The wiki’s lowest figures for a Valheim server are 2 GB of memory, a quad-core CPU at 2.8 GHz and 2 GB of disk. For a comfortable server, plan on 4 GB or more of memory, six cores at 3.4 GHz or faster, and 4 GB or more of disk. Mods need more than this.
The Valheim wiki says these figures are unofficial. They are the general view of people who run servers. A server can still run on less.
The figures
| The wiki’s lowest figure | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4 cores | 6 cores |
| CPU speed | 2.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz or more |
| Memory | 2 GB | 4 GB or more |
| Disk | 2 GB | 4 GB or more |
Memory
Valheim loads the whole world into memory when the server starts. That is why it needs more memory than most game servers.
The wiki gives these rules of thumb:
- A fresh world uses about 1.8 to 2.4 GB.
- Each area where players are active adds about 100 to 300 MB.
- A very busy area can need a lot more.
On Loafhosts servers with players, memory in use over a day was about 1.5 to 2.2 GB (what we saw, not a rule). A server with more players spread over more of the map uses more. 2 GB can be too little once players are on.
If the server runs out of memory, the Crashes page says “The server ran out of memory”. See out of memory for what to do.
CPU
World generation is the heavy part. It happens when a world is first made, and again when a player enters a part of the map nobody has seen. The server makes that area on the spot, and the CPU can be busy for a while.
Apart from that, the server uses little CPU. It does not run the game itself. It passes messages between players, and each player’s own game works out what happens in the area they are in. So a player on a weak computer can slow things down for everyone near them. See server lag.
Disk
The wiki’s lowest figure is 2 GB of disk for the server’s own files and one world. Backups add to that. The game keeps backups of the world in its save folder (World backups kept is 4 by default). On Loafhosts servers the whole server’s disk use, with the game files, measured 2.5 to 6 GB on 21 October 2026. That is the disk of the whole server, not the size of a world folder.
Mods add files. A large modpack can add a lot. Check the size on the Mods page before you install.
Mods
Mods run inside the server and add to its memory and CPU use. A server with many mods needs more than the table above. Test with your players before you decide what you need.
Players
The game is made for 1 to 10 players, as Steam’s store page says. The Players stat on the Players page reads N / 10. No setting changes that.
More about the game: Valheim servers.
If it does not work
- The server is slow when someone explores. That is world generation. It passes. Explore with one player at a time at first.
- The server stops with no warning. Open Crashes. It reads the last ten starts and says how each ended.
- The disk is full. Lower World backups kept in the Config Editor, under Server settings. It applies at the next start.
Not checked on 1.0.20 as of 21 October 2026: the wiki figures against a world that has been played for months.
Sources: valheim.fandom.com: Dedicated servers, store.steampowered.com: Valheim