Rust Server Calculator

What hardware a Rust server needs

Rust is one of the hardest games on a server. The whole world is simulated persistently: builds, raids, animals, electricity and decay keep running even with nobody nearby. That is why usage does not drop when the server empties out, only when you wipe.

Map size matters more than slots. A 4500 map with 100 players usually asks for less than a 6000 one with 50, because memory goes into terrain and built entities. Custom RustEdit maps add even more, loading prefabs the base game does not ship.

How to use the calculator

1. 1Pick the server type (Vanilla, Modded, RP) and the slots. Modded servers with many Oxide plugins raise the memory floor noticeably.
2. 2Set the map size and the wipe cycle. The longer the wipe runs, the more entities pile up and the more memory you need by the end of it.
3. 3Always size for the end of the wipe, not for launch day: on day one everything is comfortable, on day twenty is when it shows.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM does a Rust server need?

A 100-slot Vanilla on a 3500 map starts fine on 8 GB, but can ask for 16 GB by the end of the wipe. Modded, with a big map and electricity, count on 16-32 GB to be comfortable.

Why does memory climb over the wipe?

Because everything players build stays: bases, boxes, traps, wiring, planters. Each entity takes memory and is written on every autosave. Ending a cycle at double the first day's usage is perfectly normal.

Does a smaller map improve performance?

Yes, noticeably. Going from 4500 to 3500 cuts the terrain to simulate and concentrates players, which also makes the server more fun. It is the single best cost-to-result tweak.

Do electricity and RustEdit maps matter?

They hit the CPU more than RAM. Power grids are recalculated constantly and custom prefabs add load on map load and on save. If you plan to use both, go one plan higher.