Last Updated on 3 weeks by Sachin G
Managing swap space effectively is a critical part of Linux memory management. Whether you’re running Ubuntu on a laptop or managing a CentOS-based web server, understanding the recommended swap size for Linux systems helps boost performance and system stability.
So many people use the old method that the swap partition should be twice the size of the system. In the current era that is a lot of swaps, most of the systems never swap. People don’t want their system to ever run out of memory ( RAM + SWAP) , but they usually would rather have enough RAM in the system so it doesn’t need to swap . This blog post I am covering how much swap space Linux systems really need, what influences swap size recommendations, and how to tune it for your specific environment — including for SSD-based systems and modern workloads.
If we add a large amount of RAM to a system, we don’t need to extend a large amount of swap space.
What Is Swap Space in Linux?
Swap space acts as virtual memory — a reserved area on disk that the operating system uses when physical RAM is full. It stores inactive memory pages, helping to prevent crashes and slowdowns. Swap can exist as a swap partition or a swap file, each with its pros and cons, especially when it comes to Linux performance tuning.
Two important of swapping memory are as, first like when the system requires more memory than is statically available, the kernel swaps out less used pages and provides memory to the application, and second the number of pages used application in the startup phase may only be used for initialization and not used again. The system swaps out pages and frees the memory for other resources. Here in this post, I am sharing what the recommended swap size is for Linux.
How Much Swap Space Does Linux Need?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The recommended swap size for Linux depends on multiple factors like RAM size, workload type, disk speed, and distro guidelines. Here’s a general table:
| RAM (in GB) | Recommended Swap Size |
|---|---|
| 1 -2 GB | Requires 2 times the amount of RAM |
| 2 – 8 GB | Requires an equal to amount of RAM |
| 8 – 64 GB | Requires 0.5 times the amount of RAM |
| 64 GB | 4 – 8 GB (or none for SSDs) |
The swap size for SSD-based Linux systems can be smaller due to faster disk access. However, SSD wear should be considered for write-heavy workloads.
For production live environments, mainly those using database services or containers, choosing the ideal swap size for a Linux server depends on:
- High memory demand
- Application-specific requirements
- Whether hibernation is used (which requires swap size ≥ RAM)
For instance, the best swap space configuration in Linux servers includes enabling swappiness tuning, using a swap file over a partition for flexibility, and ensuring swap is located on a fast disk.
Recommended Swap Size for Ubuntu
The Ubuntu swap size recommendation from Canonical (as of recent LTS releases) suggests:
- No hibernation: 0.5× RAM
- With hibernation: 1.5× RAM
Also, Ubuntu now defaults to swap files instead of partitions, offering easier resizing and configuration
Tuning Swap Space for Performance
Optimizing Linux swap configuration is essential for getting the most out of your system:
- Adjust
vm.swappinessto control how aggressively Linux uses swap - For servers, values up to 60 may help under heavy load
Why do we need to swap the partition file system?
When physical memory ( RAM) is full, then the system needs more resources of memory. The swap will be used when the amount of physical memory is full then inactive pages in memory are moved to the swap filesystem.
The amount of swap memory recommended for Linux depends on some factors including the amount of memory in the system and the workload on the memory.
Swap Size for Modern Linux Systems
With advancements in RAM capacity and disk speed, swap size for modern Linux systems is less about large size and more about smart configuration.
- SSD-based systems benefit from lower swappiness values
- Systems with 32+ GB RAM may not need swap at all (unless for hibernation or specific application tuning)
- Lightweight distros like Debian swap file setup or Fedora swap configuration may use different defaults
| Distribution | Recommended Swap Practice |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu | Uses swap file, 0.5× RAM or 1.5× with hibernate |
| RHEL | Use partition for critical systems, swap ≤ 4 GB |
| Debian | Minimal swap file, swappiness ≈ 10 |
| CentOS | Prefer partition, tune with workload |
| Fedora | Uses swap file and systemd-swap by default |
Refer to CentOS swap best practices or RHEL swap guidelines for enterprise deployments.
Choosing the right swap size in Linux is a balancing act — too little may cause system crashes, while too much can slow down performance. With today’s hardware, the focus has shifted from “how much” to “how efficiently swap is configured”. Whether you’re configuring swap on Ubuntu, CentOS, or Debian, always tailor your setup to your RAM, disk type, and usage scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Swap space in Linux acts as virtual memory on the disk. When physical RAM is full, the system uses swap to move inactive memory pages. This prevents crashes and keeps the system running smoothly.
No, that guideline is outdated. Modern systems with large RAM rarely need such big swap space. For systems with 16 GB or more RAM, a smaller swap is sufficient unless you need hibernation.
Not always. If you have 32 GB+ RAM, you might never hit swap. However, swap is still recommended as a safety net for unexpected memory spikes or for hibernation.
Both work, but swap files are easier to resize and manage. Modern distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora default to swap files. For critical enterprise systems, partitions may still be preferred for stability.
SSDs make swap faster due to lower latency, but frequent swapping can wear out SSDs. Use minimal swap space and adjust swappiness to reduce heavy write operations.
Swappiness is a Linux kernel parameter that controls how aggressively the system uses swap.
Lower value (e.g., 10): Swap less, use more RAM.
Higher value (e.g., 60): Swap more aggressively.
For servers, a value of 10–20 is common for performance tuning.
Yes. If you plan to use hibernation, your swap size must be at least equal to your RAM.
The system may become unresponsive and start killing processes (Out Of Memory killer). Always keep at least some swap for stability.
I’m Sachin Gupta — a freelance IT support specialist and founder of techtransit.org. I’m certified in Linux, Ansible, OpenShift (Red Hat), cPanel, and ITIL, with over 15 years of hands-on experience. I create beginner-friendly Linux tutorials, help with Ansible automation, and offer IT support on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and PeoplePerHour. Follow Tech Transit for practical tips, hosting guides, and real-world Linux expertise!