How Much Bandwidth Does a Game Server Use? (Data Caps and Upload)

A game server's bandwidth depends on the game, the number of players and how busy the world is, so the only reliable number is one you measure. Run the server during a normal session, read its upload rate in Resource Monitor or nload, divide by the number of players, and multiply out to hours per month. Most small friend servers use far less than a home data cap, but upload speed, not monthly data, is usually what limits hosting at home.

Here is how to measure it, how to turn it into a monthly figure, and what it means for data caps, upload speed and cloud bills.

Upload vs download: what a server uses

A game server mostly uploads. Each player sends small inputs to the server, and the server sends each player the state of the world around them: positions, entities, building changes, chat. With 8 players connected, the server sends 8 separate streams. That is why hosting is limited by your upload speed, which on most home connections is a fraction of the download speed.

Downloads happen too, mainly when the server installs or updates. A SteamCMD update for a big game can be several GB, and it happens after every patch.

How to measure your server's bandwidth

On Windows

Start the server and get your group online.
Press Win+R, type resmon and press Enter.
Open the Network tab.
In Network Activity, find the server process (for example valheim_server.exe or java.exe).
Read the Send (B/sec) column for a few minutes during normal play and note a typical value and the peaks.

On Linux

Install a simple monitor and watch the interface:

sudo apt install nload
nload

The Outgoing figure is your server's upload. For per process numbers, use nethogs:

sudo apt install nethogs
sudo nethogs

Make it a per player number

per player rate = server send rate / players online

Take readings with different numbers of players. The rate is not perfectly linear, since players in the same area share some updates, but it is close enough to plan with.

Turn it into GB per month

GB per month = KB/s per player x players x hours per month x 3600 / 1,000,000

Example with an assumed 20 KB/s per player, 6 players, 3 hours a night, 20 nights a month (60 hours):

20 x 6 x 60 x 3600 / 1,000,000 = about 26 GB per month

Swap in your own measured rate. Even if your game uses several times that, a small group is usually well inside a 1 TB or larger home cap. Busy public servers with dozens of players online for many hours are where data adds up.

Add game updates on top. Big games ship patches of several GB, and a server downloads each one.

Upload speed: the real limit at home

Monthly data rarely stops home hosting. Upload speed does.

upload needed (Mbps) = KB/s per player x players x 8 / 1000

Then double it for headroom, because traffic comes in bursts when lots happens at once, and remember you are also using the connection to play, stream or video call.

Your upload speed	What it handles
Under 5 Mbps	A few friends on a light game, if nobody else uses the connection
10 to 20 Mbps	A small group on most games
20 to 50 Mbps	A larger group, with headroom for your own play
100 Mbps or more	Upload is not your problem

Run a speed test to check your real upload, and test it in the evening when your neighborhood is busiest. Cable connections in particular often have much lower upload than download.

Signs bandwidth is the problem

Lag gets worse as more players join, while the server's CPU and RAM look fine.
Everyone lags when someone in your house starts a video call or upload.
The host player is fine but everyone else rubber bands.
Ping to the server jumps during busy moments.

If that matches, see why is my game server lagging for the other checks.

Data caps and home hosting

Some home internet plans have a monthly cap or slow you down after a threshold. Check your provider's account page for your usage meter. Hosting at home also exposes your home IP address to every player, which is covered in is hosting a game server at home safe. Home 5G and satellite connections bring their own limits, such as CGNAT, which can stop players connecting at all.

Bandwidth on cloud servers

On cloud platforms, outbound data is usually billed per GB above a small free allowance, so the monthly figure you calculated becomes a cost line. Our guide on cloud game server hidden costs shows how to add it to the estimate.

Bandwidth on a hosted game server

On a managed game host, the server runs in a data center on a connection built for exactly this, so your home upload, data cap and evening congestion stop mattering. Your own connection only carries your own play, like every other player. A GamezServers server has its own address and always on DDoS protection, and you pay a flat monthly price by RAM with no data meter on the bill. Pick a game on the games page, or read about hosting without port forwarding.

The world of Valheim

FAQ

Does hosting a game server use a lot of data?

For a small group, usually not much compared to video streaming. Measure your server's send rate and use the formula above to see your real figure.

Is upload or download more important for hosting?

Upload. The server sends world updates to every player, so it uploads far more than it downloads.

Can my home internet host a Minecraft server for 10 people?

Often yes, if your upload is decent and nobody else is saturating it. Measure your server's send rate with 10 players online to be sure.

Does a game server use bandwidth when nobody is online?

Very little: a trickle for server list queries and heartbeats, plus any game updates it downloads.