Is a 3 GB USB enough for installing Ubuntu?

This is my first time installing a Linux distro so I don't know much about the prerequisites. I am currently using Windows 7 and would like to install and use Ubuntu alongside Windows. I wanted to ask whether I can use a 3 GB USB stick for the installation? As far as I know the iso is 1.5 GB, so should it be fine?

Thanks!

Yes and potentially No.

A netboot or mini.iso will fit on a 384MB thumb-drive/install media (possibly smaller depending on release should you have a thumb-drive that small still lying around).

The last Ubuntu desktop ISO I downloaded (groovy yesterday) was 2.5GB and I used a 4GB thumb-drive to write that onto.

But the size varies on release, and that was a groovy desktop ISO will be larger than older ISOs that contain less or no closed-source drivers, plus released (non-development) ISOs include less diagnostic/development libraries useful in crash reporting which exist only on development ISOs.

However my most common thumb-drives I use are still 2GB as many ISOs will fit on them.

The thumb-drive size required will depend on

• the release you want (closed source blobs aren't included all releases)
• the version you want server? desktop? or other?
• the flavor you want? (some don't include closed source blobs)
• plus the ISO you choose (options exist)

We have no specifics, so cannot provide a specific answer.

Ubuntu Install Quick Start

The current Ubuntu 20.04 install disk is 2.7GB.

Download Ubuntu 20.04 https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Start with a USB of at least 3GB formatted FAT32.

If using Windows, download Rufus. https://rufus.ie/

Double click the Rufus .exe file. (No need to install).

Select USB Device and Ubuntu ISO file for Boot Selection.

Confirm Persistent partition size is 0 MB.

Select START

When Rufus is done you can use USB to install Ubuntu to BIOS or UEFI machine.