diff --git a/database/factories/ActionlogFactory.php b/database/factories/ActionlogFactory.php
index edf9955198..ba3e469b4a 100644
--- a/database/factories/ActionlogFactory.php
+++ b/database/factories/ActionlogFactory.php
@@ -40,11 +40,15 @@ class ActionlogFactory extends Factory
             $target = User::inRandomOrder()->first();
             $asset = Asset::inRandomOrder()->RTD()->first();
 
+            // Fall back to the asset's default (rtd) location when the target
+            // user has no location set. Mirrors the fallback in
+            // App\Console\Commands\SyncAssetLocations so we don't seed assets
+            // with a null location_id.
             $asset->update(
                 [
                     'assigned_to' => $target->id,
                     'assigned_type' => User::class,
-                    'location_id' => $target->location_id,
+                    'location_id' => $target->location_id ?? $asset->rtd_location_id,
                 ]
             );
 
diff --git a/database/factories/AssetFactory.php b/database/factories/AssetFactory.php
index fab04b687c..246722bad4 100644
--- a/database/factories/AssetFactory.php
+++ b/database/factories/AssetFactory.php
@@ -60,6 +60,23 @@ class AssetFactory extends Factory
             $asset->asset_eol_date = $this->faker->boolean(5)
                 ? CarbonImmutable::parse($asset->purchase_date)->addMonths(rand(0, 20))->format('Y-m-d')
                 : CarbonImmutable::parse($asset->purchase_date)->addMonths($asset->model?->eol ?? rand(12, 60))->format('Y-m-d');
+
+            // Set location_id to match the asset's current allocation. Mirrors
+            // the four cases in App\Console\Commands\SyncAssetLocations so a
+            // fresh db:seed doesn't need to run that command as post-processing
+            // (which allocated ~130 MB scanning every asset). Any state that
+            // pre-sets location_id (e.g., a caller passes it explicitly) wins.
+            if ($asset->location_id !== null) {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            $asset->location_id = match (true) {
+                $asset->assigned_to === null => $asset->rtd_location_id,
+                $asset->assigned_type === User::class => User::find($asset->assigned_to)?->location_id ?? $asset->rtd_location_id,
+                $asset->assigned_type === Location::class => $asset->assigned_to,
+                $asset->assigned_type === Asset::class => Asset::find($asset->assigned_to)?->location_id ?? $asset->rtd_location_id,
+                default => $asset->rtd_location_id,
+            };
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/database/seeders/ActionlogSeeder.php b/database/seeders/ActionlogSeeder.php
index 3903980007..eaabb09b72 100644
--- a/database/seeders/ActionlogSeeder.php
+++ b/database/seeders/ActionlogSeeder.php
@@ -6,10 +6,13 @@ use App\Models\Actionlog;
 use App\Models\Asset;
 use App\Models\Location;
 use App\Models\User;
+use Database\Seeders\Concerns\ReportsMemory;
 use Illuminate\Database\Seeder;
 
 class ActionlogSeeder extends Seeder
 {
+    use ReportsMemory;
+
     public function run()
     {
         Actionlog::truncate();
@@ -24,19 +27,30 @@ class ActionlogSeeder extends Seeder
 
         $admin = User::where('permissions->superuser', '1')->first() ?? User::factory()->firstAdmin()->create();
 
+        $this->reportMemory('ActionlogSeeder start');
+
+        memory_reset_peak_usage();
         Actionlog::factory()
             ->count(300)
             ->assetCheckoutToUser()
             ->create(['created_by' => $admin->id]);
+        gc_collect_cycles();
+        $this->reportMemory('ActionlogSeeder after 300 assetCheckoutToUser');
 
+        memory_reset_peak_usage();
         Actionlog::factory()
             ->count(100)
             ->assetCheckoutToLocation()
             ->create(['created_by' => $admin->id]);
+        gc_collect_cycles();
+        $this->reportMemory('ActionlogSeeder after 100 assetCheckoutToLocation');
 
+        memory_reset_peak_usage();
         Actionlog::factory()
             ->count(20)
             ->licenseCheckoutToUser()
             ->create(['created_by' => $admin->id]);
+        gc_collect_cycles();
+        $this->reportMemory('ActionlogSeeder after 20 licenseCheckoutToUser');
     }
 }
diff --git a/database/seeders/AssetSeeder.php b/database/seeders/AssetSeeder.php
index d6d167d4f4..03ed2c1c16 100644
--- a/database/seeders/AssetSeeder.php
+++ b/database/seeders/AssetSeeder.php
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use App\Models\Asset;
 use App\Models\Location;
 use App\Models\Supplier;
 use App\Models\User;
+use Database\Seeders\Concerns\ReportsMemory;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\Sequence;
 use Illuminate\Database\Seeder;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@ use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;
 
 class AssetSeeder extends Seeder
 {
+    use ReportsMemory;
+
     private $admin;
 
     private $locationIds;
@@ -31,7 +34,19 @@ class AssetSeeder extends Seeder
         $this->locationIds = Location::all()->pluck('id');
         $this->supplierIds = Supplier::all()->pluck('id');
 
