How to MariaDB quota exceeded in PostgreSQL

Galaxy Glossary

How do I fix the “quota exceeded” error in PostgreSQL?

The “quota exceeded” error means the database or user reached its disk-space limit, blocking new writes until space is freed or the limit is raised.

Sign up for the latest in SQL knowledge from the Galaxy Team!
Welcome to the Galaxy, Guardian!
You'll be receiving a confirmation email

Follow us on twitter :)
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Description

Table of Contents

Why does PostgreSQL show a “quota exceeded” error?

PostgreSQL throws the error when the operating-system quota, tablespace size, or temp_file_limit is hit. No new rows, indexes, or temporary files can be created until space is reclaimed or limits are adjusted.

How can I find the objects filling up space?

Run pg_size_pretty(pg_total_relation_size(...)) on large relations or query pg_tablespace_size. Focus on write-heavy tables like Orders and OrderItems.

How do I reclaim space fast?

Delete obsolete rows, archive old partitions, or move tables to cheaper storage. Follow up with VACUUM FULL or CLUSTER to release disk blocks.

Can I raise the quota instead?

Yes. Increase filesystem quotas, extend the disk, or add a new tablespace and move data with ALTER TABLE ... SET TABLESPACE.

What if temp files trigger the error?

Raise temp_file_limit at user or database level. Optimize queries to create fewer sort/hash spill files by adding indexes or using LIMIT.

Best practice: monitor usage proactively

Use pg_stat_statements and alerts on pg_tablespace_size to catch growth early, avoiding sudden outages.

Why How to MariaDB quota exceeded in PostgreSQL is important

How to MariaDB quota exceeded in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- Archive old shipped orders to keep within quota
BEGIN;
INSERT INTO Orders_Archive
SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE order_date < CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '18 months';
DELETE FROM Orders WHERE order_date < CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '18 months';
COMMIT;

-- Verify freed space
SELECT pg_size_pretty(pg_total_relation_size('Orders')) AS orders_size;

How to MariaDB quota exceeded in PostgreSQL Syntax


-- 1. Inspect current disk usage per tablespace
SELECT spcname, pg_size_pretty(pg_tablespace_size(oid)) AS size
FROM pg_tablespace;

-- 2. Identify largest relations in the “Orders” workflow
SELECT relname, pg_size_pretty(pg_total_relation_size(relid)) AS total
FROM pg_catalog.pg_statio_user_tables
ORDER BY pg_total_relation_size(relid) DESC
LIMIT 5;

-- 3. Delete historic orders older than 2 years
DELETE FROM Orders WHERE order_date < CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '2 years';

-- 4. Vacuum to release space
VACUUM FULL Orders;

-- 5. Move big table to a roomier tablespace
ALTER TABLE OrderItems SET TABLESPACE fast_ssd_ts;

-- 6. Raise temp file limit for reporting role
ALTER ROLE analyst SET temp_file_limit = '10GB';

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does increasing max_wal_size help?

No. The error is about data or temp space, not WAL size. Focus on tablespace usage.

Can I move just indexes to another disk?

Yes. Use ALTER INDEX idx_name SET TABLESPACE new_ts for large indexes like those on OrderItems(product_id).

Want to learn about other SQL terms?

Trusted by top engineers on high-velocity teams
Aryeo Logo
Assort Health
Curri
Rubie Logo
Bauhealth Logo
Truvideo Logo
Welcome to the Galaxy, Guardian!
You'll be receiving a confirmation email

Follow us on twitter :)
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.