16GB helps, but 32GB is the sweet spot.

Yes, 16GB will be a noticeable improvement over 8GB for large Excel files and Power Query. But if you’re regularly working with >100MB spreadsheets or complex data models, you’ll still hit memory limits.

Excel is a memory hog. Power Query loads tables into memory, and large datasets can eat through 16GB faster than you’d expect. You’ll get fewer crashes and laggy freezes, but you might still see “Not enough memory” errors with really chunky queries or multiple open workbooks.

If you’re on a laptop that can’t upgrade later, get 32GB. Future-you won’t regret it. If you’re building a desktop or can swap RAM later, start with 16GB — it’s a good baseline.

Your wallet and your data will both thank you if you over-spec now.