-        Asset::factory()->count(2000)->laptopMbp()->state(new Sequence($this->getState()))->create();
+        $this->reportMemory('AssetSeeder start');
+
+        // Chunk the big laptopMbp batch so we don't hold 2000 Asset models
+        // (plus 2000 Actionlog observer side-effects) in memory at once, which
+        // was pushing the demo servers into swap during full re-seeds.
+        memory_reset_peak_usage();
+        for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++) {
+            Asset::factory()->count(200)->laptopMbp()->state(new Sequence($this->getState()))->create();
+            gc_collect_cycles();
+        }
+        $this->reportMemory('AssetSeeder after laptopMbp chunked batch (2000 total)');
+
+        memory_reset_peak_usage();
         Asset::factory()->count(50)->laptopMbpPending()->state(new Sequence($this->getState()))->create();
         Asset::factory()->count(50)->laptopMbpArchived()->state(new Sequence($this->getState()))->create();
         Asset::factory()->count(50)->laptopAir()->state(new Sequence($this->getState()))->create();
@@ -63,6 +78,8 @@ class AssetSeeder extends Seeder
         }
 
         DB::table('checkout_requests')->truncate();
+
+        $this->reportMemory('AssetSeeder end (all factory batches complete)');
     }
 
     private function ensureLocationsSeeded()
diff --git a/database/seeders/Concerns/ReportsMemory.php b/database/seeders/Concerns/ReportsMemory.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..680f49b27d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database/seeders/Concerns/ReportsMemory.php
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Database\Seeders\Concerns;
+
+/**
+ * Adds a small [mem] logger to seeders so peak/current memory is visible in
+ * db:seed output. Kept in place as a durable regression signal: if someone
+ * later adds a giant factory batch that pushes demo servers into swap, the
+ * jump shows up in the console immediately.
+ *
+ * Safe to use in any Seeder subclass. Silently no-ops when $this->command is
+ * null (e.g., when the seeder is invoked outside of an Artisan command).
+ */
+trait ReportsMemory
+{
+    protected function reportMemory(string $label): void
+    {
+        $peakMb = number_format(memory_get_peak_usage(true) / 1024 / 1024, 1);
+        $currentMb = number_format(memory_get_usage(true) / 1024 / 1024, 1);
+        $this->command?->info("[mem] {$label}: peak {$peakMb} MB, current {$currentMb} MB");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/database/seeders/DatabaseSeeder.php b/database/seeders/DatabaseSeeder.php
index a107cb814e..5d369e4b60 100644
--- a/database/seeders/DatabaseSeeder.php
+++ b/database/seeders/DatabaseSeeder.php
@@ -3,14 +3,15 @@
 namespace Database\Seeders;
 
 use App\Models\Setting;
+use Database\Seeders\Concerns\ReportsMemory;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 use Illuminate\Database\Seeder;
-use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Artisan;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
-use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
 
 class DatabaseSeeder extends Seeder
 {
+    use ReportsMemory;
+
     /**
      * Run the database seeds.
      *
@@ -21,6 +22,8 @@ class DatabaseSeeder extends Seeder
         Model::unguard();
         DB::statement('SET FOREIGN_KEY_CHECKS=0');
 
+        $this->reportMemory('DatabaseSeeder start');
+
         // Only create default settings if they do not exist in the db.
         if (! Setting::first()) {
             // factory(Setting::class)->create();
@@ -28,33 +31,56 @@ class DatabaseSeeder extends Seeder
         }
 
         $this->call(CompanySeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after CompanySeeder');
         $this->call(CategorySeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after CategorySeeder');
         $this->call(LocationSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after LocationSeeder');
         $this->call(DepartmentSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after DepartmentSeeder');
         $this->call(UserSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after UserSeeder');
         $this->call(DepreciationSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after DepreciationSeeder (1st)');
         $this->call(ManufacturerSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after ManufacturerSeeder');
         $this->call(SupplierSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after SupplierSeeder');
         $this->call(AssetModelSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after AssetModelSeeder');
         $this->call(DepreciationSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after DepreciationSeeder (2nd)');
         $this->call(StatuslabelSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after StatuslabelSeeder');
         $this->call(AccessorySeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after AccessorySeeder');
         $this->call(CustomFieldSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after CustomFieldSeeder');
         $this->call(AssetSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after AssetSeeder');
         $this->call(LicenseSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after LicenseSeeder');
         $this->call(ComponentSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after ComponentSeeder');
         $this->call(ConsumableSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after ConsumableSeeder');
         $this->call(ActionlogSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after ActionlogSeeder');
         $this->call(MaintenanceSeeder::class);
+        $this->reportMemory('after MaintenanceSeeder');
 
-        Artisan::call('snipeit:sync-asset-locations', ['--output' => 'all']);
-        $output = Artisan::output();
-        Log::info($output);
+        // snipeit:sync-asset-locations used to run here to backfill location_id
+        // on seeded assets. AssetFactory::configure() now sets location_id at
+        // make-time based on the assignment state, so post-seed sync is
+        // redundant. The command remains available as a manual maintenance
+        // tool for production databases that need drift correction.
 
