash: the last minutes of play are lost.
- Loading times growing for players joining mid-session.
Frequently asked questions
Do mods need a lot of memory?
Map mods do: they add whole areas the server must be able to load. Item or interface mods weigh far less. A list of thirty equipment mods often costs less than a single additional map.
Why does the server struggle when players split up?
Because each player loads the cells around them. Four players together occupy one area; the same four in four corners of the map occupy four. That use case, far more than the number of survivors, decides the memory to plan for.
Should the server be restarted regularly?
A scheduled daily restart helps: it frees the memory held by the zones visited during the day. It is set up from the panel, at a quiet hour, with no manual intervention.
Each memory tier matches a plan. Prices are monthly, tax included, with no minimum term. See the plans Project Zomboid →