Kubernetes Resource Planner
Calculate kubernetes resource with our free tool. Get data-driven results, visualizations, and actionable recommendations.
Formula
Total Resources = Pods x Resource_Per_Pod x Replicas x (1 + Buffer%)
Total cluster resources are calculated by multiplying the number of service pods by per-pod resource requests, then by replica count for high availability, and finally adding the buffer percentage for headroom. Node count is derived by dividing total resources by per-node allocatable capacity (total minus system reservations). Limits are set at 2x CPU requests and 1.5x memory requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between resource requests and limits in Kubernetes?
Resource requests define the minimum resources a pod needs and are used by the scheduler to decide which node to place the pod on. Limits define the maximum resources a pod can consume. If a pod exceeds its memory limit, it gets OOM-killed (out of memory). If it exceeds its CPU limit, it gets throttled but not killed. Best practice is to set requests based on typical usage and limits based on peak usage. A common starting point is limits at 2x requests for CPU and 1.5x for memory. Setting requests too low causes resource contention; setting limits too high wastes cluster capacity and money.
How do I determine the right resource values for my pods?
Start with observation rather than guessing. Deploy your application with generous initial resources, then use monitoring tools like Prometheus with Kubernetes Metrics Server to observe actual CPU and memory usage over several days including peak traffic periods. The Vertical Pod Autoscaler (VPA) in recommendation mode can suggest values automatically. Set requests to the P95 (95th percentile) of observed usage and limits to the maximum observed spike plus 20% headroom. For CPU, focus on average usage for requests since CPU is compressible. For memory, focus on peak usage since exceeding memory limits causes pod termination.
How do I optimize Kubernetes costs?
The biggest cost lever is right-sizing: most organizations over-provision CPU requests by 3-5x. Run resource audits monthly using tools like Kubecost, Goldilocks, or kubectl top. Second, use node auto-scaling to match capacity with demand instead of provisioning for peak. Third, use spot or preemptible instances for fault-tolerant workloads (saves 60-90%). Fourth, implement Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) to scale pods based on actual metrics. Fifth, consider resource quotas and limit ranges to prevent any single team from over-provisioning. Organizations that actively manage Kubernetes resources typically reduce cloud spend by 30-50%.
Is my data stored or sent to a server?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data you enter is ever transmitted to any server or stored anywhere. Your inputs remain completely private.
Does Kubernetes Resource Planner work offline?
Once the page is loaded, the calculation logic runs entirely in your browser. If you have already opened the page, most calculators will continue to work even if your internet connection is lost, since no server requests are needed for computation.
Can I share or bookmark my calculation?
You can bookmark the calculator page in your browser. Many calculators also display a shareable result summary you can copy. The page URL stays the same so returning to it will bring you back to the same tool.