         Model::reguard();
         DB::statement('SET FOREIGN_KEY_CHECKS=1');
 
         DB::table('imports')->truncate();
         DB::table('requested_assets')->truncate();
+
+        $this->reportMemory('DatabaseSeeder end');
     }
 }
diff --git a/database/seeders/UserSeeder.php b/database/seeders/UserSeeder.php
index 46eb6260f8..5a016c1ae5 100644
--- a/database/seeders/UserSeeder.php
+++ b/database/seeders/UserSeeder.php
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ namespace Database\Seeders;
 use App\Models\Company;
 use App\Models\Department;
 use App\Models\User;
+use Database\Seeders\Concerns\ReportsMemory;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\Sequence;
 use Illuminate\Database\Seeder;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;
 
 class UserSeeder extends Seeder
 {
+    use ReportsMemory;
+
     /**
      * Run the database seeds.
      *
@@ -71,37 +74,57 @@ class UserSeeder extends Seeder
         //   ~30% (600) no company
         //   ~50% (1000) one company
         //   ~20% (400) two or three companies
+        //
+        // Chunked so we don't hold 1000-2000 User models in memory at once
+        // (each ->each() / foreach that follows a big ->create() otherwise
+        // materializes the whole collection). Reduced demo-server memory
+        // pressure that was pushing seeding into swap.
+        $chunk = 200;
 
-        User::factory()->count(600)->viewAssets()
-            ->withoutCompany()
-            ->state(new Sequence(fn ($sequence) => [
-                'department_id' => $departmentIds->random(),
-            ]))
-            ->create();
+        $departmentState = fn () => new Sequence(fn ($sequence) => [
+            'department_id' => $departmentIds->random(),
+        ]);
 
-        User::factory()->count(1000)->viewAssets()
-            ->withoutCompany()
-            ->state(new Sequence(fn ($sequence) => [
-                'department_id' => $departmentIds->random(),
-            ]))
-            ->create()
-            ->each(function (User $user) use ($companyIds) {
-                $user->companies()->sync([$companyIds->random()]);
-                $user->syncLegacyCompanyIdMirror();
-            });
+        $this->reportMemory('UserSeeder start of regular-user batches');
 
-        $multiCompanyUsers = User::factory()->count(400)->viewAssets()
-            ->withoutCompany()
-            ->state(new Sequence(fn ($sequence) => [
-                'department_id' => $departmentIds->random(),
-            ]))
-            ->create();
-
-        foreach ($multiCompanyUsers as $user) {
-            $ids = $companyIds->random(min(rand(2, 3), $companyIds->count()))->toArray();
-            $user->companies()->sync($ids);
-            $user->syncLegacyCompanyIdMirror();
+        memory_reset_peak_usage();
+        for ($i = 0; $i < 600 / $chunk; $i++) {
+            User::factory()->count($chunk)->viewAssets()
+                ->withoutCompany()
+                ->state($departmentState())
+                ->create();
+            gc_collect_cycles();
         }
+        $this->reportMemory('UserSeeder after 600 no-company users (chunked)');
+
+        memory_reset_peak_usage();
+        for ($i = 0; $i < 1000 / $chunk; $i++) {
+            User::factory()->count($chunk)->viewAssets()
+                ->withoutCompany()
+                ->state($departmentState())
+                ->create()
+                ->each(function (User $user) use ($companyIds) {
+                    $user->companies()->sync([$companyIds->random()]);
+                    $user->syncLegacyCompanyIdMirror();
+                });
+            gc_collect_cycles();
+        }
+        $this->reportMemory('UserSeeder after 1000 one-company users (chunked)');
+
+        memory_reset_peak_usage();
+        for ($i = 0; $i < 400 / $chunk; $i++) {
+            User::factory()->count($chunk)->viewAssets()
+                ->withoutCompany()
+                ->state($departmentState())
+                ->create()
+                ->each(function (User $user) use ($companyIds) {
+                    $ids = $companyIds->random(min(rand(2, 3), $companyIds->count()))->toArray();
+                    $user->companies()->sync($ids);
+                    $user->syncLegacyCompanyIdMirror();
+                });
+            gc_collect_cycles();
+        }
+        $this->reportMemory('UserSeeder after 400 multi-company users (chunked)');
 
         $src = public_path('/img/demo/avatars/');
         $dst = 'avatars'.'/';
@@ -138,5 +161,6 @@ class UserSeeder extends Seeder
             $file_number++;
         }
 
+        $this->reportMemory('UserSeeder end (all users + avatars complete)');
     }
 }