What GPU Do You Need for SDXL in 2026? (5 Picks)

Cross-posted from Best GPU for AI — visit the original for our VRAM calculator, GPU comparison table, and current Amazon pricing.

You open ComfyUI, load an SDXL checkpoint, add a ControlNet, and hit generate. Ten seconds later your GPU runs out of memory. Sound familiar? SDXL is significantly more demanding than SD 1.5, and choosing the wrong card means constant OOM errors or painfully slow generation. Here is what you actually need.

Who this is for

This guide covers GPU selection specifically for SDXL workflows — base generation, inpainting, ControlNet, upscaling, and LoRA training. If you are running SD 1.5 or Flux, see our dedicated guides for Stable Diffusion and Flux.

SDXL VRAM requirements

Workflow	Minimum VRAM	Recommended VRAM
SDXL base (1024x1024)	8GB	12GB
SDXL + ControlNet	10GB	16GB
SDXL + ControlNet + upscaler	12GB	16GB
SDXL + multiple ControlNets	14GB	16-24GB
SDXL LoRA training	10GB	16GB
SDXL Dreambooth	12GB	24GB

The baseline SDXL model uses about 6.5GB of VRAM. Each ControlNet adds 1.5-2.5GB. Upscalers add another 1-2GB. The overhead stacks up fast.

VRAM chart available at the original article

Best GPUs for SDXL ranked

GPU	VRAM	SDXL (1024px)	SDXL + ControlNet	Price
RTX 5090	32GB	~3.5 s/img	~4.5 s/img	~$2,000+
RTX 4090	24GB	~5.5 s/img	~6.5 s/img	~$1,600
RTX 5070 Ti	16GB	~7.0 s/img	~8.5 s/img	~$750
RTX 4070 Ti Super	16GB	~8.5 s/img	~10 s/img	~$700
RTX 4060 Ti 16GB	16GB	~12 s/img	~14 s/img	~$400
RTX 3060 12GB	12GB	~16 s/img	~19 s/img	~$250 used

The 16GB sweet spot

For SDXL, 16GB VRAM is the practical sweet spot. It handles:

Base SDXL generation at 1024x1024 with headroom
One ControlNet layer without memory pressure
Upscaling with Tile ControlNet or ESRGAN
LoRA training at reasonable batch sizes

Three cards hit this mark at different price points:

RTX 4070 Ti Super (~$700) — Best value for SDXL. Fast generation, 16GB VRAM, and strong compute. The card most SDXL users should buy.

RTX 5070 Ti (~$750) — Slightly faster with GDDR7 bandwidth. Worth the small premium if you generate images frequently.

RTX 4060 Ti 16GB (~$400) — Budget option that still has 16GB. Slower generation but handles the same workflows.

When you need 24GB or more

If you stack multiple ControlNets, run SDXL at 2K+ resolution, or train Dreambooth models regularly, 16GB gets tight. The RTX 4090 at 24GB eliminates memory concerns entirely and generates images nearly twice as fast as 16GB cards.

Which GPU should you buy?

Basic SDXL generation with occasional ControlNet: The RTX 4060 Ti 16GB at $400 handles this without issues. Generation is slower but you will not hit OOM.

Regular SDXL work with ControlNet workflows: The RTX 4070 Ti Super at $700 is the sweet spot. Fast enough for iterative creative work, 16GB covers complex pipelines.

Professional SDXL production or Dreambooth training: The RTX 4090 at $1,600 gives you 24GB and top-tier speed. Worth it if image generation is your daily workflow. For trainer-specific picks, our best GPU for Dreambooth guide covers VRAM and batch-size trade-offs in more detail.

Maximum headroom and fastest output: The RTX 5090 at $2,000+ guarantees you never think about VRAM again.

Common mistakes to avoid

Buying an 8GB card for SDXL. It technically works for base generation, but any ControlNet or upscaler pushes you over the edge. 12GB is the real minimum, 16GB is recommended.
Running SDXL at FP32 precision. Always use FP16 or BF16. FP32 doubles VRAM usage for zero visible quality improvement in generated images.
Ignoring VAE tiling for high-res work. If you upscale or generate above 1024px, enable VAE tiling to avoid OOM during the decode step. For dedicated upscaler workloads beyond SDXL's hires-fix, see our best GPU for AI upscaling guide.
Choosing raw compute over VRAM. A faster card with 8GB is worse for SDXL than a slower card with 16GB. VRAM determines what you can run; speed determines how fast.

Final verdict

Budget	GPU	Why
$250	RTX 3060 12GB (used)	Minimum viable SDXL card
$400	RTX 4060 Ti 16GB	Budget 16GB for SDXL
$700	RTX 4070 Ti Super	Best value for SDXL
$1,600	RTX 4090	Power user + training

For most SDXL users, a 16GB card is the right call. The RTX 4070 Ti Super delivers the best balance of speed, VRAM, and price. Check our full guides on Stable Diffusion GPUs and Flux GPUs for broader comparisons.