# The only scalable delete in Postgres is DROP TABLE

DevFeed: [The only scalable delete in Postgres is DROP TABLE](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-only-scalable-delete-in-postgres-is-drop-table-2339.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://planetscale.com/blog/the-only-scalable-delete>)

Author: Tom Pang

Published: 2026-06-11T00:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Blog -- PlanetScale](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/blog-planetscale.md>)

Topics: [Database](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/database.md>), [Replication](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/replication.md>), [Transactions](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/transactions.md>), [Optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/optimization.md>)

Tags: [database](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/database.md>), [engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering.md>), [optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/optimization.md>), [postgres](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/postgres.md>), [replication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/replication.md>)

## AI overview

The article explains why large row-level DELETE operations do not scale well in Postgres: they add write and replication overhead, may delay other writers, and generally do not return physical disk space to the operating system. It recommends database designs that make large-scale deletion possible through DROP TABLE or TRUNCATE.

## Source excerpt

Large DELETEs add work instead of reclaiming it. Structure your database so deletion becomes DROP TABLE or TRUNCATE.