diff --git a/lib/iris/src/iris/cluster/runtime/docker.py b/lib/iris/src/iris/cluster/runtime/docker.py
index 85778b6fbd..23e47b42cb 100644
--- a/lib/iris/src/iris/cluster/runtime/docker.py
+++ b/lib/iris/src/iris/cluster/runtime/docker.py
@@ -348,7 +348,8 @@ def build(self, on_logs: Callable[[list[LogLine]], None] | None = None) -> list[
         setup_script = self._generate_setup_script()
         self._write_setup_script(setup_script)
 
-        # Build containers get max(8 GB, task request) memory
+        # Build containers get max(32 GB, task request) memory — uv sync on a large
+        # workspace OOMed at the old 8 GB ceiling on a host with 1.4 TB free.
         task_memory_bytes = self.config.resources.memory_bytes if self.config.resources else 0
         build_memory_bytes = (
             max(self._BUILD_MEMORY_LIMIT_BYTES, task_memory_bytes)
@@ -602,7 +603,7 @@ def cleanup(self) -> None:
     # Docker CLI helpers
     # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-    _BUILD_MEMORY_LIMIT_BYTES = 8 * 1024**3
+    _BUILD_MEMORY_LIMIT_BYTES = 32 * 1024**3
 
     def _docker_create(
         self,