diff --git a/tools/compile_mphf.py b/tools/compile_mphf.py
index bd7e836..e7d13f2 100755
--- a/tools/compile_mphf.py
+++ b/tools/compile_mphf.py
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def build_chd(keys_and_bytes, entry_count):
         displacements[bucket] = d value
         slot_to_entry_idx[slot] = index into keys_and_bytes, or -1 if empty
     """
-    bucket_count = max(entry_count // 3, min(entry_count, 16))
+    bucket_count = max(entry_count // 2, min(entry_count, 16))
 
     # Assign keys to buckets
     buckets = defaultdict(list)
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ def compile_mphf(entries, max_size=None, block_size=4096):
         unique_count = len(unique_translations)
 
         # Estimate size
-        bucket_count = max(entry_count // 3, min(entry_count, 16))
+        bucket_count = max(entry_count // 2, min(entry_count, 16))
         est_value_bits = max(1, math.ceil(math.log2(max(unique_count, 2))))
         est_disp_bits = 16  # conservative
         est_disp_bytes = (bucket_count * est_disp_bits + 7) // 8
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ def compile_mphf(entries, max_size=None, block_size=4096):
               file=sys.stderr)
 
     entry_count = len(keys_and_bytes)
-    bucket_count = max(entry_count // 3, min(entry_count, 16))
+    bucket_count = max(entry_count // 2, min(entry_count, 16))
 
     print(f"  Building CHD MPHF: {entry_count} entries, {bucket_count} buckets...",
           file=sys.stderr)