Tutorial·2024-03-30·3 min read

Split SQL by Size vs Lines: Which Is Better?

Both methods work, but each is better for different import tools and limits.

You can split by lines or by file size. The right choice depends on your import target.

When to split by size

phpMyAdmin and shared hosting have strict upload limits. Size‑based splits are safest.

Line‑based splits are useful for predictable chunk sizes in CLI imports.

Related: How to Split a mysqldump File Into Smaller Parts.

Choose the right split mode

Use size for phpMyAdmin, lines for CLI.

Yes. It keeps statements intact either way.

Split dumps must be imported in the right order. Here’s the safest sequence.

Linux has powerful CLI tools, but naive splits break SQL. Here’s the safe method.

macOS has built‑in tools, but SQL dumps need structure‑aware splitting. Here’s the right way.

Windows tools are limited for huge dumps. Here are the safest ways to split without breaking SQL.