<p>Following the <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0044.mediawiki" rel="noreferrer">BIP39</a> standard, 15 word seeds are proving about 160 bits (20 bytes) of entropy, where 24 word seeds are providing around 254 bits (32 bytes) of entropy.</p>
<p>As long as you do everything to protect your word seed, 160 bits of entropy is plenty. In the past, people used 24 words to split it into two parts, but today they are better ways to split your seed, such as <a href="https://trezor.io/shamir/" rel="noreferrer">Shamir backup</a>.</p>
<p>Little bit off topic, but I urge people to use hardware wallets, they are not that expensive and provide a huge increase in security over plain wallets - that is my security recommendation.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-01T02:03:44.190Z
Unfortunately, hardware also breaks. What's the expected lifetime of a hardware wallet?
Matthias Sieber
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-01T06:24:43.597Z
A hardware wallet is just an utility. It is of course a must to have a well protected physical shamir backup.
Marek Mahut - StakeNuts
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-04T13:41:10.857Z
If you get a metal wallet like a Cryptotag or Blockplate you can protect your seed phrase better than paper. Do not use anything made from Aluminum since that will melt in a house fire.
jnprogrammer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-31T08:34:58.330Z
2021-05-31T08:34:58.330Z
Marek Mahut - StakeNuts
<p>In security terms, what is the difference between 15- and 24-word seed?</p>
<p>Therefore, which option is recommended (from a security point of view)?</p>

<wallet><ada><recovery><seed-phrase>
15- or 24-word recovery seeds for ADA wallets
# 15- or 24-word recovery seeds for ADA wallets

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-31)

In security terms, what is the difference between 15- and 24-word seed?

Therefore, which option is recommended (from a security point of view)?

**Tags:** wallet, ada, recovery, seed-phrase

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-05-31. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Following the [BIP39](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0044.mediawiki) standard, 15 word seeds are proving about 160 bits (20 bytes) of entropy, where 24 word seeds are providing around 254 bits (32 bytes) of entropy.

As long as you do everything to protect your word seed, 160 bits of entropy is plenty. In the past, people used 24 words to split it into two parts, but today they are better ways to split your seed, such as [Shamir backup](https://trezor.io/shamir/).

Little bit off topic, but I urge people to use hardware wallets, they are not that expensive and provide a huge increase in security over plain wallets - that is my security recommendation.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Unfortunately, hardware also breaks. What's the expected lifetime of a hardware wallet?  
> **username_1**: A hardware wallet is just an utility. It is of course a must to have a well protected physical shamir backup.  
> **username_3**: If you get a metal wallet like a Cryptotag or Blockplate you can protect your seed phrase better than paper. Do not use anything made from Aluminum since that will melt in a house fire.  

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