Bukkit.yml Optimization to Reduce Lag

NOTE: This article is specific to Minecraft Java Edition servers and relies on CraftBukkit, Spigot, or Paper to function.

No one likes lag. Fortunately, Minecraft server software provides settings that can help optimize your server’s performance. This guide outlines the Bukkit configurations you can tweak for better performance.

Below is a list of bukkit.yml settings with our recommended values for optimal performance, ranked from the most impactful to the least. For guidance on editing this file, refer to our Bukkit Configuration Editing Guide.

spawn-limits

Adjust these to increase or decrease the number of mobs spawning per player. Check mob-spawn-range in spigot.yml (if present) to bring mobs closer to players if you lower these numbers. “Ambient” refers to bats.

• animals: 8

• monsters: 50

• water-animals: 3

• ambient: 1

  
  

chunk-gcperiod-in-ticks

Lowering this value unloads empty chunks faster, freeing up resources for chunks where players are actually present.

• Default: 600

• Optimized: 400

  
  

ticks-per-monster-spawns

Instead of spawning mobs every tick, you can make the server spawn mobs less frequently by increasing this number. Avoid going above 4 unless mob spawning causes significant lag.

• Default: 1

• Optimized: 4
  

If you're running a Spigot or Paper server, you can further optimize your server with additional settings. Learn more about Spigot optimization in our Spigot.yml Optimization Guide. If you’re using PaperMC, check out our Paper.yml Optimization Guide for more tips.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has been helpful! 🚀 Remember, don’t hesitate to ask questions on the HolyHosting Discord or contact our support team.

Follow us on Twitter @HolyHosting to stay up to date.

Stuffy @ HolyHosting