1 min read
Most WordPress databases sit comfortably under 100 MB. When a database passes 250 MB, bloat starts affecting performance: slower queries, slower backups, slower admin. Above 500 MB on a normal site there is almost always a specific cause (runaway logs, oversized revisions, a data-hungry plugin), not just day-to-day growth.
DB_BLOAT (warning): database size exceeded 250 MB, the recommended threshold for a normal site.
| Size | Status | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 MB | Healthy | Normal for most sites |
| 100-250 MB | Watch | Growth worth tracking |
| 250-500 MB | Bloat | Cleanup recommended: alert triggers here |
| 500 MB+ | Severe | Almost always a specific cause: investigate |
Exception: sites with years of transactional data (WooCommerce stores, LMS with large enrolments) can legitimately run heavier. The threshold is judged against your site’s normal baseline, not in isolation.
| Source | What it is |
|---|---|
| Post revisions | Every edit of a post/page stored as a full copy |
| Transients | Expired cached data left behind |
| Autoloaded options | Settings loaded on every request: too many = slow |
| Orphaned metadata | Rows left by deleted posts, users, or plugins |
| Log tables | Plugins that write activity/error logs into the DB |
wp db size for totals; wp eval queries for the biggest tables (wp_options, wp_postmeta are usual suspects)define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', 5); in wp-config.php for future edits; prune existing excess revisions with a cleanup tool or WP-CLI.wp transient delete --all (use with care) or a maintenance plugin’s scheduled cleanup.Nothing: we handle cleanup on managed sites. If a specific plugin generates heavy data (logs, activity tables), tell us; some plugins are bloat factories and we may recommend a lighter alternative.
Xponent keeps databases lean as part of managed maintenance: revision limits on new installs, scheduled transient cleanup, and bloat monitoring from 250 MB. On managed sites we perform cleanup for you: safely, never destructively, with verification after.
