Factorio Server Requirements: RAM and CPU for Space Age (2026)

A Factorio headless server needs about 2 GB of RAM for a vanilla map with friends, 4 GB for Space Age or a growing factory, and 8 GB for megabases or big overhaul mods. A fast single CPU core matters more than memory, because Factorio aims for 60 updates per second. The free headless server runs on 64 bit Linux, needs only UDP port 34197 and uses very little bandwidth.

What are the Factorio server requirements?

The Factorio wiki's multiplayer page notes that the headless server skips graphics initialisation, which keeps memory and download size down. The stable branch is 2.0.77 as of October 2026, with 2.1 on the experimental branch. Wube announced ARM64 Linux support, including headless, in Friday Facts #446, currently for 2.1 only.

How much RAM does a Factorio server need?

Factorio is light on memory compared with most survival games. Memory grows with the size of the explored map, the number of entities and the mods you load.

Space Age raises the bar because every planet you land on is its own surface that stays loaded, and every space platform keeps simulating while it flies. Overhaul mods add many new items, recipes and entities, and the biggest ones are as heavy as Space Age or more. Our Factorio Space Age server guide covers the expansion specifically.

What CPU does a Factorio server need?

Factorio is deterministic. Every player's PC runs the full simulation, and the server keeps everyone in lockstep. The game aims for 60 updates per second (UPS). When the factory asks for more work per tick than a machine can do, UPS drops and the game runs in slow motion.

Two things follow from that:

• The server needs a fast core. It runs the same simulation as the players, so a slow server CPU can hold the game back. High clock speed and a recent CPU generation help most.
• The slowest player sets the pace. Because every client simulates the whole map, a late game slowdown often comes from one player's older PC, not the server. A faster server cannot fix a client that cannot keep up.

Good signs of a CPU limit: UPS below 60 in the debug overlay (F5), slowdown that grows with the factory rather than with the player count, and catch up stutter after a player joins. Our Factorio desync fix explains how to tell UPS problems from real desyncs.

How do I keep a big Factorio factory at 60 UPS?

Most UPS is spent on a handful of things. The usual wins for multiplayer bases:

Use show-time-usage in the F4 debug menu to see which part of the simulation costs the most before redesigning anything.

How much bandwidth does a Factorio server need?

Very little during play. Factorio's lockstep model sends player input actions rather than the state of the whole factory, so ongoing traffic stays small even with a big base. The heavier moment is joining: a new player downloads the current save from the server, which can be tens of megabytes on a big map, and the game catches up before they can play. A modest home upload is usually fine, which is one reason Factorio is among the easiest games to self host.

How many players can a Factorio server hold?

The wiki gives a hard limit of 65,535 players, and max_players in server-settings.json defaults to 0, meaning unlimited. In practice the limit is how much the factory asks of every player's CPU, plus the join download on big maps. Streamers have run events with well over a hundred players, but most friend servers are 2 to 16.

What disk space does a Factorio server need?

The headless server is a small download. Saves are compressed zips that grow with the map, from a few megabytes to well over a hundred for long running megabases. Keep several autosaves (the default is 5, set by autosave_slots) and occasional manual backups. An SSD keeps autosaves on big maps from causing noticeable pauses.

What ports does a Factorio server use?

One: UDP 34197. Factorio uses UDP only, so a TCP rule does nothing. Change the port with --port if you run more than one server on a machine. See Factorio can't connect to server if players time out, and how to port forward a game server for the router side.

Can I host Factorio and play on the same PC?

Yes, and for a small group it works well. Hosting from the game while you play costs little extra memory, and the Steam invite system handles the connection for Steam friends. The limit is availability, not hardware: the factory is only online while your PC is. For the full self hosted headless setup, see how to make a Factorio server.

FAQ

How much RAM does a Factorio server need?

2 GB for a vanilla map with a few friends, 4 GB for Space Age or a growing base, and 8 GB for megabases or big overhaul mods.

Does a Factorio server need a good CPU?

A fast single core helps the server keep up at 60 UPS. Players' own CPUs matter too, because every client simulates the whole map.

Can a Raspberry Pi run a Factorio server?

On the 2.1 experimental branch, yes, with the ARM64 headless build. The 2.0 stable headless server is x86 64 bit Linux only.

Does a Space Age server need the expansion?

The headless server does not. Every player who joins a Space Age map needs to own the expansion.

What port does Factorio use?

UDP 34197.

The easy option

Our Factorio server hosting runs on high clock CPUs for steady UPS, with Space Age switchable in the panel and players offered the server's exact mods when they join. Plans are 2 GB at 4.99 USD a month, 4 GB at 9.99 USD and 8 GB at 19.99 USD, sized for 8, 16 and 32 players. Upgrade or downgrade any time as the factory grows, and new customers get 50% off the first month on monthly plans.