How much RAM for a Rust server?
On Rust, map size dictates memory before player count does. Count on 8 GB of RAM for a 3000 map, 12 GB for 3500 to 4000, and 16 GB for a 4500 or a heavily built server late in a wipe. Memory use climbs throughout the wipe as bases multiply: it is lowest on wipe day and highest the day before the next one.
| Type of server | Players | Recommended RAM | Matching plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3000 map, community server | up to 50 players | 8 GB | £7.46incl. VAT/mo |
| 3500 to 4000 map | 50 to 100 players | 12 GB | £12.44incl. VAT/mo |
| 4500 map, busy end of wipe | 100 to 200 players | 16 GB | £16.59incl. VAT/mo |
| Large modded server, Oxide plugins | 200 players and up | Unlimited | £24.89incl. VAT/mo |
What drives memory up
- Map size: going from 3000 to 4500 nearly doubles the memory required.
- How far the wipe has progressed: every base built is a set of entities held in memory.
- Oxide/uMod plugins, especially those that log or clone structures.
- Entities placed per player: traps, boxes, signs, turrets.
Signs you are short on memory
- The server holds up the day after a wipe and stutters late in the cycle, with nothing else changed.
- Latency spikes during saves, growing longer over time.
- A crash while loading the map after a restart, for lack of available memory.
- Players clipping through terrain or seeing buildings appear late.
Frequently asked questions
Does map size matter more than player count?
Yes. A 4500 map is loaded into memory in full, whether ten or a hundred players are online. Player count then adds weight through the structures it generates. That is why a quiet server on a large map can need more memory than a full one on a small map.
What does a wipe change for consumption?
It resets it. All bases disappear, memory falls back to its floor, then climbs again. Scheduling regular wipes is as much a performance measure as a gameplay choice.
Do plugins need more memory?
Generally yes, and sometimes a lot: base-copying, event and logging plugins keep whole structures in memory. Plan for one tier up if your server leans on them heavily.
Each memory tier matches a plan. Prices are monthly, tax included, with no minimum term. See the plans Rust →