Light vs. Heavy Workers in n8n: How They Work and Why They're Needed
2025-10-31
n8n is a powerful open-source workflow automation tool that allows building complex workflows without deep programming. One of the key scaling mechanisms in n8n is queue mode, where the main instance delegates task execution to separate processes called workers. Workers allow distributing load, enabling parallel workflow execution and improving system performance.
In the n8n community and practical guides, two types of workers are often distinguished: light workers and heavy workers. Although the official documentation doesn’t use these terms directly, they reflect differences in task types and configuration. Light workers are aimed at fast, frequent operations, while heavy workers handle resource-intensive tasks. In this article we’ll examine their differences, how they work, and why they are necessary for effective scaling.