Minecraft TPS Explained: What Is a Good TPS?

TPS (Ticks Per Second) is like the “heartbeat” of your Minecraft server. It measures how fast the server updates core mechanics like mob AI, redstone signals, and crop growth. A healthy Minecraft server TPS is 20, though this value can fluctuate.

What is TPS in Minecraft?

TPS measures how fast the Minecraft server updates its game logic. Sustained TPS below 18 can indicate that the server is struggling to keep up with its workload.

TPS vs MSPT

MSPT	Approx. TPS
20 ms	20 TPS
30 ms	20 TPS
40 ms	20 TPS
50 ms	~20 TPS
60 ms	~16.7 TPS
100 ms	10 TPS

How Minecraft Server TPS affects performance

The lower your Minecraft server TPS is, the more intense server lag will be.

19-20 TPS – perfectly fine

• Block interactions should feel as intended.
• Mob interaction is normal.
• Redstone updates correctly.
• Chunk generation is smooth

16-18 TPS – light Minecraft server lag

• Block interactions might feel slightly laggy
• Killing mobs may take more time to process
• Redstone timing feels slow
• Chunk generation might take more time

Below 15 TPS – severe Minecraft server lag

• Blocks are almost impossible to break
• Mob AI is noticeably slow
• Redstone timing becomes unreliable
• Chunk generation is basically not possible

How to measure Minecraft server TPS

Measuring the TPS for your Minecraft server depends on your server software.

Spigot, Paper & Purpur

If you want to check TPS in your Spigot/Paper/Purpur, simply run /tps in your Minecraft server. The output should be similar to this:

[13:39:57 INFO]: TPS from last 1m, 5m, 15m: 20.0, 20.0, 20.0

Vanilla Minecraft

Assuming you’re on Minecraft 1.20.3 or newer, you can use /tick info in your Minecraft server. This will display your current target tick rate, your actual average MSPT, and a breakdown of your server’s current performance status.

Fabric Minecraft

Measuring your tick speed in Fabric Minecraft requires a Minecraft mod called spark. Simply download and install the Fabric mod for your specific version, and type /spark tps or /spark health.

Minecraft Forge

Minecraft Forge includes a built-in command to check in-game TPS. By using the command /forge tps, you should be able to see the Mean TPS and the Mean Tick Time (measured in milliseconds per tick, or MSPT).

Why is my Minecraft server TPS low?

Low Minecraft server TPS could be a symptom of several different causes.

Older RAM models

Older RAM models (like DDR3) are significantly slower than modern computer RAM, like DDR4 and DDR5. This is because RAM clock speed can affect response times.

Outdated CPU models

Minecraft’s main server thread can be heavily dependent on single-thread CPU performance. Older CPUs can struggle with demanding servers because of differences in CPU architecture, per-core performance, cache, and other factors.

Active chunk generation

Generating new chunks can require significant CPU resources. When players explore new terrain, the additional chunk generation and loading workload can temporarily increase MSPT and cause TPS to drop.

If your server is experiencing consistently low TPS, Spark can help identify what is consuming the server’s tick time. Rather than guessing which plugin, mod, or system is responsible, profiling the server can help locate the actual bottleneck.

How to increase Minecraft server TPS

If your Minecraft server TPS is on the lower range, you may need better PC specs for your specific setup.

If you’re self hosting, you might want to consider upgrading your specifications. A better CPU is recommended for stable TPS.

Alternatively, you can try optimising your Minecraft server by reducing view and simulation distance and tweaking your server configuration accordingly.

A simpler solution is Minecraft server hosting. SodiumNodes Minecraft server hosting can help you achieve this by offering high-performance AMD Ryzen CPUs while you pay a recurring fee. The price depends on your Minecraft server RAM requirements, but the cost is around €1/GB of RAM, making it an affordable option.

Does RAM affect Minecraft TPS?

RAM and TPS are related, but having more RAM does not automatically increase TPS. Tick performance in Minecraft depends heavily on CPU performance and the amount of work the server has to process each tick.

Minecraft TPS vs Ping

TPS and ping measure different aspects of Minecraft server performance. Ping measures the player latency, while Minecraft server TPS measures how quickly the Minecraft server processes in-game ticks.

• 20 TPS + 150 ms ping: server is healthy, but network latency is high.
• 10 TPS + 20 ms ping: network connection is excellent, but the server itself is struggling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good TPS in Minecraft?

In Minecraft, a good TPS sits at around 19 to 20. If the Minecraft server TPS goes below 17, you may notice performance degradation.

Is 18 TPS good?

18 TPS is fine, but performance may feel sluggish in some cases.

Why is my Minecraft TPS dropping?

Minecraft server TPS can drop when the server has more work to process than it can complete within 50 milliseconds per tick. Common causes include chunk generation, large numbers of entities, redstone machines, plugins or mods, and insufficient CPU performance.

How do I fix low TPS?

Fixing low TPS involves optimising your Minecraft server configuration or using more powerful hardware.

Does more RAM increase TPS?

More RAM does not directly increase Minecraft server TPS. However, having enough RAM can prevent memory pressure and excessive garbage collection, which can contribute to poor server performance.

What is MSPT in Minecraft?

MSPT stands for milliseconds per tick. It measures how long the Minecraft server takes to process each game tick. A Minecraft server needs to process ticks in 50 milliseconds or less to maintain 20 TPS.

What causes high MSPT in Minecraft?

High MSPT can be caused by excessive entities, chunk generation, redstone machines, plugins, mods, large numbers of loaded chunks, or insufficient CPU performance.

Can too many players lower Minecraft TPS?

Yes. More players can increase the amount of work a server needs to perform, particularly when they are spread across different areas of the world, loading chunks, interacting with entities, or generating new terrain.

Does CPU affect Minecraft TPS?

Yes. CPU performance can have a significant impact on Minecraft server TPS because the server needs to process its game logic within each tick. A CPU with stronger per-core performance can be particularly beneficial for heavily loaded Minecraft servers.